Managing Your Own Shed Build
Taking Control of Your Build
Project managing your own shed build means you stay in control of the job while organising the different stages yourself. You deal directly with contractors, control the timeline, and keep things moving.
For many people, this is a good way to save money and have more say in how the job comes together. You’re not paying someone else to manage it — you’re taking on that role yourself.
From Design to Build
Once your shed is designed, priced and consents are granted, the job moves into the build stage. From there, it’s about getting the right people in at the right time and making sure each part of the job is coordinated with the next and is carried out properly and on time.
Site Prep and Concrete
The project usually starts with site prep and concrete. This stage is not overly complicated. First, you find a local earthmoving contractor who will assess the site and provide a quote. You may need to involve a geotechnical engineer at this stage to confirm ground suitability. After that, you’ll need a builder to prepare the boxing for the concreter to place and finish, or you can engage a concreting contractor to box and place the slab.
Building the Shed
Next, it’s time to take delivery of your kitset. You can assemble it yourself or have it installed by a builder. We can also put you in touch with people who can help with this part of the job. Our sheds are very easy to assemble, most handy kiwi blokes will tackle this no problem at all knowing we encourage you to use our phone support along the way.
Managing Trades and Timing
You’ll be dealing with a few different trades along the way — earthworks, concrete, building, and drainage — so timing and coordination play a big part in keeping things running smoothly.
The Experience
Some people enjoy this part of the process. Organising the job, dealing with contractors, and seeing it all come together can be rewarding when you know you’ve had a hand in making it happen.
That said, it does take time and planning. If one part is delayed, it can hold everything else up so it’s important to stay on top of the schedule and keep communication clear with everyone involved. if you pay attention, you will likely complete the project in a shorter time frame than most of the large, shed franchises.
Support Along the Way
We can put you in touch with shed builders in your area or if you’re building it yourself, we will walk you through the build. It’s our job to support you along the way and If any of the contractors involved have questions, we are always here to help offering tips and advice that’s why our sheds sell themselves word of mouth is our best friend.
The End Result
In the end, you get a shed built using local trades that you choose, you’re in control of who is on your property and when how much you spend, and the decisions made throughout the process. Often you will find you are dealing with the property related decisions and matters yourself anyway and the shed build is actually a one part of the whole project.
Find Answers to the Most Common Questions Here
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For many people, yes. Project managing the build yourself can save a significant amount of money. Larger shed companies often charge for project management and add margins to each stage of the build, including fees, earthworks, concrete, drainage, electrical, door installation and more.
You can avoid these additional costs, and if you choose to assemble the shed yourself, the savings can increase considerably. When everything is added up, building a kitset shed can save tens of thousands of dollars while also adding value to your property well beyond the cost of the building.
Design and consent can take around 6–8 weeks. Once on site, ground works can often be completed within a week, with concrete taking around 2 weeks if everything goes to plan.
After that, a small shed can typically be built in 2–3 weeks, while a larger shed may take 3–4 weeks with a team of 3–4 builders.
Timeframes depend on the number of builders, their skill level, and the weather, which is one factor that can’t be controlled.
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