Nice to Have Some Spring in your Step

Hello

SPRING, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS & WARMER WEATHER - WHATS NOT TO BE HAPPY ABOUT

With all the negativity we have had to deal with so far this year, it's nice to see some pleasant weather, trees with new growth, plants starting to flower and longer days for getting outside after work.

As we move into the last quarter of the year, we see all manner of things start to creep into our thoughts, mostly fun activities. We can spend more time outdoors with our friends and family, BBQ's picnics or just general catch-ups at home.

We also have the ability to do the fun stuff like fishing and camping, going to the beach, river or lake, heading off in the caravan, playing sport or for that matter - any outdoor activity seems to be more enjoyable. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I seem to have a spring in my step when the sun is out, and life seems to be a little more fun.

As far as work goes, I know our builders certainly appreciate the warmer weather, as do our concreters and project consultants. As a business we also become much more efficient, we don't have to wait for sites to dry out for the concreters, the builders aren't in and out of the vehicles with the wind and rain. The upshot of this is we can get our overdue projects finished and enable us to make up lost ground from the last 4 months.

The next thing we need to look out for is the jolly fat man coming down our chimney - It's only 11 weeks until Christmas!

Laying The Slab

For most sheds, a concrete slab foundation is essential. Unless your yard is perfectly flat, you’ll need to cut and fill to provide a level surface: ideally the finished slab should be slightly raised so that water drains away from the shed. A Dingo digger or bobcat will make short work of clearing, levelling and digging the slab area. Read all the safety instructions and pay attention to the training before you start – accidents with diggers are at best expensive.

Digging tips

For a small job, some companies do half-day hires. If there are other excavations happening in your local area, it’s worth asking if they will quote on a price to fit your small job in, which can be both reasonably cheap and time-saving.
For a large job, or if you’re unfamiliar with the equipment, consider hiring an excavator to do the work. Although they’re not cheap, they’ll be faster than you, and you won’t need to worry about damage to the equipment, your property, or yourself.
If you don’t have a use for all the excavated material, advertise it locally on community noticeboards or websites. Usually someone will have a need for free fill, which can save you removal costs.

Work with the footing plan supplied with your shed, and make sure that your concreters have copies of it beforehand. Fancy finishes to the slab, such as polishing, cost extra. Keep your slab continuously moist while it cures – the longer you can do this for, the stronger it will be. Wetting it down with the hose will do. If you can do this for at least a week, it will be about 30% stronger than a fast-curing slab.

At Outdoor Steel Solutions we are both registered commercial and domestic builders.

Building Licence No: Domestic - CDB-L 48721 Commercial - CCB-L 56406

RULES/REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING WITHIN FARM ZONES

Owners are encouraged to discuss their proposed plans for building a shed within a farm zone with their local council, appointed building prior to commencing any work, as all works within a farm zone are subject to a building permit and possibly a planning permit.

The main purpose for farming land is for the use of land for agricultural purposes however there are council exceptions to this rule as follows.

Applications for building a Class 10a (non-habitable) farm shed can be lodged with council and assessed on a case-by-case basis, however generally a planning permit is not required for the following.

An alteration or extension to an existing dwelling provided the floor area of the alteration or extension is not more than 100m2.
An out-building associated with an existing dwelling provided the floor area of the out-building is not more than 100m2.
An alteration or extension to an existing building used for agriculture provided the floor area of the alteration or extension is not more than 200 square metres with the building is not used to keep, board, breed, or train animals.

In most cases the building must also meet strict setbacks from roads, boundaries, other dwellings within the area and waterways. A conversation with your local council, building surveyor, appointed builder can help navigate these requirements further to find out if these are specific to your property.

Bendigo

Ballarat

Shepparton

Kilmore

Sunbury