First of all, the complete kit arrived as promised, through three shippers, on time and in good condition. That in itself is a minor miracle! The starter kit arrived a few days earlier with the additional automatic openers I ordered. The solar covers came with the main kit delivered by local shipper.
The kit parts are top notch: the cuts are smooth and well de-burred, holes are clean and accurate. The panels are 10mm, so are rigid and should stand up well to use. I could not find any issues that should be corrected as far as quality goes.
Also something to note: this is a two person job. You could do it yourself, but there are a LOT of parts and small tasks that need to be completed (peeling protective tape, taping panels, sorting parts, etc) and they are much easier with help.
We chose to place the house on a frame, filled with coarse gravel as a base. This is a bit of a project in itself, but was completed when the kit arrived. Note: The house dimensions given in the plans was about an inch narrow in width and the same in length, so prepping a base early is at your own risk. We made it work. Also, as directed in the plans, be SURE your base is square and also flat. Any twist in the base will mess us the frame and the panels would not fit correctly. Everything is pre-cut and the panel slide into slots in the frame, so there is not much room for wiggle.
The kit includes a screwdriver, socket type wrench and a combination wrench. You will likely also appreciate having a powered driver or impact to install screws and a drill and small bit for drilling pilot holes. A tape measure and marking pen also.
The instructions are IKEA type (my 28yo son with vast Lego experience was very helpful!), mostly pictures in order and some important notes. Ignore the notes at your own peril! They may seem unimportant, but deviating will later come back to bite you!! The drawings are correct, do not blow off a minor orientation or confusing hole shown on the plans, follow them and all will be well the first time.
The assembly took the most part of a day. The vents on the roof and door assembly were not well described, but after some study they are pretty straightforward. The vents use a slotted hinge that runs the length of the panel, ensuring a nice seal and smooth operation. There is no seal or screens on the vents, but they close fine.
The door latch hardware is very nice. A separate bolt inside the lower door allows the split door to be opened on top, one or both can be latched open with the hook on the house frame. Most all parts like that appear to be stainless steel so hopefully will hold up well to the elements.
I strongly encourage builders to install a power vent actuator on all four vents (Yes, there are four). They work great but the house will overheat even with all four open at once. The thermal trapping effect is amazing! We will see 85 degrees in the house on a cloudy 55 degree day. Once the sun comes out, the vents will open and close to keep the temp right around 80. Very handy!
We chose to build benches inside for the plants, this worked out well...
Overall this is a great kit that met all expectations. It's not the cheapest you can find, but it performs as advertise. Cheers!
