Shedquarters: Make Working From Home Work For You
Shedquarters are growing in popularity amongst homeowners across New Zealand, but what exactly is a shedquarter and how could having one benefit you?
The first question you may be asking yourself right now is ‘what exactly is a shedquarter’? Essentially, a shedquarter is just another way of describing a tiny space in your backyard. Unlike a standard backyard garden shed which is typically only large enough to store your tools and maybe a lawnmower, a shedquarter is well constructed and acts more as an office space or retreat room which you can escape to in order to relax or focus.
With COVID-19 forcing many people to work from home and children having to take school classes online, some people found their homes getting a bit crowded and opted to install a shedquarter in their backyard. Despite most of us having returned back to work these backyard offices are still an excellent way to create an inspiring and productive space that is close to home yet totally unique and separate from the rest of your house. They’re great for people who work remotely to have a space to escape to away from the distractions within their home.
When you’re considering the design of the shedquarter it’s important to consider the visual elements including the colour, cladding, personalisations, and how it will fit in with your home and garden. Our environment has a huge impact on our energy levels, moods, and productivity so designing an effective space can be a total game changer.
What style would you want the interior of your shedquarter to be? Is your preferred look cosy and decorative? Or do you lean more towards a minimalist and stylish aesthetic? Do you find yourself captivated by the latest design trends, or do you strive for classic elegance? A good place to begin is by deciding whether you lean towards modern or traditional stylings. If you like patterns, rich velvety colours, and lots of details then a traditional style could be perfect for you. However, if your personal style favours crisp colours, clean lines, and open space then you may be leaning towards modern design.
Your design choices for your KiwiSpan shedquarter isn’t solely limited to the interior. We offer a fully customisable design experience which puts the power of choosing the size, cladding, doors, windows, roofing and colour scheme in your hands. We know that you don’t want to settle for a run of the mill shed, and with us, you don’t have to.
Versatile and functional, KiwiSpan shedquarters are designed and built in New Zealand using high-grade materials and are completely customisable to your needs. With your existing landscape in mind, we work with you to create the perfect space for you to work, relax, and play.
Explore our range of quality steel sheds today
Kiwi’s Most Loved Sheds
KiwiSpan has been building Kiwi sheds, garages and workshops since 2003. Built to the highest standard and made to withstand the harshest of New Zealand conditions – KiwiSpan sheds are built to last. Kiwi’s love sheds – perhaps it’s our love of being in the outdoors, or our No. 8 wire attitude, New Zealanders’ around the world are known as true innovators – and a lot of this started in the shed or workshop!
Operating for nearly 20 years, KiwiSpan has built sheds and buildings of every shape, size and style to suit kiwi lifestyles. Here are some of our most popular sheds;
Everyone needs more storage. Whether it be for a hobby, your profession, or even a multifunctional space, a storage shed or workshop can be extremely valuable to your home. Built to New Zealand’s Building Code requirements, KiwiSpan storage sheds will stand the test of time, and increase the value of your property.
Strength combined with style, KiwiSpan’s American style barns have grown in popularity as they complement any setting while providing ample space for whatever you need – storage, machinery or stock feed. Besides being customisable in a variety of sizes, lengths and heights, you also have build options that include partition walls, awnings, garaports and more.
KiwiSpan farm sheds are a popular choice as they are the toughest around, designed with New Zealand’s harshest rural environment in mind. Built with hard-wearing and durable steel, by expert builders with years of experience, KiwiSpan’s unique framing system will provide as much space and flexibility as you need.
The kiwi classic. Garages have changed over the years from a small car-only building to now a multi-use space. Today we want garages not only to be super functional but also look stylish. From single, double and triple-bay garages, KiwiSpan’s success has been that we can totally customise a garage build to fit your needs, in most cases matching your rooflines and cladding for ultimate visual appeal.
Often called a sleep out, habitable sheds have grown massively in popularity over the last few years. The shape and size of Kiwi families is changing – whether for elderly relations to stay, or some additional space for your teenage children, habitable sheds can maximise the use of your property. Your habitable sheds offer serious comfort as every building can be finished with quality insulation and aluminium joinery, to ensure your private space is fully protected from the elements. KiwiSpan can also offer a minor dwelling (small house) as a build option, that can boost your income, as a short-term rental investment. Check-in with your local KiwiSpan team on whether habitable sheds are available in your region.
Whether it’s a shed, farm barn or sleepout, KiwiSpan has the solution for you. Contact us HERE today to get the ball rolling on your next project.
Your Barn, Your Way
KiwiSpan has been paving the way in the New Zealand outdoor building and shed market since the early 2000s. Whilst KiwiSpan started out with the kiwi dream of building the very best shed, over the years we have innovated into many different types of outdoor buildings to suit the New Zealand landscape, for example, a growing trend is the popularity of farm sheds and barns.
What is a barn?
A barn by definition is a large building used by farmers to store equipment or crops. Depending on whether it is a hay barn, or machinery storage shed, a barn’s framing system is one of the critical elements to maximising the use of your new space.
The second important element in building a barn in a rural location is that it is made to last. The KiwiSpan range of farm sheds and barns have all been designed with New Zealand’s harsh environment in mind, built with hard-wearing durable steel of a higher spec than many other options in the market, and by expert builders with years of experience. So you can rest assured your KiwiSpan shed will stand the test of time.
How can I customise my barn?
Perhaps the most exciting feature is that your barn can be customised to your exact farming or lifestyle requirements. Optional extra’s include partition walls, awnings, garaports, as well as being able to design a variety of sizes, lengths and heights.
‘Barn living’ has become an international trend overseas, with more and more people leaving their city surroundings for a simpler life. KiwiSpan’s barns can be customised to include a home or hobby office or even a “man” cave. Your new barn can also easily be personalized with different choices in colour cladding, different window and door choices. This trend is growing in popularity because it represents the best of both worlds – a functional working space for your equipment or farm supplies, coupled with space that you can make your own – we’re thinking a man/ she-cave or new office.
Contact us HERE today to get the ball rolling on your new barn project.
No Consents Required
One of the hardest and most complex parts of building or renovating is the consent process and dealing with the council, but there has been some exciting news for homeowners in late 2020.
Recent changes mean that low-risk building work, such as sheds, carports and sleepouts, in many cases no longer need council consent to be built.
So if you’re considering a new addition to your home or property, it’s important to note that in a majority of cases, for the new building work not to require Council consent, these must be built by a manufacturer like KiwiSpan, or a licensed builder. With that in mind here are some options that no longer require Council consent;
- Buildings up to a maximum floor area of 30 metres – (these still can be built by non-professionals but require restrictions on building materials in accordance with the Building Code)
- Ground Floor Veranda’s or Awnings up to 30 metres
- Carports up to 40 metres
- Single-storey pole sheds and hay barns up to 110 square metres (but only in rural zones).
It’s important to note that any plumbing work to a new or current building still requires a building consent, and any electrical work will still have to be carried out by a registered electrician. Different councils can also have different local by-laws but some, like Auckland Council, have a handy online tool to check if your shed needs consent
For property owners, this has been welcome news, as it will save time and money when thinking about a new building or addition with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) predicting it will cut out the need for over 9000 consents and $18m worth of consent fees for homeowners.
However, it is also important to note that KiwiSpan is available to ensure that whatever your building size, shape or usage, that you will fully comply with the local council regulations before we commence building. Because KiwiSpan builds are entirely customised, we can give you a world of possibilities.
Whether it’s a shed, farm barn or carport, KiwiSpan has the solution for you.
Contact us HERE today to get the ball rolling on your next shed project.
Putting Together the Perfect Workshop
The list of people who could benefit from having their own workshop is a lengthy one. Whether you’re an avid hobbyist or creating things in the garage is literally how you pay the bills, your life will only be made easier from having a reliable workspace.
The problem is, however, a great workshop is much more than just a space set aside for work. A perfect workshop should be built for purpose, efficiently laid out and containing everything you need to get your work done as effectively as possible.
At KiwiSpan, we believe that the best approach to creating such a workspace is a custom one. When working with a customer, we make sure we get a full understanding of what they want and need, and create a workspace that will allow them to achieve this.
Here are a few things to consider to help determine what you’ll need to create your ideal workspace:
Sizing
Many shed building companies only offer standardised shed sizes. KiwiSpan, however, allows you to design a shed to whatever size you need. As a bonus, our sheds don’t need a centre pole to remain standing, which means you’ll have more space for fixtures and storage.
Finding the ideal size itself is a bit of a balancing act. You’ll want to ensure that there’s enough space for everything you’ll need (tools, machinery, etc) plus adequate working space for yourself. On the other hand, you’ll have to take into account that most councils require your shed to be spaced its own height in distance from all boundaries on your property (e.g. a 3m tall shed will need to be 3m away from the nearest fence). Aim for somewhere in the middle.
Fixtures
You’ll want to make sure you have all the necessary workspaces sorted too. Even if it’s just a simple workbench, make sure there’s more than enough space to work and play in.
Overestimation of how much space you’ll need is never a bad thing – we speak from experience when we say that none of our customers are ever upset by having too much space.
For those of you with more ambitious projects in mind, you’ll want to take stock of what machinery you’ll need – and whether it requires storage or if it will need to be built into the workshop itself.
Lastly, but absolutely not least – health and safety. Sure, it’s not the most exciting thing to think about, but it’s particularly important when it comes to workshops – be it an emergency off switch or a dust extractor.
After all, the perfect workshop should be one that doesn’t involve injuries right?
Has this helped you determine what sort of workshop you’d like? Get in touch here to make it a reality!
5 Everyday Hobbies You Can Take to the Next Level with a Custom Shed
It’s not only the woodworkers and the sheep shearers that benefit from having a trusty shed around. A shed that’s customised to facilitate your specific hobby is the perfect way to get the most out of your free time activities.
Home Gym / Yoga Studio
We all know the hardest thing to do at the gym is turn up. The second hardest thing is having to wait for your favourite machine to free up. So by having your very own personal space nearby to get your sweat on, you’ve already made keeping in shape that much easier.
Pumping irons not really your way of keeping active? Our sheds can also serve perfectly as home yoga studios for you and your favourite stretching buddies. Not only do you get to choose the music (every time), you can also talk to us about setting up some kitchen facilities too (because every yoga studio needs a juice bar).
DIY and Upcycling
If Pinterest has taught us anything, it’s that one man’s trash is another man’s really trendy (and often profitable) new conversation piece.
A shed makes for an ideal workshop for those looking to take their old furniture/pallets/beer crates (and so on) to the next level. It’s also a great place to use your inventive, upcycled creations if your significant other isn’t into the whole “pallet coffee table” trend.
The Arts
The cliche about the noisy next-door neighbour who always decides it’s time to practice the violin during the worst possible moments exists for a reason.
A custom shed can make the perfect space to practice your art of choice. From experimental interpretive dance to your own personal painting studio, KiwiSpan can help you build the ideal place to express yourself, without gaining the neighbour’s ire.
Car Restoration
There’s nothing quite as cool as the art of taking a run-down car and injecting new life under the hood. And whilst this popular pastime of the mechanically inclined has typically taken place in the garage, this can cause issues when it’s already occupied by other vehicles (and to be fair, ones that actually run).
A larger shed can serve as an equally suitable holding zone whilst you restore your latest find at the scrapyard to its former glory. It’s also an ideal venue for the big unveiling party, so that’s a bonus.
Furthermore, there are quite a few custom features KiwiSpan can offer you – such as footings for a hoist to take on some of the heavy lifting involved.
Socialising
Having your nearest and dearest around for a cold one (two, three and four) is possibly the most iconic of all the great kiwi pastimes. And having a backyard bar on-site only makes it greater. Not only does it provide you with a space to host an event, but you’ll also get a bar to serve the drinks and a space to store them between get-togethers.
More and more, folks around the nation, and beyond, are getting trendy outdoor entertaining spaces built in preparation for the long summer evenings. And it only takes a quick google for inspiration to see why.
Do you indulge in any of the above hobbies? Perhaps you’ve been inspired to take another pastime to the next level with a shed? Feel free to peruse our wide range of shed plans here, and get in touch to talk through some of the personalised options we can offer you.
Your Space: How to Create the Ultimate Mancave/Sheshed
The idea of owning a room just for yourself – and no, we aren’t talking about your bedroom – but a room specifically designed for you, and only you, is something just about all of us have dreamed of owning.
What we’re describing has historically been known as a “Mancave” – and if you like that title, by all means, stick with it – but regardless of whether you call it that, or a SheShed, a MeShed or just “My Room” – here’s how to put together the ultimate space to elevate your spare time to a new level.
Getting starting
Planning is never the part of a project you most look forward to, but it’s vital to ensuring you end up with the best end product. You don’t have to have every detail down, but there’s a few things to consider before you start.
What are the features you absolutely can’t live without? How much space do you have to work with? Do you have enough power sources available? Is there adequate lighting? Will you need to install some form of climate control (i.e. heating or air-conditioning)?
Basically, what you’re ultimately figuring out is “how will you be able to achieve the space you’ve envisioned for yourself given the space you’ve got to work with?”
Filling it Up
Now comes the fun stuff. The only right way to create the ultimate “you space” is to fill it up with whatever works best for YOU. However, should you find yourself needing a little creative nudge, we’ve got you covered with some hints, suggestions and a few general must-haves below.
- Comfort – regardless of what you’re into, your space should be a place of relaxation, so comfortable seating should be your no.1 priority. Grab more than one, because sometimes the best ‘you time’ is spent with your best mates.
- Mini-Fridge – in the spirit of relaxing, an easy beverage should always be nearby so you aren’t constantly having to get up and leave just to have a drink. What those drinks are – beer, soda, or good old water – is largely immaterial, just as long as what you want is always nearby. Same goes for snacks.
- Coffee Machine – And whilst we’re on the subject of having your favourite beverage nearby, for many of us – that’s a good cup of coffee. Thankfully, the days when paying a barista was the only way to experience a warm cup of quality espresso are gone, as the user-friendly home espresso machine market is blooming. Making it incredibly easy and not too bank-busting to make your own café favourites without the café. So where better to enjoy some homebrewed caffeine than your private space?
- Themes – Make this place truly yours. The traditional image of a man cave often involves a big TV to catch the game, and if that’s what you’re into, have at. If you’re more of a movie buff, consider said big TV but with a surround sound system and a few movie posters to boot. If you have a particular passion, why not go all out with it? Fill it with maps, books, hang guitars on the walls – Whatever you’re into. You could even put up some relevant memorabilia on the walls. Create a place to totally immerse yourself in what you love.
Have we given you mancave (or she-shed) brain? Why not browse some of the sheds we offer.
