Comprehensive Review of Shed Assembly Experience

The process of assembling the shed was fraught with various challenges, which many reviewers had noted as well. Despite these limitations, I decided to proceed with the purchase, preparing myself for minor aggravations. The assembly instructions provided with the kit were generally adequate, but there were several instances where the exploded views failed to clearly illustrate how to arrange the parts effectively. Fortunately, a supplementary video guide offered some assistance in this regard.

One significant concern I encountered during assembly involved the quality of the sheet metal used for the structure. It was notably thin, which raised questions about its durability. When using sell-tapping screws on the sheet metal, I faced immediate issues with stripping. While the instructional video demonstrated the use of a powered screwdriver for assembly, I quickly found that this approach was severely ineffective in my case. The stripped screws on the frame base suggested that their screwdriver had an exceptionally loose clutch. Consequently, I reverted to using a manual screwdriver, which proved more reliable but still required considerable effort. Notably, the screws that secured the vertical elements and overhead struts performed well without stripping.

As I continued with the assembly, I discovered a bag of white plastic pieces included in the package without any explanation in the instruction manual or the video. I suspect these pieces are intended to protect the sharp screw ends, but I chose not to use them. Given the sharp edges of the panels, I strongly recommend wearing gloves—preferably snug rubberized ones—to avoid the risk of cuts, as I experienced a cut on my hand that prompted me to wear gloves thereafter.

The assembly was conducted solo, which at times created a challenge, particularly when aligning certain parts. While I was capable of handling most tasks independently, having assistance would have made some aspects easier. Overall, I estimate the entire assembly took about 30 hours, as I took my time to meticulously ensure that each piece was correctly aligned and affixed. This careful approach was beneficial as I did not have to disassemble any components due to errors. However, I did encounter difficulties aligning and securing the top back struts while working alone, which led me to drill new holes and use longer bolts and nuts to compensate for the misalignment.

Another significant hurdle arose during the installation of the roof panels. I discovered misalignment in the holes, which indicated that the top structure was shifted several inches towards the rear. Initially, I thought I had overlooked a crucial part (part number 6), which was intended to straighten the front of the structure, leading me to believe it had been omitted from the package. After eventually finding and attaching this thinner sheet metal part, I utilized a two-by-four temporarily to straighten the base for roof installation. Although I was apprehensive about removing the two-by-four for fear of compromising the shed’s stability, it ultimately held its shape once the critical part was installed and secured.

An unexpected source of frustration stemmed from the protective plastic coverings on the shed components. Initially, I underestimated the level of difficulty in removing the clear plastic from any of the brown pieces, which turned out to be excessively sticky and difficult to peel off—often requiring tearing at the center and then working towards the edges. This tedious process consumed approximately ten minutes for each four-foot section, and with a total of 64 brown pieces, the task became notably laborious. The additional plastic cover on the door panels was even stickier, further complicating the removal. My method included using an X-Acto knife to slice the plastic at the edges, combined with a hairdryer to soften the adhered sections as I peeled. This time-consuming effort totaled over two hours per panel, leading to a total of nearly ten hours exclusively devoted to removing plastic coverings. Such a substantial time investment for a standard procedure as protective film removal feels almost unreasonable and is a major point of dissatisfaction with the product.

Given concerns about wind impact on the structure, I took precautionary measures by securing the frame base to three-foot lawn stakes driven into the ground. Additionally, I constructed a base using four wooden pallets nailed together, raised several inches above the ground. To enhance the floor's stability, I nailed planks onto the pallets and loosely topped them with leftover flagstone, complemented by a small wooden ramp at the entrance.

Throughout the assembly experience, I did experience an inventory issue, where my kit was missing a single wall panel. However, upon contacting customer service for a replacement, they promptly sent the entire box containing all the panels. While this seemed somewhat excessive on their part, I view this gesture positively, as I can now keep the extra parts for future repairs. Interestingly, the new door panels in the replacement box were covered with clear plastic, possibly alleviating some time-consuming tasks for their removal.

Ultimately, evaluating my overall experience presents a conundrum in assigning a rating to the shed kit. The substantial challenge posed by protective plastic removal would merit a score of zero stars, while the assembly process itself, despite its hurdles, could be rated between three to four stars. In conclusion, while some parts of the assembly were manageable, the time and effort needed for protective plastics posed a significant drawback that may deter prospective buyers.

Shed Assembly Challenges and Insights

Shed Assembly Challenges and Insights