Shed Parts Glossary And Terminology

The glossary below explains key terms and components used in the Australian shed industry and how they interconnect to form a sturdy structure.

Shed Structural Components

Shed Columns

Vertical structural elements that support the roof rafters and transfer loads to the foundation. They are typically made from C Sections or RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section).

Shed Rafters

Angled structural elements that extend from the top of the columns to the apex of a building, forming the roof frame and supporting the roof purlins and roof sheeting. Typical angles range from 5° to 30°.

Shed Portal Frames

A fully assembled frame made up of columns and rafters, connected at the knee and apex joints, forming the primary support system of a shed.

Shed Roof Purlins

Horizontal structural members attached at right angles to rafters to support the roof sheeting, typically made from Z Sections or Top Hats.

Shed Wall Girts

Horizontal structural members attached at right angles to columns, supporting the wall sheeting and strengthening the building. They are typically made from bolted Z Sections or tek-screwed Top Hats.

Shed Eave Purlins

Purlins located at the eaves of the shed, forming a junction between the wall and roof sheeting. The top of the eave purlin is typically considered the building’s height reference point.

Shed Mullions

Vertical columns in the gable end wall that support the end wall girts, allowing the end wall sheeting to be attached. Also referred to as end-wall mullions.

Shed Door Headers

Structural sections positioned above the roller and personal access doors. They reinforce the door frame and provide a fixing point for header sheeting to attach to. They are also used for windows and other openings in portal frame buildings.

Shed Roof Trusses

Structural components supporting the roof, sometimes used interchangeably with rafters. Trusses are typically found in larger sheds spanning 20 meters and above.

Shed Structural Beams

Horizontal structural elements that bear loads from other components and transfer them to columns or walls.

RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section) in Sheds

A steel profile with a rectangular hollow cross-section, commonly used for columns and rafters in non-C Section shed construction.

C Sections for Sheds

C-shaped steel purlins commonly used as columns and rafters in portal frames. Sizes range from 100mm to 400mm, with thicknesses between 1mm and 3.5mm.

Z Sections for Sheds

Z-shaped steel purlins, commonly used for roof purlins and wall girts due to their lapping ability. Also used as roller door jambs, with sizes ranging from 100mm to 350mm and thicknesses from 1mm to 3.5mm.

Top Hats for Sheds

Lightweight yet high-strength sections used as roof purlins and wall girts to secure roofing and walling sheets, commonly found in domestic sheds and garages. They generally come in three sizes: 64mm, 96mm, and 120mm, with thicknesses of 0.75mm, 0.95mm, and 1.15mm (often rounded to 0.75mm, 1mm, and 1.2mm by suppliers).

Shed Mezzanine Joists 

Horizontal structural members spanning between bearers or girders to support a mezzanine floor, typically constructed from C Sections or Z Sections.

Shed Cladding and Roofing

Shed Wall Sheeting

Metal sheet panels covering the exterior walls of a shed, offering protection from the elements while enhancing structural appearance. True Blue Sheds exclusively supplies BlueScope’s Colorbond® or Zincalume® sheeting.

Shed Roof Sheeting

Metal sheet panels installed on the roof to shield the shed from rain, sun, and harsh weather conditions. True Blue Sheds exclusively uses BlueScope’s Colorbond® and Zincalume® cladding for superior durability.

Colorbond® Shed Cladding

A premium Australian-made pre-painted steel cladding renowned for its durability, corrosion resistance, and extensive range of over 22 colour options.

Zincalume® Shed Cladding

A high-performance steel cladding coated with a zinc-aluminium alloy, providing superior corrosion resistance and a sleek metallic finish. Manufactured in Australia by BlueScope.

Trim Cladding for Sheds

A deep-pan, five-ribbed high-profile steel cladding designed for both wall and roof applications. Valued for its strength and modern aesthetic.

Corrugated Shed Cladding (Custom-Orb)

A traditional corrugated steel profile offering a timeless aesthetic, suitable for both roofing and wall applications.

BMT (Base Metal Thickness) for Shed Cladding

The raw thickness of the metal sheeting before coatings or paint are applied. Common BMT options for Colorbond® and Zincalume® sheds are 0.42mm and 0.48mm.

TCT (Total Coated Thickness) for Shed Cladding

The total thickness of the metal sheeting, including coatings and paint. BlueScope’s Colorbond® and Zincalume® have TCT values of 0.47mm and 0.53mm, respectively.

Shed Wainscoting

A design feature where the lower portion of the shed walls is clad in a contrasting colour. The height of the wainscot can be adjusted to suit aesthetic preferences.

Shed Doors and Windows

Shed Roller Doors

Metal doors that roll up vertically into a coil above the door opening. They are space-efficient and provide a wide opening for easy access, ideal for storing large items or vehicles. These usually come in Series A (up to 3m high x 3m wide), Series AA (up to 3m high x 5.4m wide), and Series B (over 3m high and up to 5.4m wide).

Metal Sliding Doors for Sheds

Doors that move horizontally along a top or bottom track, typically consisting of one or more metal panels.

Shed Personal Access (PA) Doors

Similar in size to a standard house door, shed doors are designed for quick human entry and exit. They typically come in two forms: a knock-down version requiring assembly or a fully assembled option with a self-supporting frame clad in Colorbond® sheeting. The standard shed door width is 820mm.

Glass Sliding Doors for Sheds

Sliding doors featuring glass panels, allowing natural light into the shed while providing access.

Shed Windows

Openings in the shed walls that allow natural light and ventilation. They come in various styles and sizes and are usually made from powder-coated aluminium in a Colorbond® colour.

Frame-Only Openings in Sheds

A structural framework for doors or windows without the actual door or window installed. It allows clients to supply their own windows or doors.

Wind-Locked Roller Doors for Sheds
Shed Rainwater Management

Specialised roller doors designed for high-wind areas, particularly in cyclonic regions. These doors have additional locking mechanisms to withstand strong winds. Required under NCC2022 for cyclonic areas in Australia but recommended for all high-wind speed locations.

Shed Rainwater Management

Shed Gutters

Metal channels installed along the eaves of the shed roof to collect and divert rainwater. Sheds typically use quad or square gutters, available in slotted or unslotted designs.

Shed Downpipes

Pipes that carry rainwater from gutters to the ground or a drainage system. Usually constructed from rectangular Colorbond® or Zincalume®; PVC piping is often used for direct connection to rainwater tanks.

Shed Gutter Brackets

Support structures attaching gutters to the shed’s wall sheeting or eave, ensuring gutters are correctly angled for optimal water collection and drainage.

Shed Flashings

Shed Ridge Capping

A protective metal flashing installed along the peak of the shed roof, covering the joint where two roof sheets meet at the apex. It prevents water infiltration and enhances the roof’s appearance.

Shed Barge Capping

A metal flashing fitted along the edges of the roof sheeting at the gable or skillion ends. It prevents water entry and provides a tidy, finished appearance.

Shed Corner Flashings

Metal flashings fitted at external wall corners, providing protection against water ingress and giving the building a clean, finished look.

Shed Vermin Seal (Vermaseal)

A specialised sealing product that prevents pests from entering the shed at the junction where the sheeting meets the slab. It provides a secure barrier against pest intrusion.

Shed Header Flashings

Folded metal flashings installed above doors and windows, protecting openings from water entry and providing a neat appearance.

Shed Insulation

Shed Roof Insulation

Installing insulation beneath the shed roof sheeting helps maintain a stable internal temperature, reduces heat loss, and assists in managing condensation build-up.

Shed Wall Insulation

Installing insulation in shed walls creates a more comfortable interior environment, minimises temperature variations, and protects the shed’s contents from extreme weather conditions.

Shed Bracing

Shed Cross Bracing

Steel straps or threaded rods installed diagonally between structural members. They provide stability and resist lateral forces, particularly in larger sheds and high-wind areas.

Shed Strap Bracing

Diagonally installed metal straps designed to provide structural strength, enhance stability, and prevent movement within the shed frame.

Shed Knee Bracing

Additional supports installed at the connection points between columns and rafters, enhancing structural integrity. Typically constructed from C Sections.

Shed Apex Bracing

Additional reinforcement at the roof’s apex (highest point) where rafters meet, typically constructed from C Sections.

Shed Fly Bracing

A brace extending from a girt or purlin around a rafter or column, providing lateral support and restraint to these structural members.

Shed Rod Bracing

Bracing similar to strap bracing but using metal rods instead of straps to ensure structural stability.

Diaphragm Bracing in Sheds

Roof and wall sheeting act together to create a bracing effect, stabilising the entire structure.

Shed Bridging

Additional support members installed between columns or rafters to increase stability and minimise flexing. These typically consist of 22mm or 40mm roofing battens, although top hats are sometimes used.

Shed Rake Angle Trim

Trim angle is attached to the roof purlins on end walls to secure the top edge of the end wall sheeting to. Typically folded plate into an L-shape.

Shed Corner Angle Trim

The corner trim angle is installed on shed corners from the eave to the bottom girt, allowing wall sheeting to be secured. It is usually formed into a 50×50mm folded L-shape.

Shed Brackets

Shed Apex Brackets

Folded metal brackets used to connect two rafters at the roof’s apex, ensuring stability and proper distribution of roof loads.

Shed Haunch Brackets (Knee Brackets)

Also known as knee brackets, these brackets connect columns to rafters at the eave, providing essential support and strength to the shed’s frame.

Shed Hold-Down Brackets

Brackets that anchor shed columns to a concrete slab or foundation, preventing uplift during high winds. They typically come as cast-in brackets, bolted-down U-brackets, or L-shaped brackets.

Additional Shed Components

Shed Skylights

Transparent panels made from fibreglass or polycarbonate, installed in the roof to allow natural light into the shed and reduce reliance on artificial lighting during the day.

Shed Mezzanine Floors

An additional elevated floor within the shed, typically used for storage or to create extra usable space without increasing the building’s footprint. They can also separate the roof area, creating a flat ceiling beneath.

Shed Roof Safety Wire

Safety wire installed under skylights to provide fall protection during roof installation and maintenance. Also commonly used under builders’ wrap on shed ceilings to manage condensation.

Shed Whirlybirds (Roof Ventilators)

A wind-powered ventilation device installed on the shed roof to improve air circulation and reduce heat build-up inside.

Shed Design Elements

Shed Gable Roof Design

A triangular or pitched roof style. Common roof pitch angles include 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 22.5°, 25°, 27.5°, and 30°.

Shed Skillion Roof Design

A single-sloped roof structure, typically available with 5°, 10°, 15°, 20° roof pitches.

Shed Hip Roof Design

A roof style featuring slopes on all four sides meeting at the top, it is commonly used for carports rather than sheds.

Shed Dutch Gable Roof Design

It combines a hip roof with a small gable at its peak. It is typically used more often in carports than sheds.

Shed Eaves

The part of the roof extending beyond the shed walls, creating an overhang that protects against rain and sun.

Shed Eave Height

The vertical measurement from the top of the slab to the top of the eave purlin. Generally used to indicate shed height.

Shed Apex Height

The height of the highest point of the shed roof, where the two rafters meet.

Shed Roof Pitch

The angle or slope of the roof from the apex to the eave. Typical angles include 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 22.5°, 25°, 27.5°, and 30°.

Shed Bays (Bay Spacing)

The space between portal frames or primary columns. Bay spacing can be uniform or varied according to requirements.

Shed Awnings

Attached to a shed’s side or front and provide additional shelter. They can be fully open, enclosed, or partially enclosed.

Shed Lean-to (Awning)

Another term for an awning roof is typically a single-sloped structure attached to the main shed, sloping away.

Shed Slab (Concrete Foundation)

The concrete foundation on which the shed structure is built.

Shed Snow Loading

A structural design consideration is accounting for snow accumulation on the roof, which is particularly important in areas prone to heavy snowfall.

Concrete Piers for Sheds

Holes are drilled into the ground and filled with concrete, supporting portal frame elements. They can be integrated into slabs or used independently.

Shed Slab Thickness

The depth of the concrete slab, varying according to shed size and intended use. Typical slab thicknesses include 100mm, 125mm, and 150mm.

Shed Footing Depth

The vertical measurement of a concrete footing extending below ground level.

Shed Footing Diameter

The width of concrete piers, determined by shed engineering, which are drilled and filled with concrete.

Shed Moment Frame

Typically replaces the need for strap bracing, consisting of a C-section running vertically up one column, across the eave, and down the adjacent column.

Shed Open Bay Design

A section of the shed open on one or more sides, typically used for equipment access.

Shed Internal Walls

A wall within the shed, used to divide the interior space.

Frame-only Sheds

Sheds supplied only with the structural framework, allowing for customised cladding and other components.

BOM (Bill of Materials) for Sheds

Bill of Materials—a comprehensive list of all components and quantities needed to construct the shed.

BlueScope Steel for Sheds

A major Australian steel manufacturer known for high-quality products such as Colorbond® and Zincalume®, commonly used in shed construction.

Shed Awning Drop (Pelmet)

An awning’s vertical distance extends downward from its attachment point or the side of a shed.

Shed Slab Rebate

A recessed edge around the perimeter of the concrete slab, improving water resistance and vermin-proofing.

Wind Speed Considerations for Sheds

A critical engineering factor in shed design, measured in metres per second. It determines the required strength and specifications for the shed structure.

Shed Side Walls

Walls along the length of the shed, typically featuring gutters. They can be clad or left open.

Shed Span

The width of the building, typically measured across the gable end and from the outside edges of columns.

Shed Clear Span

The unobstructed distance between support columns, allowing maximum usable internal space.

Terrain Category for Shed Design

A classification defining the surrounding environment (open, semi-sheltered, sheltered) that affects shed design parameters.

Shed Fasteners and Fixings

Tek Screws for Sheds

Self-drilling, self-tapping screws with a hexagonal head used for attaching cladding to purlins and girts. Commonly feature neoprene washers for waterproofing, used for walling, roofing, and flashings.

Shed Framing Nuts and Bolts

Often referred to as framing bolts, these fasteners vary in thickness and length. They’re used for connecting major shed components like haunch and apex brackets and typically come in Zinc or Galvanized finishes to prevent rust.