The bunk bed looks exactly like the product pictures once it is put together. It arrives in 2 boxes...mine arrived 3 days apart. The boxes were completely beat up, but the bed is well-protected on the inside. There are no words on the assembly instructions, just diagrams! So take a deep breath and look at the pictures carefully. All of the parts are labelled and it comes with 2 wrenches. It will take 2 people to assemble. It took me and a friend about 3 hours. The whole bedroom was needed for space for assembly. It was fairly straight forward. An 8 inch mattress fit on top very well. My kids have not yet tested it out, but it seems quiet and sturdy. The ladder can only be positioned in the one spot. Having an extra flat head screwdriver will help with the anchors when placing screws.
Addendum: 8 months later: My kids love the bunk beds. So far they seem very sturdy. The 60-pounder sleeps on top, the 30-pounder on the bottom. We use the trundle for extra storage for now. Changing the sheets on the top bunk is a drag for parents, but not bad for kids. There's not much headroom between bottom bunk and top, but strips of cushioned furniture protectors or pool noodles may work to pad the open wood. Overall, we still love the bunk beds and highly recommend.
Practical
The bunk bed looks exactly like the product pictures once it is put together. It arrives in 2 boxes...mine arrived 3 days apart. The boxes were completely beat up, but the bed is well-protected on the inside. There are no words on the assembly instructions, just diagrams! So take a deep breath and look at the pictures carefully. All of the parts are labelled and it comes with 2 wrenches. It will take 2 people to assemble. It took me and a friend about 3 hours. The whole bedroom was needed for space for assembly. It was fairly straight forward. An 8 inch mattress fit on top very well. My kids have not yet tested it out, but it seems quiet and sturdy. The ladder can only be positioned in the one spot. Having an extra flat head screwdriver will help with the anchors when placing screws. Addendum: 8 months later: My kids love the bunk beds. So far they seem very sturdy. The 60-pounder sleeps on top, the 30-pounder on the bottom. We use the trundle for extra storage for now. Changing the sheets on the top bunk is a drag for parents, but not bad for kids. There's not much headroom between bottom bunk and top, but strips of cushioned furniture protectors or pool noodles may work to pad the open wood. Overall, we still love the bunk beds and highly recommend.