Cedar Potting Bench with Shelves

Very attractive bench. The reason for the 4 rating is because the directions were not the greatest.

This bench is sturdy and attractive. Lots of surface space to use as a bar for an outdoor party or to handle all of your spring planting needs.

The instructions are not the clearest but I muddled through and got it assembled in about 90 minutes by myself. Several of the boards have fairly significant splintering along with an average of 3 knots per board. Two boards appeared to have been beveled the full length of one edge each. No instructions as to how best to use these, if any differently. The instructions say to use the quarter-inch shims to set the top shelf boards in place. I did so and found myself with about a one-inch gap at the back of the shelf between the backsplash and the last board. From what I can tell, it should not be that way since the description says - Our potting bench features a lip along its back and sides to keep the soil on the table, not your deck. Obviously, that is not the case with mine so I removed the boards and repositioned them with the proper distance between the boards to eliminate the gap in the back. Yes, more work for me but it looks better PLUS I am laying a clear vinyl laminate on the top to protect it and actually eliminate any dirt penetration to the shelf or floor below.Overall, the bench looks great and the smell of western red cedar is excellent. The work surface is at just the right height for me at 5'11'. It seems plenty sturdy though I have added my own slip resistance feet to the legs.I do hate the fact of so many boards having the splintering to the degree they do. I understand it is wood and boards will occasionally experience that but this is a brand new kit out of the box and I would have hoped for a better quality cut and finish. With all of this said, I still give this a 4-star rating.

Really love it!