Free shed shipping
Shipping of our sheds and garden cabins is free within the 48 contiguous United States, with no surcharge anywhere. What arrives is a large freight item, not a parcel, so here is exactly how it works, from the day you order to the moment the truck pulls away.
In a hurry?
The short version
It ships free
Anywhere in the lower 48, rural routes, city centres and islands included. No surcharge, ever. The only exception is an address our carriers physically cannot reach, in which case we refund you in full.
You unload it, or we can
The pallet is too long for a liftgate, so the kit comes off the truck board by board. Two adults do it in 30 to 45 minutes. Or add carrier unloading for $200 and the driver does it, curbside only.
Inspect before you sign
Look the pallet over, note anything on the delivery paperwork, and accept the delivery even if the packaging looks rough. We sort out damage with parts, repair or a full refund.
Part one
What free shipping covers
Shipping of small sheds and garden cabins is free within the 48 contiguous United States. There is no shipping surcharge anywhere in that area. Remote and rural addresses, dense urban centres and islands all ship at the same price as everyone else, which is nothing.
One exception, and it is rare. If an address is genuinely difficult to access and our carrier partners are not able to make the trip, because of a ferry limitation or another access problem, we may have to decline the delivery. If that happens we cancel the order and issue a full refund. We will always tell you before the shed ships, never after.
If you live outside the 48 contiguous states, please contact us before ordering so we can check what is possible for your address.
Accessories, such as a double window or a veranda deck, purchased and shipped separately incur a freight shipping fee. To save on shipping charges and on carbon footprint, we recommend bundling them with your shed purchase.
Part two
You may choose from the following delivery options
Option 1, the default
Free standard shipping, hand unloading done by you
We recommend 2 adults for the task. The carrier will pull up as close to the desired unloading location as is safe and possible, and you unload the kit from the truck board by board. See unloading day below for what that involves.
Option 2
Free standard shipping with a $200 fee for carrier manual unloading
An adult must be present to sign for the delivery and to guide the carrier's driver to the curbside. The carrier will pull up at the curbside or your driveway and unload your shed kit next to their vehicle. They will not carry it up the driveway or to the shed site. Your shed kit will be unloaded at the location where the carrier's vehicle can safely park for the duration of the unloading process.
Send us a photo first. To evaluate the possibility of safe unloading, we ask you to email us a photo of the projected unloading spot (curbside, driveway, field, etc.). If we determine the carrier will not be able to safely unload your shed on their own, we will ask you to make alternative delivery location arrangements, or will refund the carrier unloading fee and ask you to organise help to unload it with multiple adults.
Option 3
Expedited shipping, delivered within 2 weeks
Expedited shipping ensures your shed delivery within 2 weeks, with the carrier's manual unloading included in the price. The overall price varies based on your location. You may enter your zip code on the cart page or at checkout to see the specific fee.
The conditions for the carrier's unloading are the same as in option 2. An adult must be present to sign for the delivery and to guide the driver to the curbside. The carrier will pull up at the curbside or your driveway and unload your shed kit next to their vehicle. They will not carry it up the driveway or to the shed site. We will ask you for a photo of the projected unloading spot, and if we determine the carrier will not be able to safely unload your shed on their own, we will ask you to make alternative delivery location arrangements, or will refund the carrier unloading fee ($200) and ask you to organise help to unload it with multiple adults. Your shed will still be delivered within 2 weeks.
If you have questions, please contact us via info@solidbuildwood.com or (800) 590-2508 and we will be happy to help and find the best solution.
Part three
What happens after you order
You will be receiving a large freight item, which is rather different from small parcel shipping.
We get it ready
After you place the order it takes 5 to 7 business days to get your shed or small cabin ready for shipping, unless it is on pre-order, which has its own timeline specified on the product page.
You confirm you're ready
We will not ship your shed without your acknowledgment that you are ready to receive it and unload it. After you place your order, our team contacts you by email for this confirmation.
It travels
Once the shed is dispatched you will be provided a tracking number or an estimated date of arrival. Usually it takes 2 to 6 business days in transit, unless you are located in a remote area or a busy city location.
Who delivers it
Preferably, we will ship your shed kit with a small independent carrier, and in that case we coordinate the delivery timeline with you directly. On rare occasions we may select one of the national freight carriers. With the latter, once the shed reaches the carrier's terminal nearest to your home, the shipping company will call you to schedule the delivery appointment. You will be given the date and time window of the delivery so that you can prepare ahead of time.
We use a number of delivery services depending on the nature of the products ordered and your location. Your purchase will be delivered by our own vehicles or LTL couriers. Delivery of these buildings is only to the curbside unless otherwise agreed in advance. Please feel free to call and ask about any shipping concerns you may have.
Part four
Unloading day
Since our sheds and cabins are made from solid wood and the solid boards are not cut in half, our pallets are very long. For example, if you are ordering a regular 10x10 shed, the pallet will be 13 ft long, because the roof beams are 13 ft long. Solid wood looks amazing and is easy to work with, but it is a little more difficult to deliver, because the pallets are too long for the liftgate to unload. The sheds have to be unloaded manually, board by board.
It is not difficult though. We recommend that at least two people are ready to unload the shed from the truck. It usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, and the separate boards are not heavy. You should be able to handle multiple boards at a time, with the door panels being the heaviest at around 50 lbs. This is a small sacrifice to get a real solid product. Take a look at the video below.
Two small things to have ready. A wire cutter to cut through the metal strapping, and somewhere to put the packing materials. The carrier asks you to collect all the packing materials, the pallet and the tarp. It makes for excellent firewood or a reclaimed wood project.
How big and how heavy
Most pallets are about 13 ft long, 4 ft wide and 2 to 3 ft tall, and most sheds weigh between 1,000 and 2,400 lbs on the pallet. The larger models are heavier, and the Washington is heavy enough that we would plan on more than two people or the carrier unloading option.
| Model | Pallet weight, approx. | Pallet length |
|---|---|---|
| Shiba 8x8 | 1,100 lbs | 9 ft |
| Gardener 10x10 | 1,400 lbs | 12.6 ft |
| Optima 12x12 | 1,500 lbs | 13 ft |
| Myrtle 10x10 | 1,800 lbs | 13 ft |
| Moderna 10x10 | 1,800 lbs | 11.2 ft |
| Whales 10x10 | 1,800 lbs | 13 ft |
| Aspen 12x10 | 2,000 lbs | 13 ft |
| Solana 13x10 | 2,100 lbs | 14.4 ft |
| Bristhol 13x11 | 2,300 lbs | 13 ft |
| California 13x11 | 2,300 lbs | 13 ft |
| Astoria 11x13 | 2,400 lbs | 13 ft |
| Dakota 15x13 | 2,600 lbs | 17 ft |
| Washington 17x13 | 4,700 lbs | 18.2 ft |
Floor kits, doors, windows and other add-ons ship on their own smaller pallets or in cartons and are not included in these figures.
Part five
Shipping damage policy
At the time of delivery, the carrier will provide you with a Bill of Lading (BOL) and/or Delivery Receipt for you to sign. Please take a few moments to visually inspect both the inside and outside of the pallet, and make all notations on the paperwork. Each carrier uses their own standard forms, so make sure to fill out the proper spaces provided, or write in the margins if no such space is defined.
Look and photograph
If you see obvious damage to your shed's packaging, take photos and contact us immediately at (800) 590-2508, ext. 2.
Write it on the paperwork
If you find damage, write "Damaged on Delivery" on the BOL and/or Delivery Receipt. All damage and defects must be noted on all copies. If the driver rushes you, write "subject to inspection" next to your signature.
Tell us within 1 business day
Keep the damage photos and a copy of the BOL and Delivery Receipt with your notes, and contact our Customer Care Team at (800) 590-2508, ext. 2. We need the photos and the signed BOL with the damage listed in order to process a claim.
This is necessary for us to file a claim with the carrier and to assist you with a return, replacement or repair.
We highly recommend you accept the delivery even if the packaging shows damage. We will issue a full refund for the product if it was damaged, defective or incorrect and we determine that the issue cannot be resolved with replacement parts or repair.
Superficial damage is not a reasonable basis for refusing a shipment. Superficial damage means:
- Broken straps on the pallet
- Parts shifted off the pallet
- Broken wrapping
- Fewer than 10 wall boards clearly damaged
- Fewer than 20 roof and/or floor boards clearly damaged
If you wish to refuse a delivery displaying only superficial damage, you will be liable for shipping costs both ways.
If you refuse the delivery with reasonable damage, we will issue a full refund within 5 business days after receiving and inspecting the damaged shed at our facility.
Common questions
Shipping questions and answers
Is shipping really free?
Yes, within the 48 contiguous United States, with no surcharge for rural, urban or island addresses. The one exception is an address our carrier partners physically cannot reach, in which case we decline the delivery before it ships and refund you in full.
Will the driver carry the shed to my backyard?
No. Delivery is to the curbside or driveway. With free standard shipping you unload it yourself, ideally with two adults. With the $200 carrier unloading option the driver unloads it next to the vehicle, but never up the driveway or to the shed site.
Why can't the liftgate be used?
The boards are not cut in half, so the pallet for a 10x10 shed is 13 feet long, the length of its roof beams. That is too long for a liftgate. The kit comes off the truck board by board instead, which takes two people 30 to 45 minutes.
What should I do if the packaging arrives damaged?
Accept the delivery, photograph the damage, write "Damaged on Delivery" on the Bill of Lading and Delivery Receipt, and contact us within one business day at (800) 590-2508 ext. 2. If the shed is damaged, defective or incorrect and it cannot be resolved with parts or repair, we refund you in full.
When will my shed arrive?
Allow 5 to 7 business days for us to get it ready, then 2 to 6 business days in transit, and we will not dispatch it until you have confirmed you are ready to receive and unload it. Expedited shipping guarantees delivery within 2 weeks with carrier unloading included.
Anything we have not covered? Email info@solidbuildwood.com or call (800) 590-2508, and we will happily answer it and add it here.