We bought this set for our second story outdoor balcony. We've had it for about a week, so I can't attest to the life span of this set but it is very sturdy. It did come with a few scratches and discolored rattan, but not enough to make it look cheap or worn out. Other reviews say it takes two people to assemble, but I was able to put everything together on my own in about 1.5 hours. I do recommend using a socket wrench. The manual is just pictures but easy to read, just pay attention to which screws you need for each hole and don't tighten the screws until all are in place. For the low price, I give this set a four star rating.