Oh NO .... its time for DIY (DIY Shops - Comments & Comparison)

Member Name: goclimbing

Product:	DIY Shops - Comments & Comparison
Date:	03/08/01 (515 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good to shop around, different ideas from different places

Disadvantages: takes time

I live in Glasgow in a tenement flat which is over 100 years old. For the previous 40 years it has seen little improvement and was in dire need of renovation ... which I have done mostly by myself (I'm a girlie!). Below are some of the lessons I have learnt about various DIY stores in the Glasgow area.

1) Homebase - They are generally really expensive for anything although their shelves are always well stocked and they sell a wide range of products. I normally look in as a last resort if I can't find what I'm looking for elsewhere. Sometimes if I wasn't in a hurry I would look at the range at homebase decide on the product I was looking for and the order it from our local hardware store. This worked out up to £5 cheaper on a £18 tin of specialist paint!

2) B&Q - They are still not the cheapest although they stock a wide range of most products. The staff (when you can find them) vary from really helpful to completely sexist and ignorant. The stores are open long hours and a generally well stocked. One exception is the hardware and fixing department where many things are out of stock for weeks on end. Oh and the garden section is great, the plants are generally healthy and there are a wide selection of pots etc. AVOID WEEKENDS!!!

3) Great Mills (focus) - They are probably the cheapest store about (recently merged with Do-It -all and are to be renamed focus.They stock an average range of most products generally at the cheaper end of the market.I shop there most often as the staff are quite helpful, the returns policy good and things are easy to find. I was looking to buy a 3 way extension ladder a while ago and found one in B&Q I quite liked (priced £79) before buying it I popped into Great Mills the same ladder was priced at £39. They are particularly cheap for paint and wood fillers. Also paint stripper (£2.99 per litre). I used their own brand quickdrying varnish for most of the period features in the flat a
nd it looks great (£3 a litre!). I would recommend great mills if you have a particular job in mind eg tiling a bathroom or painting a bedroom. In Paisley there is a great mills 1/4 mile from B&Q so its quite easy to go to great mills first and then try B&Q.

4) Local Hardware shop - The local hardware shop is great for those saturday afternoon emergencies eg run out of .... wallpaper paste, sandpaper etc. They are cheap and cheerful. They are probably the best people to go to for advice. My flat is like most in the area and the chap in the hardware shop knows exactly the problems I describe whereas the large DIY stores haven't a clue. The hardware shop also sells things which I couldn't find elsewhere like curtains for a huge drop, and skirting board to match the original 1ft high douglas fir ones. They will order in anything as long as there isn't a minimum order quantity and the mark up is less high than B&Q or homebase.

In summary: Cheapest - Great Mills
Most helpful - local hardware shop
Largest range - homebase

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