If you’re weighing up SteelChief against EasyShed, you’re really comparing two quite different products built for different situations.
SteelChief builds custom, made-to-order sheds with hand-assembled panels, rated to N3 wind class. Every shed is built to your exact dimensions – whether that’s a standard 3×3 or a narrow slimline that tucks down the side of your house. EasyShed sells fixed-size flat-pack DIY kits that arrive as individual panels, screws, and components for on-site assembly. Typically a two-day job for two people.
Both are Australian-made. But the way they’re built, how they go together, and what you get for your money are genuinely different.
The short version? EasyShed is cheaper at the checkout, but once you factor in two days of assembly time, higher installation costs, and the odd missing part, the gap is smaller than it looks. If you need something custom-sized, structurally rated for serious weather, or you’d rather have someone handle the project from permits to concrete to install – that’s what we built SteelChief around.
Specification Comparison Table
| Feature | SteelChief | EasyShed |
|---|---|---|
| Steel thickness | Sheet – 0.35 TCT Channel – 0.75 BMT BaseSmart – 0.95 BMT | Sheet – 0.35 TCT Channel – 0.55 BMT |
| Wind rating | N3 – structurally engineered for Australian conditions | N1. Must be anchored to suit local conditions |
| Assembly | Handmade pre-assembled panels: delivered ready to install | Flat-pack DIY kit: individual components, self-assembly |
| Sizing | Fully custom – any width, depth, and height | Fixed standard sizes only |
| Custom shapes | Corner, trapezoid, triangular, slim/narrow available | No |
| Installation service | Full end-to-end: design, permits, concreting, delivery, install | DIY only – no installation offered |
| Base protection | BaseSmart system | No base system; rebated slab recommended |
| Colours | 10 colours + Zinc | 11 colours + Zinc |
| Australian made | Yes – Ballarat, VIC | Yes – Albury, NSW |
| Warranty | 20 Years – excludes saltwater & marine environments | 20 years (excludes wear, weathering, fading, misuse) |
| Delivery | Managed as part of your project | 7–14 business days; free metro |
| Online pricing | Live configurator – instant pricing as you design | Fixed prices on website |
| Product range | Sheds, studios, aviaries, chook pens, dog kennels, dog runs, bin lockers, boat storage | Garden sheds, workshops, storage lockers |
There’s More to a Shed Than the Sheet
When people compare garden sheds, the first number they hear is sheet thickness. EasyShed has built a lot of their marketing around it: “0.35mm, the thickest on the market.” It’s a clean number, easy to remember, and it sounds like it settles the argument.
It doesn’t.
The sheet thickness conversation
First, let’s be straight about the numbers. EasyShed’s 0.35mm figure is Total Coated Thickness (TCT) – that’s the steel plus the zinc and paint coating on top. The Base Metal Thickness (BMT), which is the actual steel underneath, is 0.30mm. That’s the industry standard way to measure, and there’s nothing wrong with their sheet.
SteelChief uses the same sheet: 0.30 BMT / 0.35 TCT. We buy from the same Australian steel mills. If sheet thickness was the only thing that mattered, our sheds and theirs would be the same product.
They’re not. Not even close.
What actually holds a shed up
A garden shed isn’t a steel box. It’s a frame with cladding wrapped around it. The cladding (wall and roof sheets) keeps the weather out and adds some rigidity, but it isn’t what stops the shed twisting in the wind, sagging over time, or pulling apart at the corners. The structural members do that. The channels at the top and bottom of the walls, the ridge beam running along the roof – that’s the skeleton.
And this is where the gap between EasyShed and SteelChief opens up.
- EasyShed structural members: 0.55 BMT across the board
- SteelChief top channel: 0.75 BMT
- SteelChief base channel (BaseSmart): 0.95 BMT
- SteelChief ridge beam: 1.55 BMT
Our top channel is 36% thicker steel than theirs. Our base channel is 73% thicker. Our ridge beam is nearly three times thicker.
That’s not a marginal difference. That’s a different category of shed.
Why the base channel matters
The base channel is where everything ends up. Wind load on the walls transfers down into it. The weight of the roof, anything you’ve hung off the rafters, ends at the base. It’s also the member most exposed to moisture wicking off the slab, splash from rain, and the occasional whack from a mower or a wheelbarrow.
A 0.55 BMT base channel will do the job in a sheltered backyard. A 0.95 BMT base channel will still be doing the job in twenty years on a windy block.
Why the ridge beam matters even more
The ridge beam is the single most loaded member in the entire shed. It runs the length of the roof and carries every kilogram of wind uplift, roof weight, and snow or debris load. When a shed fails in a storm, it usually fails at the ridge, either by deforming, twisting, or pulling away from the gable.
EasyShed runs a 0.55 BMT ridge. SteelChief runs 1.55 BMT – almost three times the steel, in the member that matters most.
This is the difference between a shed that holds its line in a 100km/h gust and one that doesn’t.
So why does anyone talk about sheet thickness?
Because it’s the number on the outside. It’s what you can see, touch, and measure with a pair of calipers in the showroom. Structural members are inside the wall and inside the roof, harder to inspect, harder to compare on a spec sheet, and harder to put in an ad.
It’s the same reason car ads talk about 0-100 times and not chassis rigidity. One is easy to market. The other is what keeps the thing together.
A true comparison
If you’re shopping garden sheds, here’s what to actually ask:
- What’s the BMT of the wall and roof sheet? (Both EasyShed and SteelChief: 0.30 BMT)
- What’s the BMT of the top channel? (EasyShed: 0.55. SteelChief: 0.75)
- What’s the BMT of the base channel? (EasyShed: 0.55. SteelChief: 0.95)
- What’s the BMT of the ridge beam? (EasyShed: 0.55. SteelChief: 1.55)
- What’s the wind rating, and is it certified for your area?
- Where is it made?
Sheet thickness is the entry-level question. The structural members are where the real difference lives, and it’s where your shed will either hold up for decades or start showing its age in a few seasons.
We use the same sheet steel EasyShed does. We just don’t think that’s the part of the shed worth arguing about.
Assembly: What’s It Actually Like?
Two Very Different Weekends
EasyShed uses a “5-Step Assembly” system. Your shed arrives flat-packed in cartons – individual steel sheets, framing, and all the screws. You put it together yourself using the instructions provided. For a confident DIYer with a helper, a standard garden shed is roughly 2 full day’s work. Larger workshops? You’re looking at a weekend, possibly more.
SteelChief works differently. Each wall and roof section is hand-built to your exact specs in our Ballarat factory, then delivered as pre-assembled panels. Instead of connecting hundreds of individual pieces, you’re joining a handful of large, pre-squared sections. The result? Faster assembly, straighter walls, and a lot less swearing.
Handy with a drill? Our panels are designed to go together quickly and cleanly – significantly faster than building from scratch with a flat-pack kit. No misaligned screw holes, no flimsy sheets bending while you try to hold them in place.
Rather not touch a drill at all? We can manage the whole thing – design, council permits, concrete slab, delivery, and professional installation. One team, start to finish. EasyShed doesn’t offer an installation service, so if you buy one and can’t put it together yourself, you’ll need to find and coordinate your own installer.
Wind Rating and Weather
Built for Australian Weather – Not Just Sold in Australia
All SteelChief sheds are structurally engineered and rated to N3 wind class (AS 4055). That means they’re designed to handle the wind loads you’d expect across Australia, including exposed suburban blocks, semi-rural properties, and coastal sites where things can get properly gusty.
EasyShed has an N1 rating for their garden shed range. Their assembly instructions recommend anchoring the shed to a concrete slab straight away to prevent damage from “sudden wind gusts.”
If your shed’s going in a sheltered corner behind the house, this might not keep you up at night. But if you’re on a coastal block, an exposed hillside, or anywhere that cops a decent blow in winter, there’s a meaningful difference between a shed that’s structurally rated and one that relies on anchoring alone.
Our BaseSmart base system adds another layer of protection where sheds are most vulnerable – the bottom. It seals the base to keep out water and debris, which is where rust typically starts and works its way up. EasyShed recommends a rebated concrete slab to manage water, but there’s no dedicated base protection built into the product.
Custom Sizing
Your Space Is Unique – Should Your Shed Be Too?
EasyShed offers a range of standard sizes. You pick from what’s available on their website. If the size you need falls between two options, you either go bigger (and pay for space you don’t use) or go smaller (and wish you hadn’t).
With SteelChief, every shed is built to your exact measurements. Need a 2.7m wide shed because that’s what fits down your side passage? Done. Want 4.2m deep so you can fit a workbench and still close the door? No problem. We build to those dimensions, not the nearest standard size.
We also build shapes that most manufacturers simply can’t. Corner sheds for L-shaped spaces. Trapezoid sheds for angled fence lines. Triangular sheds for awkward corners. Slim sheds as narrow as 600mm for tight side accesses. If your block has a tricky spot that a standard shed won’t fit, chances are we’ve built something similar before.
Our online design tool allows you to experiment with different dimensions, door placements, and layouts while providing a real-time price estimate. It’s an excellent way to visualise your options before starting your project.
The Real Cost Over 10 Years
Let’s Be Honest About Price
EasyShed is cheaper upfront. That’s not a secret and we’re not going to pretend otherwise. A standard flat-pack garden shed costs significantly less than a custom-built SteelChief structure. If budget is your number one priority and you need basic backyard storage, EasyShed delivers on that.
But here’s the question worth asking: what does the shed cost you over 10 years?
The things that drive ongoing cost are rust, warping, storm damage, panel replacements, and eventually – replacement. A shed built from 0.55mm BMT with the lowest wind rating and no base protection will age differently from one built with 0.75mm steel, N3 engineering, and a sealed base system.
Pre-assembled panels also mean tighter joins and straighter walls. Flat-pack sheds assembled on-site are more likely to have slight misalignments that create gaps – and those gaps are where water gets in and rust gets started, especially if the slab isn’t perfectly level.
If you need a shed that’ll last 15–20 years without major maintenance, protect valuable tools or equipment, or handle coastal and high-wind conditions, the upfront premium for a properly engineered structure typically pays for itself well before the 10-year mark.
More Than Just Sheds
One Supplier for Your Whole Backyard
One thing that surprises a lot of people is the range. SteelChief doesn’t just make sheds – we manufacture a full range of outdoor structures including garages, bird aviaries, chicken coops, dog kennels and pens, cat enclosures, studios and retreats, boat storage, bin lockers, and more.
Everything’s built from the same materials, so you can colour-match across your whole backyard. If you need a shed, a chook pen, and a bike locker, you can get all three in the same colour from a single manufacturer. EasyShed’s range focuses primarily on garden sheds, workshops, and storage lockers.
So Which One’s Right for You?
It Depends on What You Need
EasyShed might be the better fit if:
- You need a standard-size garden shed for basic storage
- Budget is your main concern and you want the lowest upfront price
- You’re a confident DIYer who enjoys a weekend project
- Your block is sheltered and you don’t need a structural wind rating
- You need it soon – EasyShed delivers in 7–14 business days
SteelChief is probably the better choice if:
- You need a custom size to fit a tricky or tight space
- Your property is exposed to coastal winds, open terrain, or harsh weather
- You want heavy-gauge structural steel and an N3 wind rating as standard
- You’d prefer one team to handle everything: design, permits, concrete, and install
- Your shed needs to protect valuable tools, equipment, or vehicles
- You want multiple outdoor structures that match (shed, aviary, etc.)
- You’re thinking long-term and don’t want to replace it in 5–10 years
See What’s Possible
Our online configurator lets you design your shed to your exact specs and see a live price straight away. Choose your size, doors, windows, colours, and extras – then decide whether you want to build it yourself or have us take care of everything.
Common Questions
Yes, SteelChief sheds cost more upfront. You’re paying for thicker structural material, N3 wind rating, custom sizing to fit your exact space, hand-assembled panels, and the option of full end-to-end installation. That said, the total cost over 10 years is typically lower because you’re not dealing with rust, repairs, or early replacement.
Structural members are the steel skeleton of a shed: the channels at the top and base of the walls, and the ridge beam along the roof. They carry the wind load and weight. The wall and roof sheets keep weather out, but the structural members are what stops the shed twisting, sagging, or pulling apart in a storm.
Thicker structural members matter more. The sheet keeps weather out, but the structural members (top channel, base channel, ridge beam) carry the wind load and hold the shed together in a storm. Many sheds use the same sheet thickness, so the real difference between brands lives in the structural steel underneath.
Absolutely. Our pre-assembled panels are designed for straightforward DIY — you’re joining pre-built sections rather than assembling hundreds of individual pieces, so it goes up faster and straighter than a flat-pack kit. But if you’d rather not, we can handle the whole project: design, council permits, concrete slab, delivery, and professional installation. One team, start to finish.
EasyShed doesn’t publish a wind rating for their standard garden shed range. Their instructions recommend anchoring the shed to a concrete slab immediately to prevent damage from wind gusts. SteelChief sheds are structurally engineered and rated to N3 wind class, which covers non-cyclonic regions across Australia including coastal and exposed sites.
SteelChief builds every shed to custom dimensions: you choose the width, depth, height, door placement, window positions, and layout. We also build non-standard shapes including corner, trapezoid, triangular, and slim configurations for tricky spaces. EasyShed offers fixed standard sizes with optional extras like skylights and shelving, but the core dimensions and structure aren’t customisable.
Getting Your Price
