Camira Sheds

THE PROCESS

Site selection and preparation.

Selecting the site for a building is as important as the building itself. Be careful not to build on a water course, on uncompacted fill or in a slip area. Also note that normal buildings are not suitable for constructing on top of mountains or hills, at the edge of a cliff, or areas subject to snow fall. Buildings need to be specially designed for highly exposed locations or additional loads.

A good building site should be level and clear of large rocks or old stumps. Vegetation must be removed and the site formed into a slight crest so water runs away from the construction area in all directions. It is much easier and more economical to do this before any assembly work begins.

With larger buildings and sheds, it is always a good idea to arrange for a soil test of the site. This not only highlights any unseen problems that might exist, but also helps with the design of footings. A soil test is considered mandatory for very large or high buildings. The savings in concrete materials alone will often be two or three times the cost of a soil test.

In the Southern Hemisphere, sheds with large openings, such as farm machinery sheds, need positioning so the openings face the North or East. Buildings used for workshops, offices or residential should minimise or provide additional protection to glass areas on Western walls. Roof skylights generate heat and in hot areas it is best to use them only in high buildings.

With the site selected and prepared, the next step is to check the building documentation and components.

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Slab Plan.

The slab plan is critical and the only document to be used for setting out footings, hold down bolts or straps and concrete formwork.

All dimensions are shown as well as bolt or strap orientation, centre lines, door set-downs and other important information.

The slab plan must be read in conjunction with the approved site specific engineering.

Bill of Materials (BOM).

The BOM is another critical document and contains a list of all the components that make up the building.

All building component quantities should be checked against the BOM as soon as possible after delivery and before commencing any assembly work. No damage or shortages claims will be accepted later than 7 days from the delivery date.

The BOM also gives sizes for many components to help identify them. This can be useful when sorting and preparing items prior to construction.

Installation Manuals.

Every garage, carport or shed comes with a detailed install manual.

It covers everything from laying out to finishing off and includes drawings on where items belong and how they fit together.

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Note that the above information is only intended as a brief outline of the basic steps required when preparing to assemble a building. Site preparation, concreting and install of steelwork are best done by qualified and BSA licensed tradesperson.

All construction sites and shed installers should comply with the occupational health and safety requirements and your local Workcover authority. The National Occupational Health and Safety site is a good source of information and includes links to Workcover and other associated sites.