B&Q > Wickes > Homebase (Wickes)

Member Name: CokaCola

Product:	Wickes
Date:	17/08/09 (104 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fairly Large DIY store, lots of stores

Disadvantages: Expensive, Lacking the Range of B&Q

Wickes is a large DIY chain in the UK, with over 190 stores across the nation. It is owned by Travis Perkins the popular builders merchant and supplies building materials to both the public and to the trade. Wickes HQ is based in Northampton and the first store was opened in the UK in 1972.

I have been into Wickes a couple of times, though to be honest it is not my DIY store of choice. There are two main reasons for this, firstly Wickes is not as big as B&Q and therefore doesn't quite have the extensive range of products and also, the prices in Wickes tend to be slightly on the extortionate side in comparison to B&Q. Wickes is definately less expensive than the Sainsbury's owned Homebase.

The last time I went in, I had a look at the price of Conti Board as I needed to buy some for a DIY project. Conti (If you didn't know) is pretty much like melamine/furniature board. Wickes has 4 x 2 pieces at the same price as 8 x 2 pieces in B&Q - I was shocked, for this product is was double the price of it's competitor!

Upon leaving the store, I was harassed by a begger with a tin, something I've never actually seen before, although I did feel sorry for the poor guy and it's not really something that Wickes can especially help. If this is your local DIY shop and you need something small then I imagine it would be a fairly useful stop, but for the range and price differences I would always go to B&Q if given the choice.

Summary: Ok for small necessities, but I think for a large DIY project you could probably get things cheaper.