FAQ

Our products are intended for self-assembly and are packed and delivered in individual parts. Depending on the products, the parts are packed in one or more sturdy corrugated cardboard boxes that are clearly labelled on the outside. Additional protection in the form of wooden slats, polystyrene and plastic fleece material is provided for sensitive parts. Orders containing more than nine boxes are partly shipped with additional packaging in the form of wooden crates. The customer is responsible for disposing of all of the packaging material.

A pair of scissors and a pre-marked cut line appear on the boxes, indicating where the box can be opened with a utility knife. Please lift the individual components from the packaging with care (do not drag them!). 

Depending on size, the boxes are fitted with handles or recessed grips. We recommend that at least two persons carry the boxes due to their size and weight.

One single box can weigh up to 161 lbs. depending on the product.

If you do not unpack your Biohort product immediately, please ensure that the packages are stored in a dry place. Should the boxes get wet or damp, we can accept no liability for any subsequent damage to the goods. 

The boxes should be stored horizontally on a continuous, supporting surface.  

No, at least one side of the foundation must be level with the surrounding terrain. 

A maximum inclination of 4.3° is permissible.

The SmartBase foundation can compensate for height differences of up to 1.5". 

The SmartBasePlus foundation can compensate for height differences of up to 5.9". Extensions are available on request for greater height differences. Please write to our customer service team usa@biohort.com. 

The SmartBase or SmartBase^PLUS is a complete solution comprising adjustable feet or ground screws, a special frame and aluminium floor boards. The optional aluminium floor frame is no longer required in this instance and does not need to be fitted. The optional aluminium floor panels are also replaced by the aluminium floor boards.

No additional vapour barrier is required with the SmartBase^PLUS. The aluminium floor boards used with the SmartBase^PLUS foundation are connected with a click-in system (tongue and groove).

The SmartBase Foundation is the ideal foundation for uneven concrete or paved areas. It consists of high-quality aluminium floor boards, a special foundation frame and height-adjustable feet. 

Original soil is required for the SmartBase^PLUS. It is also important to ensure that the soil is free from large stones, pipes and coarse roots. Test holes should preferably be drilled in advance (e.g. using an iron rod at least 23.6" long). 

The aluminium boards of the SmartBase foundations can withstand loads of up to 41 psf.

The installation of a vapour barrier (= a water-impermeable plastic film with a minimum thickness of 150 µ) is highly recommended, as it protects against rising ground moisture. It is important to ensure that the membrane is not larger than the storage shed surface area. Please refer to our foundation tips for further details.

If you have not yet considered incorporating a vapour barrier in the foundation, it can also be retrofitted inside the shed using the aluminium floor frame: Spread out the vapour barrier and pull it slightly up the side on the aluminium floor frame. Then lay the XPS hard foam panels on top followed by the aluminium floor panels (or another suitable floor). Finally, trim the protruding membrane to lie flush with the upper edge of the aluminium floor frame.

A drill bit (40 x 600 mm) and a hammer drill are required to install the SmartBase^PLUS foundation.

The recommended foundation dimensions can be found in the technical data for the respective product.

Only a concrete or point foundation is recommended for securing the side canopy supports.

A foundation must be erected for the Storage Sheds and the Equipment Locker. Please refer to our foundation tips.

A level, solid hard surface is required for the HighBoard as well as for the Romeo Patio Locker. These products must be anchored to this hard surface with the screws and dowels supplied.

The outdoor boxes (LeisureTime Box, LoungeBox and StyleBox) must also be installed on a level, solid surface. These products do not need to be secured to the ground.

The various foundation options are described in detail in our foundation tips.

Biohort products must be installed on an absolutely level surface. There must be no incline. Various suitable foundation options are available. Click here for our foundation design tips.

The fastening material (screws and dowels) is supplied. Biohort cannot accept any liability for damage caused by insufficiently secured products.

A floor frame is required in the following situations: Point foundation, inadequate* concrete slab, paved or concrete foundation without step.

The floor frame provides a continuous bearing surface for the floor profile (joints, coarse subsoil) and makes it easier to incorporate the sealing joint.

*inadequate: minimally uneven, coarse subsoil

Click here for more foundation tips: Foundation tips.

These products are supplied with a galvanised, coated metal base and an even, level, solid surface is required for installation. Asphalt driveways, concrete slabs in a gravel base as well as a frost-proof concrete foundations are suitable for this purpose. The boxes must be anchored to the hard surface with the fixing material supplied (screws and dowels) to ensure storm-proof installation. The surface area must be at least of the dimensions specified.

No specific specialist skills are required for assembly. A detailed assembly manual is supplied with our products.

Specific socket and open-ended wrenchs are supplied.

The following additional tools and aids are required or could be useful:

• A sharp knife for opening the box
• Standard and Phillips head screwdrivers
• Combination wrench, 13 mm opening Hammer drill with 10 mm masonry drill (for fastening anchors)
• Tape measure
• Stepladder
• Level
• Cordless screwdriver (useful)
• Saw horse x 2 (useful)
• Socket set (useful)

This depends on a few factors:

• The skill of the "assemblers" and how many there are of them
• The weather conditions (never build in windy weather!)
• The space situation (at least 27.5" of space all-around)

Because we have years of experience, however, we can give guideline values. Please note that these estimates relate purely to the time taken for the work. Please read the assembly manual beforehand, including all notices. 

At least two people are needed to assemble the Biohort products.

The detailed product assembly manual is supplied.

Check the delivered goods for completeness (size, color, number) and possible damage. Ensure that you have enough space (at least 27.5" around the foundation) and helpers to assist with the assembly. You are advised to read the assembly manual in advance.

Sealants are available from various manufacturers. It is important to ensure that they are suitable for outdoor use and do not attack the metal parts (acid-free). Appropriate products are available from builders' merchants. The sealant can be used to seal the foundation depending on the hard surface. Please refer to our foundation tips.

An even, level hard surface is essential for successful assembly. Leave a space of at least 27.5" all around the assembly area. Please open the boxes as noted on the boxes themselves. Should any parts be damaged, do not fit them, but inform customer services immediately, enclosing photos.  

Please place the individual parts on suitable surfaces/supports to avoid scratches. Wear gloves during assembly - some parts may have sharp edges. 

The sealant is used to seal the bearing surface of the floor profile (or floor frame) and foundation to prevent rainwater seeping into the storage shed. See our foundation tips for more detailed information.

The foundation must be absolutely level for the successful assembly of our products.  

With the Biohort SmartBase^PLUS foundation for slopes and lawns, it is possible to compensate for a slope of 5.9". Extension sets for the ground screws can also be provided on request, to achieve compensation of max. 21.6" overall.  

Please note that with this foundation, only one side of the shed can be raised. The foundation screws are not suitable for raising the entire shed. 

On a firm surface, the SmartBase can compensate for a slope of up to 1.5".  

See our Foundation Tips for more detailed information. 

The Biohort storage solutions are all lockable and are therefore classed as "lockable containers" for insurance purposes. The HighLine and AvantGarde Storage Sheds as the most secure against burglary.

What is classed as burglary?
A burglary is theft accompanied by break-in. This occurs when the perpetrator gains access to insured premises by using force, tools, unlawfully produced keys or keys previously taken from another insured premises by burglary or robbery in order to steal insured items. A burglary also occurs if the perpetrator enters or creeps into insured premises by overcoming difficult obstacles or gains entry through openings not intended for access. Finally, entry into locked containers and the theft of items contained therein also constitutes burglary.

Our correctly assembled and properly anchored storage sheds are successfully tested in a wind tunnel at wind speeds of up to 95 mph.  

Please make sure that they are properly anchored to the ground. Biohort cannot accept any liability for damage caused by insufficiently secured products, or lids/doors that are not locked. 

The roof of the storage sheds is designed to withstand a max. snow load of 31 psf. However, roof avalanches can cause damage to the roof.

Safety advice for each product can be found on the opening pages of the assembly manual.

Basically: 
Keep all small parts or packaging materials supplied away from small children during assembly. Some components have sharp edges or protrude. This should be borne in mind when assembling the product and during daily use. Gloves are included and can be used if necessary.  

Note that relatively high temperatures may develop in the storage shed (heat generation similar to that in a car). Find out the storage conditions for the products stored in the storage shed from the respective manufacturers.   

Biohort products are Faraday cages, meaning that lightning protection is not required. The Faraday cage is an enclosure comprising an electrical conductor (e.g. wire mesh or sheet metal) that is closed on all sides and acts as an electrical shield. In the event of external static or quasi-static electrical fields, the inner section remains unaffected because of the shield effect.

The film should not be exposed to sunlight for too long as this can cause the protective film to become polymerised due to UV rays. If this happens, adhesive residues may remain on the acrylic glass.

The glass elements should be cleaned with a soft sponge and a mild cleaner. Then rinse thoroughly with clear water. After cleaning, the glass elements can be dried with a soft, lint-free cloth to avoid stains.

ATTENTION: When using cleaners, always test in a concealed area prior to use.

Biohort products need very little care due to the high-quality materials used and careful workmanship. Simply lubricate the lock and hinges every year. A high-pressure cleaner can be used (maintain a distance of at least 3.9" between the lance and the lacquer. Do not use a steam cleaner. Max. pressure approximately 1160 psi).

The gutter should be cleaned several times a year, to ensure optimum drainage. If the gutter is blocked, it may overflow. No liability can be accepted for any resultant damage.  

IMPORTANT: Sea air/ambient air containing salt water and/or salt, aggressive and abrasive cleaning agents, road salt, fertilisers, fresh concrete, screed materials and other chemical substances (never store this type of product in the open) can attack the lacquer and zinc surface, thereby leading to corrosion. Warranty claims are no longer valid in such cases. 

Biohort products are subject to the DIN 4102 standard and are classified according to building material rating A1 under products without combustible components.

Biohort products are not suitable for sitting. They should only be used to store/stow away garden or leisure items.

Please note that Biohort storage boxes such as the LeisureTime Box, Romeo Patio Locker, HighBoard, StyleBox and LoungeBox offer secure storage against driving rain. However, there are ventilation slits for air circulation. Seat covers/cushions/blankets absorb any humidity and should therefore not be stored in the outdoor boxes in winter due to the risk of mould stains.

LeisureTime Box/LoungeBox:
4–6 plastic feet are mounted depending on the size of the storage box. These are not height-adjustable.

StyleBox:
The adjustable feet are height-adjustable from 0.4" to 1.1".

HighBoard:
The height of both feet can be adjusted up to 0.7" on the front left and right. As the floor panel should rest entirely on the hard surface, feet height can be adjusted only for precise alignment.

Romeo Patio Locker:
The feet can be adjusted by up to 0.9" on the inside.

During assembly, make sure that a vapour barrier is installed to prevent rising soil moisture (see foundation design). In the case of high humidity and large temperature fluctuations, condensation can nevertheless form on the inside of the roof overnight. This is due to physical reasons, but can be avoided by insulating the inside of the roof with polystyrene panels/XPS hard foam panels (thickness: 0.7" for Europa and AvantGarde; 1.1" for HighLine and Equipment Locker). These panels are available from all builders' merchants. Storage Sheds in the AvantGarde and HighLine series are designed for interior roof insulation as the Equipment Locker. We are pleased to provide fixing material for the Europa model. Please write to us at usa@biohort.com.

Biohort products are rainwater-proof.

Passive ventilation is provided for in our Biohort products, except for the CasaNova Outbuilding. In this case, the acrylic glass panel can be opened on two sides for ventilation purposes. ATTENTION: This sliding function is not included in the double version of the acrylic glass skylight, which is available as an option.

You can choose on which side you want the side canopy to be fitted (either on the left or right side of the storage shed). Two side canopies are also possible - left and right.

Biohort products can withstand the following surface loads when applied evenly:

Highline, AvantGarde and Europa Storage Sheds, Equipment Locker: 31 psf
HighBoard, LoungeBox, LeisureTime Box, Romeo, Alex, StyleBox: 66 lbs.

LeisureTime Box/LoungeBox/StyleBox:
The floor of these outdoor boxes can withstand an even load of 44 lbs. We recommend placing an XPS hard foam panel with a thickness of 1" underneath the box in order to store heavier objects (inside the adjustable feet).

HighBoard/Patio Locker:
These storage boxes are delivered with a base plate underlay. A full surface load of up to 44 lbs can therefore be applied.

An insect screen can be fitted by the user. It should be ensured that any adhesive used can be removed without leaving any residue and the material is not adversely impacted.

The storage boxes are not delivered with castors. However, if you would like to fit castors to the boxes, furniture castors can be attached to a base plate and the box fitted on top. Please note that most of our products must be secured to a base or subsurface. Biohort cannot accept liability for any damage caused by insufficiently secured products.

Only products with a door handle (HighLine/AvantGarde) can be incorporated into a keyed alike system or replaced with a new cylinder lock. The cylinder for the mortise lock is 2.1" long with a central division (1" each).

During the winter, it can generally be assumed that the temperature inside the product will equate to the outside temperature as there is no insulation.

Biohort products can heat up on exposure to prolonged sunlight in the same way as cars. Regular ventilation is required in this respect in order to regulate the temperature.

Biohort products do not emit any sounds on exposure to cold and heat as the steel plate has a very low material expansion coefficient (considerably lower than aluminium, plastic or concrete, etc.).

No, the side canopy must always be attached to the storage shed. Installation in a free-standing position is not possible.

The narrow double door can only be installed at the front for sizes A1-A4. An additional narrow double door cannot be ordered.

Yes, the back wall can also be attached at the front of the side canopy. No door can be installed in the privacy screen panels.

The optional aluminium floor frame (= 1.5" x 1.5" tube-shaped aluminium frame) is an ideal addition, regardless of the type of foundation chosen. The floor frame is required with a gravel base, concrete slabs/paving as well as with a point or strip foundation. The floor frame is not mandatory with a smooth, level concrete foundation (without step). It is, however, recommended as it facilitates sealing or application of the sealing joint.

EXCEPTIONS: The aluminium floor frame cannot be used in conjunction with the SmartBase foundations and with the concrete foundation with lateral graduation (stepped border or water barrier). See the foundation tips for further information.

Rainwater downpipes are supplied depending on the product selected. No more than one set of rainwater downpipes (= two individual downpipes) can be fitted with the AvantGarde and HighLine Storage Sheds. In the case of the Europa Storage Shed, water can be drained on all four corners (thus two rainwater downpipe sets could be used for the Europa Storage Shed). For the side canopies (available for Europa and HighLine), one separate downpipe (= one individual downpipe) is included in the side canopy scope of delivery. This amounts to a total of three downpipes for the Storage shed including the side canopy.

A 1 or 1.1/4" commercially available water hose can be fitted instead of the downpipe.

The optional aluminium floor panel (= 2 mm chequer plate) can only be used in conjunction with the optional aluminium floor frame. Please note that the aluminium floor panel must be fully lined with a 1" thick XPS hard foam panel. The hard foam panels are not supplied but are available from builders' merchants.

The back wall/side wall can also be retrofitted to existing HighLine side canopies. 

With simultaneous use of the rainwater downpipe, the downpipe can only be installed opposite the back wall. In this instance, please note the correct alignment of the slope of the rain gutter.

Biohort colors do not correspond to any RAL number but some of them share similar features to RAL numbers. We recommend that you view the original color samples at our dealers.

An optional additional door can be retrofitted. However, please note that this will involve additional time and effort. Therefore, plan the number of storage shed entrances or chosen door installations in advance.

The optional aluminium floor frame can also be retrofitted with a little extra time and effort.

Biohort products are not designed to house animals.

The Storage Sheds and Equipment Locker are designed to be free-standing (secured to a hard surface). We can provide the appropriate wall mounting parts for the Equipment Locker and the Europa Storage Shed on request (already supplied with Europa size 2A and 4A). We recommend additional fastening to the floor despite attachment to the wall.

The Romeo Patio Locker has perforated holes at the rear - hence it can be fastened to a wall as well as the floor.

There is no wall fastening for the HighLine and AvantGarde Storage Sheds.

Please note that we accept no liability for inadequate fastening.

The products can be installed on a roof terrace if building regulations are met.

IMPORTANT:Ensure that products are anchored securely in case of stormy weather (fixing material supplied). Biohort cannot accept any liability for damage caused by insufficiently secured products.

Biohort products provide protection against driving rain and are therefore ideal to store/stow away garden and leisure items.

The standard door can be fitted on all sides of the HS model. However, with the H1, installation is only possible on the long side, as no half front wall elements are supplied.

On the model Highline the modules and collectors can be installed whereas the system placed on the shed and no modification of the Biohort product takes place.

It needs to be taken in account that the maximum surface load of the roofs of the storage shed should not exceed the 31 psf.
Biohort does not offer solar panels / -modules / -collector’s packages or installation.
The costumer is responsible for the installation and the anchoring of the system.

Should it happen, that structural modifications will be applied to the storage sheds or Biohort products in general (e.g., drilling in the roof panels) then the right of guarantee will be lost and outcomes such as rust, water damage or any of such and the side effects of these causes are not part of the guarantee nor warranty.

An additional door (single door) can, in principle, be installed with the HighLine and AvantGarde models. However, the installation options depend on the size of the shed.

Replacement keys for the stainless steel door handle with standard cylinder lock (HighLine and AvantGarde from the 2016 model onwards) can be ordered from a locksmith on presentation of the original key. Please therefore keep one of the three keys supplied in a safe place. If a key is no longer held in stock, the integrated cylinder must be drilled.