Keter Apex

Excellent garden shed – I've had my Keter Apex shed set up in my backyard for about six months, and so far I'm very satisfied with it. When shopping for a shed, I wanted something that was big enough to store all the gardening stuff, with enough floorspace so I wouldn't have to move things around to get anything out, high enough for me to stand up inside, durable, and with a look suitable for my house. This shed delivers on all counts. It still looks good, despite all Queensland weather, doesn't leak, shows little wear on the outside, handles wear fairly well on the inside, handles brisk wind well (doesn't rattle) and the joins are tight enough that I rarely find insects or spiders in it. Setting it up does require patience and care to get a good result. The instructions were easy to understand and no parts were missing. If you've decided to get one, here are some tips to help get it set up.

1. I did some pre-assembly in my garage when it was raining outside. The doors, windowed wall panels, arches, and floor can all be prepared in advance, prior to setting up the shed in the yard.

2. The advertising says no slab is required but the instructions recommend a foundation, and I would strongly recommend one. The joints between the wall panels and the floor are fairly tight, but without a foundation, you may run the risk of having rainwater runoff get inside at the base, or of damp rising through the plastic floor panels. I built a box frame using 50mm treated pine sleepers (with 2 support members), topped with 10mm treated pine slats. It's level, very stable, supports the plastic floor, keeps standing moisture away from the shed, and cheaper than a concrete slab. Concrete would last longer, but it will cost more (especially with reinforcing) and you'll need to set the mounting bolts in the concrete before it dries.

3. When deciding where to position the windowed panels, consider how you plan to arrange your shelving first, otherwise your shelves may block any light coming through the windows.

4. I purchased the optional shelving package, consisting of two double length shelves, and four tool holders. The shed does comes with two small shelves, but this wasn't enough for my needs. The extra shelving really made a difference - I've even managed to keep half a double shelf empty to have space to do things.

5. One person can assemble this shed (I did), provided that you're patient and light enough to get on top to do the roof. Otherwise, call a good mate.

Caveat: this is a very good shed, but it is a costly one (imported from Israel), hence a 4 star rating instead of 5. When I was shopping around, I found that it was about 3 times the cost of a cheap metal equivalent and 1.5 times the cost of a good quality colourbond one. Timber sheds, either kit or custom would require more time & effort. If you buy an Apex shed, then you want it for the look and its own benefits, and you're not trying to save money by settling for something else. Shopping around for a deal is recommended. There are American made options available that are cheaper, but they didn't impress me as much. I would consider getting another Keter Apex (or bigger) next time I move house. Looks, practical, durable, size, quality Expensive