coops32's Full Review: Handy Home Products Phoenix Solar Shed 10ft X 8ft ...
Handy Home Products – Solar Shed – Great Combo Item!
What’s better than outdoor storage AND a greenhouse?
I have been after husband for a shed for quite some time! Our garage has been crowded forever, but when the teenager started driving and we had to fit yet another car into the garage, he finally agreed it was time for the shed. I am so impressed that he came up with this particular shed from Home Depot online. One side of the shed has giant greenhouse like windows, and I have always wanted a greenhouse to really cook my tomato plants in the sun. Our Seattle growing season is shorter than other parts of the country and there is nothing better in my opinion than home grown veggies!
Some of the details…
This shed comes in a flat pack on a pallet. It is heavy and the two men who delivered needed at least two more to have been efficient. The siding on the shed is “Factory-primed SmartSide(TM) Siding”. The primer color is a very natural off whitish tan and can go with any home color, but can be painted any color to match house or not. The finished shed is 8 by 10 feet and does not come with roofing. We chose to actually get a metal roof for ours so we would never have to mess with it again, but choosing roofing material to match your home is a great idea. It has a six foot tall door as well as venting and is nine feet high at its peak.
Purchasing details..
This shed is an online Home Depot item and runs in the $1500-1800 range depending on sales and promotions. It takes up to several weeks to arrive curbside depending on where you live.
Assembly…
This shed comes as a kit with easy to understand directions and the ability to customize it as you want. My husband has never built much except for shelving in the house. He was able to get it up in a couple months in his spare time with my help here and there and also a little from his parents from time to time. Each part is easy to recognize in the instruction booklet and the parts went together easily. This kit comes with everything you need down to the nails, screws, and hardware – except for the roofing and exterior paint.
Using it…
I love having a shed! Our garage is set up so that there is not a door to the backyard, so we always had to take the lawn mower out of the big bay doors and through the back yard fence to use it. All the garden tools were in the third bay and with a teenager parking there, there just wasn’t the room. My husband hung a bar at the interior peak of the nine foot roof and I can hang things from it – we have also organized racks for tools and extension cords for use in the yard. My Santa garden gnomes have a home off season and our garage is downright roomy!
Even with the vents, the shed stays warmer on a cold wet day. Hubby put in a giant working table at the base of the glass for pots of plants to go on and under it is a perfect spot for the lawn mower. It is built on the concrete foundation blocks, so we are actually going to put in a ramp from the door so that it is easier to roll the mower in and out of the shed, but even without it, I am having an easier time than I was when it was all in the garage.
Options, Etc…
You can buy a four foot extension for your shed in either solid roof or glass if you think you need a bigger shed. This will turn it into a 10 x 12 foot shed and cost in the $500 to $800 range depending on whether or not you want that solid roof or glass solar roof.
This shed comes with a ten year warranty!
Overall…
I love this shed! I think it is the best of both worlds! If you are a serious gardener, then buy a full greenhouse, but if you are like me and just enjoy gardening in the spring and summer, then this is a great option!
5/31/2009 update: We are still loving this shed! I actually got to grow tomatoes for once from seed and have them actually produce fruit! Seattle homes don't always get the best sunlight year round and this shed helped me make the most of it. Quality wise, I am happy - no leaks after more than a year!
BUILDING SHOWN WITH OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES. From greenhouse to storage, the Phoenix provides the ultimate project space. This building features a 6 Ft. ...More at Home Depot
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