Putting Together an "Easy Assemble" Shed
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For my other side yard, I needed cheap storage for the lawnmower. I didn't want to pour concrete or frame a roof. I saw a 6x4 Metal Shed Kit on Amazon for $300. "Easy Assembly," it claimed.
Spoiler Alert: It was the hardest thing I have ever built.
Unboxing
The box was surprisingly small and incredibly heavy. Inside were:
- 400 sheets of paper-thin sheet metal.
- 2,000 tiny screws.
- Gloves (because the metal is razor sharp).
- Instructions that consisted of blurry drawings and no words.
The Assembly: A Comedy of Errors
Step 1: The Base Frame
The aluminum base rails were flimsy. They bent if I stepped on them. The holes didn't align. I had to drill new pilot holes for almost every connection.
Step 2: The Walls (The House of Cards)
The wall panels slot into the track. But they don't stay there. A gentle breeze knocks them over. You need 3 people: Two to hold the shaking metal sheets, and one to drive the tiny screws.
Step 3: The Screws
Did I mention the screws? There are washers. They contain plastic seals. They are microscopic. I dropped roughly 50 of them in the grass. They are gone forever.
- The Plastic Film: Every single sheet of metal came covered in a blue protective plastic film. It took me 4 hours just to peel the plastic off. It shreds. It mocks you.
Step 4: The Roof
Installing the roof peak required standing on a stepladder inside the shed. It was 100 degrees outside. Inside the metal box, it was 130 degrees. I was cooking in my own sweat.
The Result
It stands. It keeps the rain off the mower. But:
- It rattles in the wind.
- The doors stick.
- It dents if you lean a shovel against it too hard.
Conclusion
Is it worth $300? Yes, technically. The materials alone would cost that much. Is it worth your sanity? No. If you have the skills, build a wooden shed. If you have the money, buy a heavy-duty resin (plastic) shed like a Lifetime or Suncast. Avoid the cheap metal kits unless you enjoy pain.