Frames for Canterbury, made in Christchurch
Made in Christchurch
Frames for Christchurch and Canterbury jobs are made in Christchurch, cut and labelled for your builder to stand.
Delivered around Canterbury
We deliver to sites in Christchurch and across Canterbury. Delivery is quoted separately, based on your location.
Collection by arrangement
Prefer to pick up your frames? Collection in Christchurch can be arranged once your order is paid and the details are coordinated with SmartFraming.
Sheds, cabins, granny flats and garages
Every plan can be adjusted at the drafting stage. If none fits, send us your own drawings and we'll frame your design.
Farm Sheds
Dry storage for machinery, feed or vehicles, from small sheds up to room for tractors and equipment side by side.
View the 27 plans
Kitset Cabins
One and two-bedroom cabins for rural sections, backyards and short-term rentals, including long, narrow plans.
View the 46 plans
Granny Flats
Self-contained homes for family or a tenant, with one to three bedrooms and plans up to 70m².
View the 53 plans
Kitset Garages
Single and double garages and workshops, with mono or gable roofs. Door openings are set to suit your door.
View the 11 plansLooking for something else?
We also have tiny homes, studios and sleepouts, and two-storey homes, 163 plans in all.
Building in Canterbury
Three things to check early, before you settle on a plan.
Your land
After the Canterbury earthquakes, flat residential land in parts of greater Christchurch was given a technical category: TC1, TC2 or TC3. It guides how much ground investigation and what type of foundation a site needs, so find out yours early. Your foundations come from your builder, so ask them or your engineer what your land calls for.
Your council
Your PIM and any consent go through your local council, which for most of greater Christchurch is Christchurch City, Selwyn District or Waimakariri District. Check site coverage, height and setback rules at the same time.
Your consent route
National rules apply here too. Our guides to the 30m² building consent exemption and granny flat rules in NZ explain when a consent may not be needed, and every condition has to be met.
What's included
SmartFraming supplies the steel frames. Your builder supplies and installs everything else.
- Wall and roof framing, fully made up or as flat-packs when required
- Floor joists, for two-storey projects
- Drafting changes to adjust opening sizes and positions
- Grommets for the service holes pre-punched through the framing
- Erection screws to stand the frames
- Detailed assembly plans
- Engineering reports to support a council application, for sign-off by a third-party engineer (on request)
Not included: Cladding, roofing, windows and doors, linings, insulation, foundations and installation are supplied by your builder. Delivery is quoted separately, based on your location.
What's included in a steel frame kitsetWhat sets the cost and what to budget for
From plan to delivered frames
- Step 01 of 04
Pick one of our plans as it is, adjust the openings to suit your site, or send us your own drawings.
- Step 02 of 04
We review your plans and send a free quote for the frames. Delivery is quoted separately, based on your location.
- Step 03 of 04
We draft the frame drawings to your chosen plan and any changes. Once you've reviewed and signed them off, your frames move into manufacturing.
- Step 04 of 04
Frames are typically delivered 10 to 15 working days from drawing sign-off, depending on workload, cut and labelled for your builder to stand.
Ready to install
Yes. Frames for Christchurch and Canterbury jobs are made in Christchurch. Your order runs through SmartFraming from quote to delivery or collection.
Yes, by arrangement. Collection can be organised once your order is paid and the details are coordinated with SmartFraming.
Yes. We deliver to sites in Christchurch and across Canterbury. Delivery is quoted separately, based on your location.
All of our 163 plans, including farm sheds, cabins, garages, granny flats, tiny homes, sleepouts and two-storey homes. Opening sizes and positions can be changed at the drafting stage, and we can also frame your own design from your plans.
We supply the steel frames: wall and roof framing, with pre-punched service holes, erection screws and detailed assembly plans. Your builder supplies and installs everything else, including foundations, cladding, roofing, windows, doors, insulation and linings.
The same national rules apply in Canterbury as elsewhere in New Zealand. Whether you need a consent depends on the building, your site and your council, so check with your council before you order.
Most quotes are sent within one business day. Once the drawings are signed off, frames are typically delivered in 10 to 15 working days, depending on workload.
We quote each job rather than publish a price list, because the cost depends on the plan, any changes you make and how the frames get to your site. Quotes are free.
Ready to price your frames?
Send us a plan code or your own drawings, plus your site address. Quotes are free. Most quotes are sent within one business day.