Guides and answers
Plain-English guides for Queensland buyers: whether your shed needs council approval, how to size a farm shed, wind ratings, slabs, kits versus a finished build and COLORBOND® versus ZINCALUME®, plus steel framing guides for builders and owner-builders. Each guide cites official sources; none replaces advice for your own site.
Frequently asked questionsSheds, garages and carports
ApprovalsDo you need council approval for a shed in Queensland?Which sheds need building approval in Queensland, what size you can build without a permit, rural exemptions, boundary setbacks and who approves a shed.8 min read
Buying a shedShed kit or supplied and built: which suits your project?Steel shed kit or supplied and built in Queensland: what each includes, licences and permits, site work, approvals and who carries which risk.7 min read
Buying a shedGarage, carport or garaport: choosing the right cover for vehiclesGarage, carport or garaport? Security, approvals, Queensland Housing Code parking sizes, and when a combined garaport is worth it.7 min read
Design & sizingHow to size a farm or machinery shedHow to size a farm shed in Queensland: measure the machinery, plan bays and door clearances, allow for future gear, and know how use changes the class.7 min read
Design & sizingShed wind ratings in Queensland: regions, classes and what to checkHow wind loads are set for a Queensland steel shed: wind regions, terrain, shielding, AS/NZS 1170.2 and AS 4055, and what to check on a quote.7 min read
MaterialsCOLORBOND® or ZINCALUME® steel for a shed?COLORBOND® or ZINCALUME® cladding for a Queensland shed: what each is, BlueScope's coastal guidance, conditions inside the shed, upkeep and warranties.7 min read
Site & slabConcrete slabs and footings for sheds: what decides the designHow a steel shed slab and footings are designed: site classification, engineering, hold-down against wind uplift, set-out, drainage and inspection.6 min read
ApprovalsBuilding your own shed in Queensland as an owner-builderWhen a Queensland shed or garage needs a QBCC owner-builder permit, what owner-builders can build, farm buildings, approvals and what a kit includes.6 min read
Steel framing
For builders, developers and owner-builders using light gauge steel wall frames, trusses and floors.
- Steel vs timber frames: an honest comparison for Queensland buildersSteel or timber framing in Queensland? Termites, straightness, thermal breaks, earthing and cost drivers compared, with the NCC rules that apply.9 min
- TRUECORE® steel explained: grade, coating, fire indices and warrantyWhat TRUECORE® steel is, who makes it, its G550 grade and AM150 coating, what non-combustible means, and how BlueScope's frame warranty works.8 min
- How much does a steel house frame cost in Queensland?Why we don't publish a per-square-metre price for steel frames, what moves a Queensland frame quote up or down, and how to get an accurate price fast.8 min
- From plans to standing frame: how the steel framing process worksEach stage of a steel frame job with Lockyer Sheds, from plans and quote to roll-forming, labelling, delivery, erection and inspection, and who does what.7 min
- What plans do we need to quote your steel frame?The drawings we need to quote steel wall frames, roof trusses and floor systems accurately, which file formats to send, and what to do with early plans.6 min
- Light gauge steel framing vs structural steel: what's the difference?How light gauge steel framing differs from structural steel: how each is made, which standards apply, where each is used, and why a kit can have both.6 min
- Do steel frames rust? What protects a TRUECORE® frame, and where the limits areHow the AM150 coating on TRUECORE® steel protects a house frame, what BlueScope's warranty excludes near the coast, and how to store frames on site.6 min
- Steel frames and termites in Queensland: what the NCC actually saysThe NCC treats steel structural members as not subject to termite attack. What that covers in Queensland, what it does not, and who decides on protection.5 min
- Owner-builder steel frame kits in Queensland: permits, limits and what you provideWhat a Queensland owner-builder needs before ordering a steel frame kit: the QBCC permit, what you cannot build, licensed trades and what we supply.6 min
- Thermal breaks for steel frames: the NCC 2022 wall and roof rulesWhen a steel-framed wall or roof needs an R0.2 thermal break under NCC 2022, which materials satisfy it, and why thermal bridging rules target metal frames.5 min
- Wind classification and steel frames in QueenslandHow wind classification shapes a steel frame in Queensland: N and C classes, Region C, AS 4055 limits, what NASH covers and why we ask for your address.5 min
- How far can a steel roof truss span? The factors that decide itThere is no single maximum span for steel roof trusses. The factors that set it on your job, the design limits that apply, and how to get a truss design.5 min
- Off-the-shelf frame kits vs made-to-plan steel framingWhen a generic pre-designed frame or truss kit is enough, when a made-to-plan steel kit is needed, and what documentation a certifier expects for your site.5 min
Tell us what you want to build.
Send the size, where it's going and how you'll use it, and we'll come back with a price for a kit or a finished build. Rather talk it through? Call the team.
