Our SheShed flatpack cabins are the perfect way to add extra living space to your home, or create a backyard office, or finally get that dedicated hobby workspace. But what if you need a bathroom or kitchen?
Each of our cabins do not come with built in facilities, as we know each person purchasing has a different use, some just for an office, home business, studio or sleepout, and in some locations adding these facilities changes the council consent requirements.
So, can you add a kitchen or bathroom facilities to a SheShed log cabin or timber shed?
Yes and no, depending on your location…
Australia…
The great news is that in most Australian states there are easy ways that you can add a bathroom or kitchenette to your backyard timber shed with only minimal additional requirements for getting council approval.
Give our friendly Australian shed consultants a call to chat over your project ideas and to learn more: 1800 316 583
You can also book a complimentary Zoom tour of our Brook River Cabin in New South Wales (shown in the video above), which has a self-contained bathroom pod and small kitchenette added after construction.
What are Some Alternative Options to Consider?
If you live somewhere with restrictions on adding a kitchen or bathroom and you want to pursue getting council consent, what other options are there to consider?
Building an additional smaller shed dedicated as an outhouse or bathroom, can be a lot easier to get council consent. In some locations, outhouses may be exempt, acceptable because of being “historically considered a permitted activity”, but this will vary from council to council, and will still have some restrictions on how it’s implemented.
Partially covered outdoor cooking facilities can also often be created in an aesthetically pleasing way and may have less stringent council requirements than a consented building. But either way, if you are unsure about the regulations, we do recommend checking directly with your local council, or you can also talk to a local town planner if you’re unsure for all requirements you will need to meet.
Still Want Those Council Approved Amenities?
If you’re still keen on converting your flatpack cabin into a consented dwelling, our SheShed technical team have outlined a few areas where alterations may need to be made to the kitset to make it fit for purpose as a consented dwelling in your state. Some of these include but are not limited to:
- Roof cladding – The asphalt roofing tiles may have to be replaced with an iron/steel roof.
- Insulation – Additional insulation may need to be added to the floor, walls and roof, which may require building out the wall thickness, creating a wall cavity for added lining and insulation.
- Window Flashing – Aluminium flashings may have to be added, and high thermal performance windows may need to be installed depending on what climate region the cabin is installed in.