The directions were not very clear - they were only in pictures, no words to describe the assembly process. We put it together and then realized that we had to take it apart because pieces had to be reversed, something that the instructions did not indicate. ALSO, we needed to buy a weighted base - in your Q&A section it says that it doesn't need a weighted base but a light wind blew it over and injured my husband and he still has a large scab on his head.