Advantages of Steel sheds In NZ

Comparing steel sheds to other sheds

There are many advantages to using steel rather than building a timber shed in New Zealand. Here we will discuss a few of the key advantages.

Pole sheds
Wooden poles are buried in the ground and become the main columns, with girts and rafters attached to each pole. The timber poles are often not a consistent diameter, making it more difficult to get walls true and straight. Girts should be notched into the poles, and the internal finish will be rough compared to a steel shed.

Pole shed kits can appear quite cheap as they are a very simplistic type of shed using basic materials. Spans can be limited and they will often have internal support poles. Some kit systems don’t include gutters or flashings.

Timber framed sheds
Timber framed sheds use stud & nog walls similar to what you find in many homes. You will often see this type of construction used for single or double garages.

The design limitations of the timber framing mean that large bays or high walls are not easily achieved. You are often restricted to building in preset sizes and have limited options available.

Web trusses will probably be used which take up a large amount of roof space, get dusty and look unsightly.

Steel sheds
A steel frame shed uses steel columns anchored to a concrete foundation, making it easy to align columns. The majority of the components are pre-cut to length with structural bolt holes pre-punched for accuracy. Purlins, girts & cladding are attached using self drilling Tek-screws. Read more about how steel sheds are built.

Steel Is Environmentally Friendly:

• Steel is 100% recyclable and is the most recycled product in the world.
• Steel is one of a very few materials that is capable of being recycled over and over again without loss of its properties.
• 40% of global steel output is from recycled scrap.
• Many steel products can be precision prefabricated, minimising waste.
• More than 90% of commercial steel construction waste is recycled.
• Approximately 82% of waste from the steel making process is recycled back into the process.
• Steel recycling is well established in New Zealand.
• Steel manufacturers in New Zealand use comprehensive waste reduction and energy efficiency programmes to be easier on the environment.

Steel – a Summary

Steel is lustrous, malleable, ductile, durable and strong.  It can be alloyed and coated to provide a range of products ideally suited to today’s building environment. The advantages of using steel in building applications include:

• Steel can be engineered to precise specifications resulting in minimal on-site wastage. Steel is non-toxic, minimising health and safety risks.
• Steel products are light and can be easily transported.
• Steel is the most recycled material in the world. In addition, many steel products are reusable.
• Steel is available with factory applied finishes for greater corrosion resistance and durability.
• Steel has minimal maintenance requirements and a long life.
• Steel is non-combustible.
• Steel has a high strength to weight ratio potentially allowing additions to buildings without having to alter foundations and the creation of wide spans, which provide greater flexibility in the use of the resulting spaces.

If you require further information about the advantages of building steel over timber sheds in NZ, please call us on 0800 555 147.