we have one,its good for growing ,no good in a wind,the cover does break down after 3/4 years,it's best to store the cover over winter,as for the joints breaking,what my OH did was to cut a 2/3 inch of bamboo cane and after cleaning out the tubes ,push the cane into one end then the other,it is then splinted,what i would like to know is,can a replacement cover be got,a friend gave it us last year,the cuecumber plants grew like triffids as it was very humid,but is quite holy now.