This is a nice product for the price.  It's not hard to put together, just time consuming.  You need 2 people to put together & a drill.  It took my husband and I about 4 hours to put the bed and the headboard together.  We, and our son, love the look of the bed.  He doesn't need a dresser anymore because of the 6 drawers, so that gives him more space in his room.  I recommend getting the headboard, it really makes the look of the bed.  Don't know about durability because we just put together yesterday.  Hopefully it will hold up.