PING Jules

[The Medway Handyman]

As an ex pat living in Merica, who are the main DIY sheds?

AIUI B&Q is largely based on Home Depot. Whats the Mercan equivalent of Homebase & Wickes?

Is there a TLC Direct or Screwfix equivalent?

[Adrian C]

Walmart.

[Jules]

Adrian's probs right about Mal-Wart for Homebase/Wickes, if I'm remembering rightly the type of stuff they used to sell :)

Menards are probably better than Home Depot in terms of range (and probably price), but I think they only serve part of the US (and our nearest one's a couple of hours' drive away)

I'm not sure if where I am is typical or not, but there are a lot of big local stores around here which usually seem to out-do the national DIY sheds both on price and product range - we've got a good farm supply place (tools, fixtures/fittings, hardware, mower/tractor parts, animals + animal feed, outdoor clothing etc.), a couple of good lumber yards, a place specialising in stonework etc.

Home Depot is reasonably good (I've just come back from there to get a new element for our 'leccy water heater) but it's wise to know your products; they're actually often quite expensive.

I'm not sure if there is - I really like seeing what I'm buying before I part with money, so I like good ol' traditional shops :-)

I usually go to the farm supply place for screws, nails etc.

(They sell most stuff like that by weight there - there are big bins of stuff in the aisles and weighing scales, and I just load up what I need into heavy-duty bags, write down the weight/price, and take it to the front to pay. It's like sweet shops used to be in the UK ;)

cheers

Jules

[Andrew May]

While I would agree about WalMart being a a replacement for Homebase I am not so sure about it being a replacement for Wickes. I have always perceived Wickes as being rather more towards the Builder Merchant end of the spectrum. What about Lowe's?

Andrew

[S Viemeister]

In some parts of the US, Loewe's is giving Home Depot a run for its money, with a better selection and lower prices.

[Jules]

Never been to a Lowes - they do advertise on local TV, but the nearest one's still a couple of hours away (which is still 'local' on US scales, but not somewhere I'm going to go to unless I happen to be passing).

One day I'll drop in to one and have a look, I expect.

cheers

Jules