Using a Shed to Create a Comfortable and Functional Living Environment

If you are looking to access alternative options for housing, you start by thinking outside the box. Kiwis are now in a great position when it comes to a creative approach to housing, with quite a few options becoming available outside of the traditional timber frame that has dominated residential living styles in the past.

What if you could access a more robust option that is both sturdy and lightweight and comes in at a more attractive price point? Building a shed home with Durasteel is a fantastic way to get the home you want with added versatility. Durasteel has a compelling range of options to meet your vision for a lifestyle that has the potential to combine comfort with functionality on a few different levels.

Read on to explore some ideas around dual use for your Durasteel shed, and find out more about the growing movement towards shed homes as a highly desirable housing option.

 

Dual Use Applications

While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you fully set up house inside one of our sheds, which are predominantly designed for rural, commercial and industrial applications, our Mansard/Quaker or American Heritage style barns, in particular, lend themselves to dual use. Our customisation options include mezzanine floors, balconies, double glazing and sliding glass doors, and we have had quite a few customers choose these as a great holiday space for their families. 

Another popular approach is working with us on a layout that could allow you to use some of your barn space for your business or storage requirements while adding in a living space that could be offered to guests, teenagers who need some room to move or that could even be used as a granny flat. While it takes thought and planning in regard to noise and mess, it’s definitely possible to use a shed to create a comfortable and functional living environment alongside your work or storage space.

What is a Shed Home?

Durasteel also constructs exceptionally tough and stylish dedicated shed homes outside of dual-use opportunities. We use incredibly lightweight industrial steel framing and have a number of different set plans that you can choose from to secure a home that meets your lifestyle vision. Whether you want to extend your current living space, add a second dwelling to your property, or you are seeking a good-looking, affordable first home, we can help. 

The Process to Secure a Shed Home

We approach your shed home requirements with a flexible viewpoint. We have solutions that suit a broad range of budgets, and we love to hear your design priorities and work with you to help you achieve what you want. Our robust, cost-effective housing can be customised in terms of layout and cladding choice. We can provide you with a finished product that is consented, signed off by an LBP, and completed to the lock-up stage.

You can either choose to use your own builder and have our LBP supervise, or we can book you in to build your shed home ourselves. You can book your adjunct trades, including your plumber and electrician, to come in between full completion and final lock-up. You will need to organise the bathroom and kitchen fit-out—or you can ask us to book this with our builder if you want end-to-end service from the Durasteel team.

Basic Steps

1: Initial Enquiry

Contact our team to start a conversation about how you want to approach creating a comfortable and functional living space.

 

2: Our Estimate

We start by listening to your goals and your vision, then we will help you identify the design that will fit them best. At this point we will provide you with a no-obligation estimate.

 

3: Confirmation of Offer Agreement

Once you have come to a final decision about the design you want, we will draw up a formal agreement detailing all the specifications and costs.

 

4: Application for Consent

Our team prepares all the required plans for your consent application and submits them to the appropriate council on your behalf.

 

5: Construction Phase

The exciting part starts! Once the necessary consents have been approved, the foundation will be laid, and your nominated builders and contractors will begin building your shed home.

 

Quality Shed Homes at Affordable Prices

There are lots of advantages to exploring shed homes for residential living, and if you choose the right provider you can be certain that you end up with a stylish, comfortable and highly functional space. Durasteel are proudly NZ owned and we never compromise when it comes to product quality, our standard of workmanship and the service we deliver to each and every client.

 

Get in Touch

If you are ready to discuss dual use barns, you want to look at your shed home options, or you are ready to push go on an affordable living solution that can be constructed fast and built to last, we have you covered.

Get in touch with the Durasteel team today for a free quote, or browse our shed home options here.