[Review] Keter Rockwood Plastic Deck Storage Box

Published on: November 4, 2020Author: jianComment: 0

First Impression

The packaging of our Rockwood storage box came pretty beaten up from shipping. Thankfully, Styrofoam pieces protected the parts from damage. On the downside, we ended up with so many small Styrofoam bits on the floor. I had to sweep the floor after the assembly.

The box’s sides and bottom snap together. You’ll hear a clicking sound once the parts have snapped together. On the other hand, you will need to screw the lid onto the sides. My husband used a Phillips screwdriver to do this. Everything lined up perfectly, and all parts fit without a hitch. We were impressed to find metal reinforcements attached along the top and sides. Seeing these eased my worries about the storage box’s durability. The metal provides extra support to the whole thing.

Although the box is plastic, it doesn’t have the icky smell of new plastic. It is molded plastic, so my husband found it surprising that there was no excess plastic on the panels.

Assembly

It took him less than 30 minutes to finish the assembly. The box didn’t contain instructions, but my husband still went for it. I did tell him that I can download it from Keter’s website, but he insisted that he doesn’t need to take a look at the instructions. He was right. That’s how easy the assembly is. He did say, though, that he would have assembled it at half the time if I helped him out. I was 8 months pregnant at that time, so he did the setup on his own. The panels are huge, so having someone to hold one end would come in handy. Anyway, the panels are surprisingly light. If you’re not good with tools, you will appreciate the ease of assembly.

It happened to be raining the day my husband assembled the deck box. He then decided to put it to the test right there and then. My husband stuffed the box with old newspapers and cardboard and dragged the box to the pool deck. Not a single drop of water leaked in!

Storage Space – A

I initially put off getting an outdoor storage box because they’re pricey. I got excited when I came across this product since it’s cheaper than its counterparts. We can barely walk into our garage because it’s full of tools, equipment, and whatnot. We wanted to free some space, and this storage box served as the perfect solution for our predicament. I stuffed our pool equipment into the box, and this still left us space to fit our pool and outdoor toys. We also used the box to hide some of the clutter in our pool area. The place has never looked so clean. The storage box is much larger than we’ve expected. The box should give you more than enough room for your things. While you can fill the box up as much as you can, do not overfill it to the point that you can’t fully close the lid. This would defeat the purpose of a storage box. It won’t be able to keep the contents dry if you can’t close the lid.

If you don’t have a garage, this deck storage box should make an excellent alternative. If you are deciding whether or not you should buy yourself a large storage box like this, think about it this way. You can never have too much storage space. You will either fill it up right away or find it useful in the future. Either way, at one point or another, you’ll appreciate having extra space for your stuff. However, if you have limited space and you are unsure if the box would fit in your patio or garden, you should check out the dimensions first.

Storage Space – B

This thing is air- and water-tight. Rainwater can’t get in the box and neither can bugs. We’ve seen a lot of rainfall and storms last year, and I’m glad to report that our items are as dry as they can be. Everything stays dry too even if you deliberately pour a whole bucket of water on the box. You will be surprised to know that the box still provides ample of ventilation for its contents. This is all thanks to the two very small slots on each side of the box. The inside won’t get all musty. When I lift the lid up for the first time for weeks, I don’t smell anything funny from the box. There is none of the stuffy odor that you would usually get from an unventilated cabinet or room.

The thing I love the most with the storage box is the lid. It doesn’t open too easily, so you should have no worries about the wind blowing it open. Once you get to lift the lid up, it opens the rest of the way by itself. The hydraulic hinges make that possible. The hinges also keep the lid open for you, so there’s no need to hold the lid up while your hands are full. It doesn’t slam shut either. No little fingers would get hurt. This is important for me as I have two curious kids who like to touch everything that they see. The lid opens and closes slowly and quietly.

Storage Space – C

The storage box is lockable, thanks to the latch at the front panel. The lock is not included, though. I don’t recommend putting in valuable objects. If someone, say a thief, has his eye set on getting his hands on what’s inside, he can just hammer down the plastic. That is not to say that you shouldn’t lock your storage box down. The lock helps keep the lid closed in case of strong wind gusts. It is also the best way to prevent children from gaining access to the contents of the box. If you’re keeping harmful chemicals and sharp objects, you should make sure that the box is locked down at all times.

I appreciate that the storage box is not an eyesore. It is not the prettiest but it holds up well outdoors, so I can’t complain. The color is close to chocolate brown. While it doesn’t really look like wood, it’s beautiful all the same. It’s not something I would have to hide in a corner when I have guests around. In fact, I have received compliments for the storage box. The brown color makes the box blend well in the outdoors.

The only thing I would add to the storage box is wheels for mobility. If there were wheels, you can just wheel it from one place to another. Nevertheless, the box is pretty lightweight. If you will only be using the storage box to keep cushions, you can easily carry it from one place to another. But then again, if you will store heavy tools and equipment, you will find it difficult to carry the whole box. It would help if you lighten the load first before you transfer the box to another place.

Quality

In terms of the outdoor storage box’s quality, I would give it 5 stars. Our storage box has been exposed to the elements all year round. Plastics tend to wear down especially fast under the sun but not for the box. The plastic doesn’t peel. The brown color doesn’t fade too. It is not some heirloom piece you’d expect to give to your grandchildren. Don’t get me wrong there. The deck box is something that I’m confident would last years.

The hinges seem very sturdy. Screws hold them securely into place. I don’t see the hydraulics malfunctioning either. Anyway, I could easily replace them with standard hinges in case they do break down in the future.

It can act as a makeshift bench but don’t expect some cozy seating area. It sits a little high to the ground. There’s no use complaining about that, though. If you really wanted a comfortable seat, you should have gotten an actual seat instead. I suggest having the bench pushed to the wall, so you can sit while leaning your back on the wall. We have this in our pool deck, so we don’t have that kind of option. The box maintains its balance well, so it won’t tip over should you sit on one side.

Two adults can sit on the box at the same time. It doesn’t sag or creak from the weight. I wouldn’t want anyone to stand on top of the box, though. Maybe it’s okay for kids to stand on top but definitely not adults. After having this storage-slash-bench for a year, we see no dent or visible wear on the surface.

Final Thoughts

Price-wise, this storage box will give you the bang for your buck. I can’t say that it’s cheap, but you get what you pay for. The functionality, coupled with the solid construction, is exceptional. It is quite attractive too. The storage box has met all our expectations, and I don’t think I could find a better one. Anyway, if you happen to find a much better storage box without a bigger price tag, you should tell me! – Jenny K

Brand: Keter

Product: Rockwood Plastic Deck Storage Container Box Outdoor Patio 150 Gal