At a glance:
- Trusteel Fabrications has designed and built steel garages since 1976, over 50 years of in-house fabrication and construction
- Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) structural steel frames are standard on every garage build
- Registered with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) for both domestic and commercial construction
- HIA member with 5-year structural warranties on all garage builds
- Garage styles available: gable, skillion, and garaport configurations
- Building permits managed in-house, no need to engage a separate building surveyor or registered builder
- Full construction available across Melbourne and regional Victoria; self-erect kits supplied to other states
Steel Garages Built to Last
Trusteel Fabrications designs, fabricates, and installs custom steel garages for Melbourne property owners, tradespeople, and businesses. Every stage happens in-house, from initial design through to the final inspection. Your project is not passed between contractors.
Trusteel holds both Domestic and Commercial building licences with the Victorian Building Authority. This means one contract covers your entire build, including permits, concrete, and construction. You do not need to manage separate trades or engage an independent registered builder.
The workshop is based in Mulgrave. Fabrication is done on-site there, and builds are delivered across Melbourne metro and regional Victoria, within approximately 150km.
What We Build
Trusteel builds custom steel garages across the full range of residential, rural, and commercial applications.
Structure types:
- Single and double domestic garages
- Gable roof garages
- Skillion roof garages
- Garaport structures (combined enclosed garage and open carport)
- Commercial trade workshops
- Fleet vehicle storage facilities
- Light industrial garages
Structural options on every build:
- Roller doors, personal access doors, and windows
- Roof and wall insulation
- Skylights and natural light provisions
- Custom bay sizing and clear-span configurations
- Mezzanine floors available on larger builds
- Colorbond cladding in a full range of standard colours
Trusteel builds across Melbourne metro and regional Victoria, including Geelong, the Mornington Peninsula, Gippsland, Ballarat, and Bendigo.
Structural Steel Frames Versus C-Section Kits
Most volume garage suppliers build with C-section frames. C-section steel is lighter, cheaper to manufacture, and adequate for basic light-duty storage. For a garage used daily, over decades, it is not the right structural choice.
Trusteel uses Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) structural steel as the standard for domestic and most trade garages. RHS is a closed-section steel profile. It resists twisting and racking forces in all directions, unlike C-section which is open on one face. For larger commercial garages, such as fleet vehicle storage or light industrial buildings with wider clear spans, Trusteel specifies universal beams or Open Web Trusses instead, since both carry load across a wider unsupported bay than RHS alone.
The practical difference matters most over time. A C-section frame may meet minimum code requirements when new. A structural steel frame, whichever of the three suits your build, maintains structural integrity under repeated load, temperature movement, and wind pressure for the life of the building.
Here is what that means for your garage specifically:
- Wider clear spans without internal columns, giving you a more usable floor area
- Greater resistance to wind uplift, relevant for exposed Melbourne sites
- No flange warping or section distortion under load
- Better long-term performance where vehicles, machinery, or equipment create ongoing lateral load
- A durable structure that does not need remedial work within the first decade
Structural steel frames cost more than C-section. The difference is real. So is the gap in how the two structures perform at the 20 and 30-year mark.
The Build Process
Every Trusteel garage project follows the same structured sequence. Nothing is skipped and no stage is outsourced.
- Initial Consultation and Site Assessment. Trusteel’s team reviews your site, access, orientation, and proposed use. This informs the structural design and identifies any site-specific constraints, such as soil conditions, easements, or BAL zone requirements.
- Design and Engineering. Your garage is designed to your exact specifications. Structural engineering is completed in-house. You receive drawings for review and approval before anything is fabricated.
- Permits and BCA Compliance. Trusteel manages building permit lodgement with the relevant council. As a VBA-registered builder, Trusteel handles the statutory documentation. You do not need to engage a building surveyor separately.
- Fabrication at Mulgrave. Your RHS frame and all structural components are fabricated at the Mulgrave workshop. Fabrication does not begin until your permit is approved and your design is confirmed.
- Concrete and Site Preparation. Trusteel manages the slab or footings required for your garage. This is included in the project scope. You do not need to engage a separate concretor.
- Construction and Handover. Trusteel’s construction crew erects the structure and completes all agreed fit-out. The completed garage is handed over with the relevant compliance documentation.
Permits for Garages in Victoria
In Victoria, a building permit is required for most garage structures over 10 square metres. The specific threshold can vary by council, site zoning, and whether the property is in a bushfire-prone area. Structures in Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) zones require a permit regardless of size.
A building permit must be lodged by a registered building practitioner. Trusteel’s directors hold the relevant VBA licences for both domestic and commercial construction. This means Trusteel can lodge your permit directly, without a third party.
The permit process in Victoria involves a registered building surveyor reviewing the documentation and issuing the permit. Trusteel manages this relationship as part of every full-construction project. You do not need to find or brief a building surveyor yourself.
For specific questions about your council’s requirements, the Victorian Building Authority is the relevant regulatory body. Trusteel’s team can advise on your specific site during the initial consultation.
Garage Costs
Custom steel garage pricing in Melbourne varies with size, style, site conditions, and the level of fit-out required. The following tiers give a general reference point.
- Basic single or double domestic garage (under 60 square metres, standard fit-out): from approximately $20,000 fully installed
- Mid-range domestic or workshop garage (60 to 120 square metres, insulated, multiple doors): from approximately $40,000 fully installed
- Commercial or large-format garage (over 120 square metres, trade workshop or fleet storage): from approximately $60,000, depending on engineering requirements and site conditions
These are indicative figures only. Final cost depends on scope, site conditions, council fees, and your specific design. They are not fixed quotes.
To explore your options before contacting Trusteel, try the shed designer to work through dimensions and configurations. For a scope-based estimate, discuss your garage with Trusteel.
Trusted by Victorian Property Owners and Businesses
Trusteel has completed garage and workshop builds for named clients across Melbourne’s industrial and residential property sectors, including Cadbury Schweppes, Lane Toyota, and Bayswater Jayco. Project types completed include domestic double garages, trade workshop facilities, fleet vehicle storage buildings, and combined garaport structures.
Full construction is available across Melbourne metro and regional Victoria. Self-erect kit supply is available to buyers in other states.
Why Work with Trusteel
- Operating since 1976, over 50 years of steel building design and construction in Victoria
- VBA-registered for both Domestic and Commercial construction, no need to engage a separate licensed builder
- RHS structural steel as standard, with universal beam or Open Web Truss options for large-format commercial builds, not C-section
- HIA member with 5-year structural warranties on all garage structures
- Fabrication is in-house at Mulgrave, no third-party manufacturing
- Concrete and site preparation managed by Trusteel, one contract covers the full project
- Building permits lodged and managed by Trusteel, the customer does not handle the statutory process
- Full construction available across Melbourne and regional Victoria within approximately 150km of Mulgrave
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a building permit for a garage in Victoria?
Most garages over 10 square metres require a building permit in Victoria. The threshold varies by council and site zoning, and structures in BAL-rated bushfire zones require a permit regardless of size. Trusteel manages the permit process as part of every full-construction project.
How much does a custom steel garage cost in Melbourne?
A basic domestic garage starts from approximately $20,000 fully installed. Mid-range builds with insulation, multiple doors, and larger footprints typically from $40,000. Commercial and large-format garages start above $60,000, with final cost depending on engineering scope, site conditions, and council fees.
What is the difference between a gable, skillion, and garaport?
A gable garage has a peaked roof with two opposing slopes, suits most standard residential and commercial sites, and is available in a wide range of sizes. A skillion garage has a single-pitch roof and suits tighter allotments or sites with boundary constraints. A garaport combines an enclosed garage bay with an adjacent open carport structure, which suits properties that need both secured and covered parking in one building.
Why does Trusteel use RHS, UB, or OWT frames instead of C-section frames?
RHS, universal beams, and Open Web Trusses are all closed or structural steel profiles that resist twisting and racking forces C-section cannot. Trusteel uses RHS as standard for domestic and trade garages, and moves to universal beams or Open Web Trusses for larger commercial garages with wider clear spans. For a garage built to last 30 or more years, structural steel is the more reliable choice.
Does Trusteel manage the permit process, or do I need to arrange that separately?
Trusteel manages the full permit process, including lodgement and coordination with the building surveyor. Trusteel’s directors hold VBA domestic and commercial building licences, which means the statutory documentation is handled within the one contract. You do not need to engage a separate building surveyor or registered builder.