Building a Stunning Shed House in New Zealand

With some residential buildings coming in at $5000 per square metre to build, it’s not surprising that many Kiwi first-time homeowners are looking to alternatives, with the tiny homes and container homes markets experiencing greater interest and popularity.

However, rather than building new, another option, especially given our farming history, is to convert existing farm buildings into habitable buildings. Not only is this option environmentally friendly, it can come in at a much lower cost than building from scratch. Although, as a process, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Immediate considerations in converting an existing shed into a home will be the need to upgrade any electrical wiring, adding plumbing, and upgrading heating and insulation. You will also have to ascertain whether there are any additional local council consents you will need to apply for.

While the process sounds daunting, the end result of converting an old shed or other rural outbuilding into a home, usually pays dividends for a number of reasons.

While converting farm or industrial buildings into family homes is not a new concept and even architecturally designed homes that reference the look and style of rural buildings are commonplace, there is, now, another contender to consider — an actual shed house.

As the name would suggest, a shed house is a specifically adapted plan that revolves around tailoring the practical and durable ‘Kiwi shed’ structure to include a comfortable and cosy living space — effectively incorporating the two functions into one building.

There are a number of reasons to build a shed house, but first and foremost, because they are built to standardised kitset parameters, shed houses are a cost-effective alternative to traditional builds, with some estimates coming in at up to half the cost of standard residential construction in New Zealand.

Unlike traditional residential construction, which utilises timber framing, shed houses are constructed from steel, making them high-quality and extremely durable and able to withstand our oftentimes harsh climatic conditions.

Additionally, the prefabricated nature of their construction means that build times are generally much quicker than traditional construction — in some instances no more than a matter of weeks from go to a completed, weathertight space for you to complete the interior fit out of at your own leisure.

“But, at the end of the day, aren’t I just living in a shed?”. It’s true, from the outside your home will look like a shed, but on the inside, a shed house still needs to conform to the New Zealand Building Code to be deemed habitable, so the interior will look like any other residential space with the level of interior specifications entirely up to you — and your budget.

It's also worth noting that shed houses already have many of the attributes of modern day living that we Kiwis are looking for: expansive, open-plan living areas; concrete floors; low-maintenance exteriors; and, a sleek, minimal aesthetic.

Certainly, a shed house is not going to be a practical solution for every build situation but as our cities continue to expand into increasingly more rural environs, as a concept, shed homes represent a new way of living in New Zealand. On a more tangible level, by combining simplicity, affordability and versatility, shed houses are proving to be more than just the latest fad.

So, whether you are looking to build a primary residence, a holiday home, or are simply in need of additional living space, consider a New Zealand-built shed house. There are already a number of companies across the country with the expertise and resources to bring your ideas to life.