Inline vs Standard Frame Sheds: What’s the Difference?
Confused about inline vs standard frame sheds? Learn the key differences and benefits.
Understanding the Structural Differences Between Inline and Standard Frame Shed Designs
When planning a new shed, workshop, or commercial building, one of the most important (and often overlooked) decisions is the structural design.
Across the shed industry, most buildings use an ‘Over-the-Top’ frame design - this is considered the standard approach. At Totalspan, we offer both this traditional method and a more advanced option: our inline frame design, available in our Platinum Range.
Both options use the same high-quality materials, meet Australian standards and have a 50- year Structural Warranty - the difference comes down to how the structure is designed and how that impacts your usable space and look.
What Is a Standard ‘Over-the-Top’ Portal Frame Shed?
An Over-the-Top Portal frame shed is the industry-standard design used by most shed companies. With an Over-the-Top frame, the purlins and girts are placed on the outside of the portal frame. This results in a separation between the structural frame and the cladding, resulting in a visible gap and lost space.
Key characteristics:
- Proven, widely used construction method
- Suitable for general storage, rural, and commercial use
- Cost-effective and practical
What Is an Inline Portal Frame Shed?
An inline Portal frame shed is a more advanced structural design – the purlins and girts sit inline with the frame – creating a cleaner internal finish. This is the design used in our Totalspan Platinum Range.
Key benefits:
- Maximises usable internal space
- Makes it easier to line the shed internally
- Delivers a cleaner, more modern look and feel
As shown below, the Platinum (inline) frame design allows the purlins and girts to align flush with the frame, eliminating any gap:
Same Materials. Smarter Design.
It’s important to note - there is no difference in the quality of the steel used between our Standard and Platinum ranges.
Both are built using high-quality steel, engineered for Australian conditions and have a 50-year Structural Warranty.
The advantage of the Platinum Range comes down to design efficiency, usability, and finish.
Why Choose an Inline (Totalspan Platinum) Frame Shed?
If you’re planning to:
- Line your shed internally
- Maximise every square metre
- Achieve a cleaner, more premium finish
…then an inline frame shed is well worth considering.
See the Difference for Yourself
Watch the video above to see how the inline frame design works and why more customers are choosing it for modern shed builds.
Who can? Totalspan!