UPDATE 12/2012: So five years later, I'm cleaning out my backyard of leaves and debris and I look at my shed. The neighbor's cat suns herself on the roof most days. Save for some mud splatters along the bottom, it's still the same as when I put it together. I only ever added one pine shelf, and I just use that for small items that might get lost rolling around the bottom The shelf weight rating (50 lbs max) is printed on the back interior of the shed. I never used the drill holes on the back or bottom to screw it down, it's still sitting squarely on the original pavers.
I pressure wash it, when I wash the fence every year, and spray bug repellent in the interior seams to discourage spiders from moving in. That's about the only maintenance it's ever gotten, and it still looks quite new.
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I really should have gotten this years ago. I live in an area ruled by home owner association bylaws and building a proper shed was not an option. This product is perfect for small yards, or limited spaces and really does assemble in 15 minutes or less.
Actually, a friend and I had time to not read the instructions, try and assemble it wrong, read the instructions we should have read and then assemble it correctly in less than 15 minutes.
I threw 6 16" square concrete pavers down as a base and the shed fit perfectly. It is large enough to hold two full size garbage cans, but I use it to hold backyard tools, birdseed, potting supplies and other gardening accessories.
Two spots in the back are fashioned so you can drill the unit to solid vertical surface for additional support, like a fence, or a wall. I'd use a decent size screw/bolt and washers. You can add two shelves in ready-made depressions. Standard wooden shelving boards work fine, but notch the back corners to get it to fit correctly.
There is a plastic hasp for a lock, so if you're worried about someone other than a kid poking through your stuff, the plastic hasp is not going to stop a serious thief and will give them less trouble to cut than the lock you put on it.
I like it, but if you've got security issues and stuff you would hate to lose, keep your valuables in something where the lock mechanism isn't part plastic.
Got this shed for 2 big one$. I wish it were a hundred as some other reviewers reported back in late 07. Price seems to move often because it went to 350 a few days after I received mine. Speaking of receiving, the shipper was CEVA and although it was very fast the package arrived exploded. The eight pieces (amazon's description says 7) were held together by the packaging strap with the cardboard flapping around it. It does not come with two wire shelves as amazon's description claims. Assembly was REALLY easy... uncomforatbly easy. Took longer to move the pieces from the garage to the backyard. Pieces are very light and somewhat flimsy feeling. Assembled the unit seems only a little sturdier. I wouldn't put it somewhere it might be really windy especially if it were empty. I'm sure if it tipped over it would explode in to its 8 pieces. I have had several Suncast storage sheds in the past and those seem sturdier than the Rubbermaids. Although Suncast's are more work to assemble. One thing I don't like is that the door stays closed basically by pressure. There are no latches to ensure it stays secure. Not a problem as long as the door doesn't lose its snug fit over time. The doors are really light. Putting a lock on won't keep anyone out that really wants to get in. It does do the job of storing backyard and garden junk while being pretty low profile. The size if great for the side of a house since it isn't that deep just make sure you have enough room to open the doors.
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Assembles like a puzzel in a specific order... follow instructions. Less than 15 minutes to set up but take your time to make certian all tabs are inserted properly. Shed it plenty sturdy once assembled correctly AND sitting on a solid, stable surface (I poured a concrete slab). I tried to assemble it in a different location and then carry it accross the yard... Not a good idea, any twisting motion (which cannot be avoided) unlocks 1 or more tabs and it crumbles before your eyes. Great product for a cement slab! If you try placing directly on grass or dirt it would most likely allow the slight twisting action that makes this shed a house of cards. I put shelves in and loaded it up with heavy pool chemicals, potting soil, etc. No problems.
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If I had written this review a year ago, I would have given the shed 5 stars. However, after 1 year of service, the sides bowed out so much that the shelves fell off. I only had a few plastic pots and hand tools on the shelves, so weight was not an issue, and I live in a temperate climate, so I don't think it was weather.
To fix it required me to take everything out of the shed, completely disassemble it, reassemble it (now, of course, without the instructions). Even after doing this, it was still bowing out, so out came the trusty duct tape (pictures uploaded). It can now hold shelves again, but I'm not sure how long this will last, and of course, it's pretty ugly.
In short, extremely disappointing product, no durability at all.
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but BEWARE BEING RIPPED OFF. I've seen this same storage shed advertised anywhere from $100 to $400. Buy it closer to $100 when it goes on sale.
Not the easiest to assemble, but the finished product works for me. The openings are 12"x12" I purchased 4 fabric storage cubes, so now I have some additional storage as well as a nice looking book shelf.
