Shed Glossary

You’re in the planning stages of your new shed and coming across a few new terms that have you scratching your head. Scratch no more! Here’s a glossary of all the shed terminology you could need.

Designed to make your shed building journey even more seamless, these will help you describe or understand the shiny steel structure going up in your backyard or worksite. If you reckon we’ve missed anything out, get in touch and we’ll add it in! 

Apex   

The highest point of a shed roof, where the two slopes meet.

Apex Bracket or Apex Cleat   

Connects opposing rafters at the middle of the shed.

Awning   

An extension of the roof, usually on the side or front of the shed, providing additional shelter.

Barge   

Colorbond or Zincalume flashing sealing the gap between wall sheets and roof sheets at the gable ends.

Bay   

The space between two columns or supports in a shed, often used to define sections or storage areas. For example, an American barn style shed is known for its three distinct bays. 

Beam   

A horizontal structural element that supports the roof load, transferring it to the columns or walls.

Bill of Materials (BOM)   

A list of components, parts, and quantities needed for shed construction.

Bluescope Steel

Local Australian steel company supplying construction products built to last for generations. 

Cladding   

The external covering of the shed walls, typically made of steel, aluminum, or timber.

Cee Section   

Steel purlin shaped like a "C," used in portal frames, wall girts, and roof purlins.

Class 10a Building   

BCA code for non-habitable structures like garages, carports, and sheds.

Cleats   

Connect sections of the shed using nuts, bolts, or tek screws.

Colorbond®   

A popular brand of pre-painted steel cladding known for its durability and variety of colors. Manufactured by Bluescope Steel.

Column   

A vertical structural element that supports the roof and transfers loads to the foundation.

Cross Bracing   

Steel straps or threaded rods used for structural stability in larger sheds or high-wind areas.

Custom-orb   

A corrugated profile, used for roof or walls.

Diaphragm Bracing   

The bracing effect provided by roof and wall sheeting, crucial in smaller sheds.

Downpipes   

Pipes that divert rainwater away from the shed.

Eave   

The overhanging edge of the roof that extends beyond the shed walls, providing protection from rain.

End Wall   

Walls located at the gable end of a shed.

Engineering Step   

The change from one thickness or size of a structural member to another is referred to as a step or engineering step. This comes from changes in span, bay size, or wall height that affects the structural materials.

Facia Batten   

Also known as eave batten; supports awnings at the shed's eaves.

Flashing   

Thin metal strips used to seal and protect joints in the shed structure, preventing water ingress.

Fly Brace   

A brace from the bottom flange of a rafter to a roof purlin.

Gable   

The triangular section of the shed wall at the end of a pitched roof, often used to add height and ventilation.

Girder   

A large beam that supports other smaller beams or rafters in the shed's roof structure.

Girt   

Horizontal structural member supporting wall sheeting, usually a Cee or Zed section.

Gutters   

Installed under the eaves to collect and divert rainwater.

Haunch   

The knee cleats or brackets connecting columns to rafters.

Insulation   

Material used to reduce heat transfer and provide thermal comfort inside the shed.

Knee Bracket (Cleat or Brace)   

Connects columns to rafters, providing additional support.

Lean-to   

A shed or extension with a single slope roof, typically attached to the side of an existing structure.

Louver   

A vent or series of slats in the shed wall or roof that allows air circulation while keeping out rain and debris.

PA Door   

Personal Access door, usually smaller than roller doors.

Pitch (Roof Pitch)   

The angle or slope of the roof.

Portal Frame   

The main structural frame of the shed. Consists of columns, rafters, apex, and knee brackets.

Purlin   

A horizontal structural member in the roof that supports the roof cladding and transfers loads to the rafters.

Rebated Edge

A rebated edge around the perimeter of your concrete slab which helps with vermin proofing your shed.

Region   

Designates the wind speed zone in Australia where the shed will be built.

Rafter   

A sloped structural element in the roof that supports the purlins and cladding, transferring loads to the walls or beams.

Ridge Cap   

The fabricated steel sheet sealing the ridge line of the roof.

Roller Door   

A type of door that rolls up into a compact coil above the opening, commonly used for sheds and garages.

Roof Wire   

Supports foil-backed insulation in the roof.

Side Wall   

Walls along the length of the shed, usually with gutters.

Skillion Roof   

A single low-pitch roof structure.

Slab   

The concrete base for shed construction.

Span   

The distance between two supports, such as columns or walls, that a structural element (beam or rafter) covers.

Tek Screw   

Self-tapping, self-drilling screws used in various shed components.

Terrain Category   

Classification of the surrounding environment affecting shed design (e.g., open, semi-sheltered).

Topspan or Top Hat   

Light steel sections for affixing roofing and walling sheets in domestic sheds.

Trimdek   

A high-profile steel cladding, suitable for walls and roofs.

Vermaseal / Vermin Seal   

Prevents vermin entry and isolates wall sheeting from the concrete slab. Stockman uses a concrete edge rebate and our own steel vermin seal product called Never Pest.

Verandah   

A covered area adjacent to the shed, often used for outdoor seating or storage.

Wind Bracing   

Structural elements designed to resist wind loads and provide stability to the shed frame.

Wind Speed   

A crucial factor in shed design, crucial in ensuring you get a shed manufactured for the weather conditions in your area.

Zed Section   

Z-shaped steel purlin used for roof purlins and wall girts.

Zincalume®   

A type of steel coated with zinc and aluminum for enhanced corrosion resistance, often used in shed cladding.