[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] It was delivered in late Sept, but sat in my driveway until early Nov. because I couldn't find someone to help me assemble. So I had some time off and decided to try it alone, and I'm glad I did. Everything is well labeled, all the components, and multiple bags of connectors and other parts. I set up all my sawhorses to stack and organize the amazing smelling cedar components. I commandeered my picnic table to arrange all the connector bags by type and number. I downloaded Bilt, and between it and the printed instructions, I made good headway putting things together over a few days. Then it came time to raise the Gable ends, which definitely needs at least 2 people to do. I drafted my fiance to help after work, and in the dark, we got it standing up and put together. Then, a few more days of working alone assembling all of the roof panels on the ground. I found and hired a local handyman to help me with lifting the roof panels into place and securing them and I'm glad I did. This is the most difficult part of the assembly, and it was at times frustrating and left us scratching our heads. The holes for securing the upper facia to the ridge rafter are poorly located, where you cannot use a power tool to drive the bolts. Furthermore, you have to support the roof panel while simultaneously screwing the bolts in by hand with the torx wrench, or else the load of the panel on the bolt as you try to screw it in makes it impossible. Finally, the bolts are being received by T-nuts inside the ridge rafter, and a few of those came loose to the point that the bolts weren't screwing into anything. Very frustrating, but we got just enough of them in to hold the panels in place. The first four panels are "easy" to place before securing, but the last ones on each side are difficult to fit. We also found that the holes in the rafter truss' did not match up with the holes in the roof rafters. More head scratching, eventually drilling/securing the truss' in place when we made sure that everything was keeping its correct dimensions. It took 2 of us 6 hours to place the roof, but we got it done. With the ladder still up, I drove a few 2.5" deck screws through the upper fascia boards into the ridge rafter to make sure the panels were well secured.
I had to then travel for a week of work, so I have yet to place the ridge cap and drip edges, and as can be seen in the photos, snow has come to Northern Michigan. My car is clean underneath, and, despite the challenges in assembly, I am VERY PLEASED with the finished product. It looks better than ANY of the other pergolas I considered, and 90% of the assembly experience was perfect and easy. I look forward to many years of shade and dryness under it, and I am so happy I spent my money on a Backyard Discovery product.