Machinery Sheds Butler Western Australia (WA)
MACHINERY SHEDS FOR FARMERS IN BUTLER WA
Safeguarding your valued farming assets from the elements can be a significant, yet necessary investment. When it comes time to constructing a quality Wheatbelt Steel machinery shed, there are several elements you will need to consider, ensuring the success of your undertaking and to future-proof your investments.
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Wheatbelt Steel will build the right shed for all your requirements. Follow the links below to find out more about our Real Shed™ product range.
Workshop Shed
The hub of your farming operation, let us help you create a space both practical and functional for workflow.
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Machinery Sheds
We have solutions to protect and extend the life of your valuable farm equipment and machinery.
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Fertiliser / Grain Sheds
Our quality-built fertiliser sheds give you the confidence to bulk buy fertilisers and store safely until needed.
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Hay Sheds
Safely store your harvested hay in optimum conditions to preserve its quality and market value.
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Shearing Sheds
Our robust shearing sheds provide an efficient and safe workspace to get the job done.
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Equestrian Arenas
Enjoy your horse riding all year round with a fully customised arena, designed to suit your exact needs.
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Poultry Sheds
Shield your poultry from the weather and predators with a customised Wheatbelt Steel shed.
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Aircraft Hangars
We offer an array of hangars designed and fabricated to withstand Australia’s wind conditions.
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Optional Extras
We offer optional extras to help you complete the utility, safety and comfort or your unique shed design.
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MACHINERY SHEDS FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA - QUICK LINKS
CONSIDER WHAT MACHINERY NEEDS TO BE STORED
ost likely, a key consideration to establishing a Wheatbelt Steel hot dipped steel shed is your machinery and farm equipment footprint. Kick off by making a checklist of all the equipment you wish to store in your new steel structure, as well as any extra items like implements, fertilisers etc.
If you feel you may find it tough to move about your farm equipment, once safely secured inside, you’ll need to reassess the size of your farm shed. Future-proofing your optimal space from the start will help avoid you from running out of area in the long-term, saving you important time and money.
WHAT SIZE MACHINERY SHED DO YOU NEED?
Interestingly, the sizing and dimensions of a premium farm shed are among the most essential details for a rural farm shed build; because it matters not how many smart design components your shed has, if you can’t literally fit your machinery– it defeats all purpose!
A deficiency of storage space is incredibly frustrating, so how can you steer clear of it? Here are the main points to consider when calculating how large your machinery shed needs to be – Length, Width and Height:
The length can be determined by the machinery needed to be kept and the configuration that you decide will work best. Common bay spacings for machinery sheds include 8m, 8.5 m and 9m. However, larger bay spacings including 10m have become progressively usual as machinery sizes increase.
Open web truss shed type spans can range from 12m clear span to 60m clear span, with conventional spans including 18m-wide, 21m-wide, 24m and 27m-wide. Like your shed length, the width can also be swayed by the machinery you need housed. For instance, a standard semi-truck will require a 21m span whereas a B-double will call for a 30m span.
The height of your shed needs to be thoroughly planned because, while it is uncomplicated to add extra bays onto an existing shed, boosting the height of a shed after it has been built is not so straightforward.
Typically, a minimum clearance height of 6m will suffice for the majority of cropping operations, offering enough clearance height for machinery and equipment like air seeders. Nevertheless, if you mean to install roller doors or sliding doors on your shed, you will need to allow an added 500mm to your required clearance height to enable the sliding door beam (or roller door drum). In a similar way, a girder truss or girder beam will additionally reduce the clearance height of a bay opening.
In contrast to a domestic shed, you must have foresight when selecting the size of your Wheatbelt Steel industrial shed. These days farm machinery is escalating in size and is likely to continue to increase, so factor this into your steel shed design to use your machinery space for years to come.
We recommend discussing all your machinery storage needs of your new steel shed with our professional building consultants, so our team can offer a best-practice design and quote on your machinery or shearing shed.
MACHINERY SHED DESIGN OPTIONS
When it concerns the design for hay sheds, grain sheds, custom sheds, workshop sheds, large machinery sheds, bay sheds or a workshop, there are typically a trio of options: Fully Enclosed, Drive-through and Open-fronted.
Fully Enclosed Commercial Sheds– A great answer if security is a high-priority. Choices include a personal, lockable sliding access steel door. This choice offers complete safeguard from the weather, minimises dust, and makes it difficult for birds to enter. Additional spaces can be added, for example – a workshop.
Drive-through – Permits you to unhitch implements inside or conversely leave items hitched and merely drive in to hide from the weather. The option is optimal for machinery that is complicated to reverse, and is a cost-effective option to house long machinery and for access. You won’t be confined to parking between the columns, possibly supplying extra space to house more items. Furthermore, you can load or store machinery from both ends.
Open-fronted Storage Shed – Can be the most versatile structure as it can be used for machinery, grain or hay storage, with the open side supplying natural light. Bay spacing is typically about 8-9m, however, double bays may be an opportunity with the incorporation of a girder truss. Another choice includes a canopy on the open-fronted region of the shed which will enhance the undercover area.
MACHINERY SHED ACCESS SOLUTIONS
It is inconceivable to make the most of the size of your commercial shed if you are restricted by impractical access options. Options and ideas for your machinery shed include:
An open-ended or drive-through configuration (discussed above).
A girder beam or girder truss, also known as column removal, could be used to provide a wider bay opening.
Sliding doors to one end or at both ends.
Make sure the pad at the front of your shed is big enough to make access easy for lengthy machinery. If you are in the process of planning your shed site or readying your shed pad, you might find the video (below) helpful. Ben, one of our project managers, discusses our ‘Top 10 Tips’ for the ideal shed pad.
STORAGE BAY SIZING CHOICES
The majority of farm machinery sheds might be custom-designed to satisfy your specific requirements. The sizing of bays and how many you incorporate in your shed is something many farmers will personalise, based on the amount of space they need in their shed and the size of the machinery they want to store inside.
A bay is primarily the amount of space between the columns inside the shed, so the broader that these are, the more room you will have to hold your machinery inside. This is extremely handy if you possess large tractors or trucks you need to house in your farm machinery shed. There are restrictions on how far apart bays may be as they supply the structural support for the roof but, if you understand what’s going inside the shed, then our team can figure out a way to position structural components so you obtain the access needed while maintaining strength.
If you’re seeking to store larger machinery items and you’re troubled about supporting the roof of your shed, Wheatbelt Steel’s trussovers can also be employed for extra structural support. Like the example (below), trussovers have been added to this combined farm shed for optimum support, due to very wide bays.
OTHER DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
While these designs are fantastic for storing machinery, there are more aspects you will need to consider when first preparing your shed design.
Doors – Personal accessibility, sliding doors or roller doors can be an asset if you are seeking added weather protection, vermin protection or added security.
Open Sides – This is an approach if you need to gain access to your shed by driving straight in. It may be beneficial with longer equipment and during inclement weather. Open access may be developed from multiple sides if required.
Know The Size of Your Equipment – Before you settle on your layout, make certain you assess the width, height, and length of your vehicles and machinery. Don’t forget to factor in the number of vehicles you wish to store. This will help determine the best configuration and size of your shed.
Building Code – Always make sure you consult local government to determine compliance regulations and any pertinent legislation. Information relating to Yeal can be found here.
Consider The Weather
Always take into account the direction of prevailing weather when designing open-side or open-gable sheds. By positioning your Wheatbelt Steel shed opening away from incoming weather, you can ensure greater and long-term protection of your machinery. This is extremely essential for hay sheds.
WHAT IS THE MANDATED THICKNESS FOR A CONCRETE SLAB?
Choosing the right concrete slab thickness for your farm shed project can help prevent upkeep issues and further cost down the track.
Among the most common thickness for a shed slab is 150mm (6 inches), with one layer of reinforcing mesh. This is adequate for any farm machinery like tractors. However, if you are driving fully loaded semis or B-Doubles across the slab, a 170mm to 200mm is suggested, and potentially another layer of reo mesh will be required. If you feel your shed will require a thicker slab, Wheatbelt Steel can engineer a slab to suit whatever your purpose.
TIPS FOR MACHINERY STORAGE PAD PREPARATION
1. Get the pad laid before the shed is built.
2. Give the pad time to settle, have it prepped well ahead of time.
3. Mechanically compact each layer.
4. Make your pad as flat as possible.
5. Ensure drainage is considered.
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Talk to our team
Wheatbelt Steel is here to provide you with more information, answer any questions you may have about storage solutions and how we can help you make the most of your space.