Comments about Lifetime Lifetime 6446 Side-Entry Garden Storage Shed 15 x 8 ft:

Order this Garden Shed about two years ago but never got around to putting it together. When we did we needed even more storage. Read in a review that it was little tough to add on takes some time. So went and order the 8x2.5 expansion Kit to save that time. Which we were happy about. It's HUGE INSIDE. Looks so cute in the yard just love it. Which we had not waited so long.

Comments about Lifetime Lifetime 6446 Side-Entry Garden Storage Shed 15 x 8 ft:

This is some of the best money we have ever spent. We live in Northern New England, and needed more storage space, but wanted it to look attractive in our yard and match our home. After reading all the reviews I could find, we ordered this model. It is beautiful, is wonderful in the Northeastern winters as well as summers, and gave us the additional storage room we needed.

One review I had read (too late to pay attention to) did recommend not placing it on patio stone or brick foundation...that is the one thing I have to agree with. We had already put in our foundation so did it anyway but wished we hadn't as it wasn't level enough for the floor, which is very flexible. Our solution was to build a one-inch high wooden platform INSIDE to give the stability and level floor we needed, as we set up multiple 6' steel storage shelving across the back inside. That has worked great, but building it on a wooden platform to begin with is the way to go.

We find it doesn't get too cold in winter, even in the coldest weather, and nothing has ever melted inside on the hottest days of summer. The peak venting works great, so even if it gets really cold or really warm, it adjusts quickly when with sun in winter and evening in summer, and does not stay that way like our wooden shed can do. Just to be safe, we did go aroud the inside of the floor connection and around the windows (since we weren't going to open them anyway) with silicone, and after two winters so far, there has never been a leak of any kind, and weather or temperatures have caused no damage to anything inside. We use it to store ouside lawn decorations, plastic tubs and boxes of seasonal inside decorations (Christmas, other holidays, etc.) extra chairs, lawn furniture, battery operated lawn mower, and anything else we want. It works great and with the shelving provides LOTS of storage space.

We repeatedly congratulate ourselves for buying this shed, as nothing could work better in every way to provide what we needed. And the construction is simple and solid, although it does take a little time to put together, and I would recommend two people working together. Well worth any effort, though!

Comments about Lifetime Lifetime 6446 Side-Entry Garden Storage Shed 15 x 8 ft:

When the engineers completed the design and the copywriters finished the instruction manual and the packaging scheme was determined, it would have served Lifetime and all its customers well to have had three build-outs by non-associated consumers at three different levels; somewhat able, pretty darn handy and practically a contractor in order to fully test the entire process

This essential exercise would have informed Lifetime as to how best to refine the product and the assembly/installation process to meet all three levels of competency. They would have discovered the flaws in their inventory listing and identification scheme. They would have written the manual with more precise copy, matching up to far more enhanced photos and visuals (come on, this is the digital age - be part of it). Of course an installation CD (better yet a DVD) would/should be included.

This aspect aside, the shed is outstanding. Unfortunately, the engineers who designed this product either control too much of the rest (inventory system, assembly instructions and packaging) or they relied on other professionals who failed to carry on the excellence of the product itself.

The foundation is ABSOUTELY ESSENTIAL! If the foundation is not TOTALLY LEVEL you can forget about the rest of the project going smoothly. And this can't be blamed on Lifetime. So, make it very solid and level regardless of your choice of concrete, wood decking or compacted earth or gravel. The integrity of the product assumes the foundation is level.

Having built several outbuildings on my property, I must say, this product was a nice change from starting from scratch and I have no doubt its longevity will prove its value.

So, be prepared to suffer with the inventory system, make a few mistakes due to poor assembly instructions and be ready to spend a couple of hours just getting all the parts properly staged and accounted for (I was missing a key component of the steel support system and ended up fabricating a replacement in order to continue the build out and not wait for a replacement). And, read the instructions in advance and call customer service to get any further explanation or advice about anything that looks too confusing before you even start.

From the beginning to end, I needed an additional set of hands for about two hours. The rest was manageable. Of course it will be much quicker with two full timers.

The advice against using power equipment is overstated. They could be more helpful in indicating what torque setting on a cordless drill will allow for mechanical tightening and not strip the screws in the polypro material...because you will have SEVERAL HUNDRED screws to set and encouraging this to be done with a phillips head screw driver is...well, its not their hands, right...and this way they don't have to worry about how many people will botch the installation by overtorquing...but believe me...its A LOT OF SCREWS...and the stability of the product is the ultimate result.

If I only had a few minutes with these folks and if only they were willing to join the rest of us in the modern digital age...this garden shed would be darn near perfect. Luckily Lifetime's engineers are.

Comments about Lifetime Lifetime 6446 Side-Entry Garden Storage Shed 15 x 8 ft:

The picture in the ad pretty much sums things up as this shed looks pretty good, is spacious compared to similar polyethylene sheds, and based on my past experience, this material stands up well to the elements. The shed can be enlarged with 3 foot kits later without deconstructing much. There are many assets you cannot see in the picture. The computer-designed molded parts fit together nearly perfectly without forcing anything. It is water-tight with metal channels to keep water out. The windows can be opened half-way and also can be locked shut from the inside. The door hardware feels solid and locks securely. During the day, there is reasonable light from the skylights and windows. The floor is a non-slip surface. As others noted, the instructions might have been better if parts were labeled with an engraved code, but the parts were easily identified anyway and hardware was clearly pictured to size so that all-in-all, construction was simple. The instructions assure you will do things in the proper order. Two people were needed for some things but most construction could be done with solely one person. Except for the most common screw used almost everywhere on this thing, there are no extras at all on any other the other screws, nuts, etc. so don't lose any! My only concern is that it is pretty easy to punch through the siding and floor with a sharp object and perhaps one gauge thicker would have been better though the weight [...] Finally, having used many solar lights, the solar lighting accessory for the shed is a nice design, but considering the ample panel and number of LEDs, it is pathetically DIM- almost useless. The wire connector is also fragile. I wish I had not bought them. I have two and since I have 110 AC in my shed, I had to install some real lighting. The shelf and tool hanger accessories install easily and are solid.

Comments about Lifetime Lifetime 6446 Side-Entry Garden Storage Shed 15 x 8 ft:

As the reviewer below points out, some detail blow-ups would have been helpful. Additionally, each part is clearly marked in the instructions with a 3-character code. However, there is no matching mark on the part. What's the point? It would have been so much easier to match things up. Packaging was very inconvenient. Of the 5 boxes, 3 are marked as Box 1 ,2 & 3. 4 & 5 weren't labeled. Related parts and the parts you need first were in each of the 5 boxes, so you had to unpack everything to get to the first 6 parts (floor sections). Luckily, the instructions tell you the contents of each box.
The instructions say to build a base 8' x 15'. However, the shed is actually 14'10" x 7'8". Not so critical for concrete, but a wood deck needs to be flashed. For me it was an additional step I hadn't planned on.
In spite of the above, I like the shed. The parts are well made and, except for the last roof truss, go together pretty well. It's definitely a 2-man job though, for some of the tasks (mainly the roof & doors).