3 Unexpected Challenges That Blow Out Shed Timelines (and Budgets)
And How a “Simple Shed” Project Can Turn Into Months of Stress If You’re Not Careful
“It’s just a shed… how hard can it be?”
That’s how most shed projects start. You’ve got the land, you’ve got a rough plan in your head, and you’re thinking it’s a matter of getting a kit and lining up the build. But for a lot of people, that’s where things start turning sour.
Because it’s not the shed itself that causes the issues. It’s everything around it. Permits. Contractors. Coordination. Delays. And if you're trying to manage the whole thing yourself, those “small hiccups” can drag out for months and cost far more than you expected.
There are three challenges which trip people up most often.
Challenge 1: The Permit Process Is Slower, Stricter and More Expensive Than Most People Expect
When people first hear the word “permit,” most think it’s a form or two, maybe a quick online submission. But it’s nothing like that.
These days, sheds get treated almost like houses. Especially on smaller blocks, where you’re dealing with easements, front setbacks, height restrictions… it’s not unusual for council to request report and consent applications, drainage plans, legal point of discharge letters, and full site surveys, all before they’ll even look at your application. In most cases, this adds thousands to the budget, over and above what you’ve already invested.
And if you're doing it yourself, there’s no one to guide you through which documents are needed, how to get them, or what’s considered acceptable. You’re left trying to interpret council feedback, chase information from multiple departments, and hope you're ticking all the boxes. Usually with extra costs tacked on and gaps of silence between each step.
Challenge 2: You’re the Project Manager (Whether You Planned to Be or Not)
If you’re not working with a team that manages the whole build, that job becomes yours. That means you’re in charge of:
Site preparation: Before anything can be built, the land needs to be cleared, levelled, and prepared. That might mean removing debris, cutting into a slope, or working around access constraints. You’ll need to assess drainage, ensure it meets council requirements, and make sure the area is safe and ready for machinery.
Earthworks: You’ll need to book an earthmoving contractor to carry out the prep. That means calling around, getting quotes, comparing availability, and hoping they can slot you in when you need them (and that weather or prior jobs don’t delay them). If they cancel, you’re back to square one.
Booking concreters: Once the ground’s ready, it’s time to pour the slab. You’ll need to coordinate with a concreter — one who’s available, reliable, and understands shed-specific requirements. They’ll need to work around the curing schedule too, because rushing this step can lead to cracks or structural issues down the track. If the slab’s wrong, the whole build is compromised.
Scheduling trades: From builders and framers to sparkies and roofers, every trade needs to be lined up in the right order, with enough time between them to avoid overlap or delays. If one is late, the next one might cancel, and suddenly you’re pushing your timeline out by weeks.
Managing inspections and compliance: Throughout the build, you’ll need to arrange site inspections, provide supporting documentation, and ensure the work meets local regulations. That means dealing with your private building surveyor or council directly — supplying documents, answering questions, and often chasing updates.
It’s a lot. And unless you’re used to coordinating contractors and understanding construction sequencing, it can quickly become overwhelming. One missed booking or late delivery, and everything else starts sliding.
And in most cases, you don’t realise how much time this takes until you’re knee-deep in it. Juggling work, family, and a project that keeps demanding more.
Challenge 3: No One Owns the Problems Because No One Owns the Whole Build
When you’re the one coordinating earthworks, concrete, builders, and approvals, you’re also the one holding everything together. And the moment something goes wrong (which it will) you’re the one stuck trying to sort it out.
Ask anyone who’s tried to manage it themselves and they’ll tell you just how frustrating it gets when trades start pointing fingers. The earthworker says it’s the concreter’s issue. The concreter blames the builder. The builder blames the drawings. And round in circles you go. With no clear answer, and no one taking ownership.
It gets worse when delays start stacking up.
You were expecting the earthworks on Monday, so you booked the concreter for Wednesday. But then the earthworker doesn’t show. The concrete has to be cancelled… and the next available slot is three months away.
And because you’re the one who lined it all up, there’s no project manager to re-coordinate things. You’re back to making calls, chasing trades, negotiating new dates — all while trying to keep the build moving and your life on track.
Take What Happened to John From Bendigo…
John was building a shed on a rental property. Nothing fancy. Just something practical he could use for storage. He figured he’d save a bit of money by ordering the kit through a cheaper supplier and managing the build himself.
But the permit stage alone dragged on for months. His private surveyor sent him new requests every couple of weeks — site levels, stormwater data, confirmation from council on drainage points… each request delayed the process, and each came with extra fees.
He ended up spending over $5,000.00 just gathering documentation. Not because anything was unusual, but because no one helped him plan for what was needed upfront.
Then came construction. The shed was installed, the walls were up… and the team left. No roof.
Turns out, the roof plumbing wasn’t included. And no one had flagged it. John had to bring in a licensed roof plumber to finish the job. At extra cost and with more delays.
By the time it was all done, he’d spent more than the original quote and the project had taken several months longer to complete.
There’s a Smarter Way to Build Your Shed
By the time you're chasing permits, rebooking trades, and managing the build around your everyday life, it's not just the shed that's costing more — it's your time, your energy, and your headspace.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
If you’re in the early stages of planning, the best thing you can do is get clear on what’s involved before the decisions pile up.
That’s why I’ve put together a simple, practical Shed Buyer’s Guide for you to download.
Inside, you’ll find:
- The full breakdown of how a shed project really works
- What timelines to expect at each stage
- What to ask before signing with any shed company
- And how to avoid the hidden delays and cost blowouts that catch most people off guard
*Disclaimer: Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals. These stories are based on real events, and any resemblance to actual persons is coincidental.
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