DIY stores in Canada
 

Following on from other threads, mostly about cheese, I thought it would be useful to start one on DIY stores.

In my opinion, Rona is the best for wood and other building materials, unless you go to proper builders' merchants. Home Depot is better for tools and generally being able to find things. Reno Depot (owned by Rona and probably an eastern thing) does the best electricals. The smaller outfits, like Home Hardware and BMR are good for quirky little things that the majors don't carry. Crappy Tire does some astonishingly good deals from time to time but you have to keep a close eye on the flyers.

What do others think on this important matter?

Re: DIY stores in Canada
 

Kent for the wood and building materials - The Tire of Much Crap for deals on tools and electrical gear

Re: DIY stores in Canada
 

I think it's a mistake to go to DIY stores in Canada, that's a very expensive way to do things. We mainly go to the Lowe's on Transit Road in Buffalo, sometimes to the Home Depot on the other side of the road.

Of course, sometimes one just needs a pound of nails, no point in going to America for that so I have been into examples of all the chains up here. I've pretty much had it with Home Hardware as the shops tend to be owned by religionists, the one nearest us isn't even open on Sundays. Still the pressure treated fence post knobs from HH in Orangeville were a bargain at $1 each, they're five bucks at the Home Depot in Canada, $2 in the US. We needed 54.

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Peavy Mart is where we head for smaller items.

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I go to Lowe's on 130th. Buffalo is a little far.

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Some us are rather too far aware from the USA.....

Home Hardware is the local store I'll go to for that thing that doesn't warrant a trip to the bigger DIY store. So not lumber, sometimes tools, very definately for random nuts, bolts and other fixings. Kent or Home Depot are the big box stores for major construction stuff, lumber and so on. For proper service on lumber though I'll go to the specialist Lumberyard up the shore. You couldn't pay me enough to go to the local RONA with a lumberyard as I really don't need to be patronised by the nobheads who work there just because I'm not a contractor.

Re: DIY stores in Canada
 

There's such a huge variation in what's there and the prices.

With our old Heat Pump/Air Con, I used to buy filters for about $5. They were good enough - allergy type and all that.

But when Canadian Tire didn't have any once, I went to Kent and they didn't stock any for under $30. And even those didn't seem better.

A couple of weeks ago I needed a wood filler. All CT had was a stick for a tenner. I'd have needed about 6 of them.

Home Hardware (also not open Sunday) had a dozen types sizes etc from about $4 for a pot that was big enough for the job.

Home Depot - very good for smaller freezers/fridges and even lawn mowers.

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Lowe's tends to carry a lot of low-priced poor quality rubbish. Canadian Tire is also pretty junky. If you want real quality tools, Lee Valley is great. The House of Tools is also very good. Home Hardware sometimes has interesting things but seldom has sales. If you have to shop at one of the common big stores, Home Depot seems to have the best quality although in some stores they appear to hire staff and fail to train them adequately so it's not much use asking for help.

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If you really want something that Canadian Tire sells you can sign up to their website and get e-mailed when it is on sale.

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Lowes do seem to offer a pretty good online shopping and delivery experience. I priced up a BBQ recently there which I could get delivered for "free" to Newfoundland for less than buying locally. (My nearest Lowes store is probably in Ontario). Best deal was a "mulch plug" for the JD ride on mower I purchase at Home Depot. $48 online or at my local JD place. $5.68 delivered by Lowes!

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:confused:
We get a weekly flyer

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All the DIY stores in Red Deer are the pits, awful service, lack of stock and they all sell the same stuff so no choice. The kitchen displays in home depot have not changed since we moved here (8 years ago).

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Is it possible someone moved in? :rofl:

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I may be lucky but I have had good experiences with Home Depot, both in Langley and South Surrey. Several times I have been dissuaded from spending $100 + when they have sold me a $1 widget that does the job just as well. Last month I asked them how to fix a leaking shower/bath tap (OK, faucet) and they gave me the washer and the tool to loosen the washer retaining nut for free.

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The guy I try to seek out in my local Home Depot is very good at that. He's told me on several occasions not to bother buying certain items. He's the one I always want to cut wood for me.

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Although smaller than the others, I have always found Totem to provide experienced and knowledgeable service, which is an important consideration for me when it comes to DIY. Take a number, wait your turn and then the rep will provide as much help as you need. Unlike some of the other stores where you can walk around for ages trying to find someone to speak to.

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You guys are just spoilt!!

We have Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, Kents and Timbr Mart.
BUT because we are in a small community in the middle of nowhere we don't get the whole range available in bigger towns; so regularly we will have to put something on a shopping list for when we next go up to Halifax! :(

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Talking of DIY, and without wishing to appear to be promoting a company, those of you tired of lugging around heavy mitre saws and dicking around with saw horses might wish out to check out the Ridgid cart at Home Depot. It is the dogs bollx and a steal at $199. I got it on sale but I'd happily have paid more, knowing what I know now.

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I obtained one of these very recently. I agree with you, it is the bollox.

I obtained it on sale too. I won't let on how much I paid for it.:p

When researching it (as I found it online and it looked too flimsy for what I wanted) I found a video on Youtube where some professionals reviewed it. One said that he tried to beat it to death, but failed. He said that he loaded into his truck with the saw attached and routinely let if fall from the bed straight to the ground in its transporting position.

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An absolute bitch to put together, though. The instructions are dreadful and I'm bloody glad I have an impact driver and socket set.

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I have a socket set, but no impact driver, from memory, there was one tricky part with the assembly.

This is the video I referred to and this is the piece of kit that I have:

Re: DIY stores in Canada
 

I think the trickiest bit was try to attach a brace. I ended up referring to the picture on the box.