Weekly Poll - May 1st, 2005
There is no clear winner this week, and I thought there would be. The standout winner is “Other” with 29%, so apparently there are some home-improvement magazines that I missed of great import. What are they??? I’d love to add yet another subscription to my already stuffed mailbox.
My personal favorite is Fine Homebuilding, with Inspired House running a close second. This Old House used to top my list, but lately I’m bored by the mainstream bent they obviously have. That and the fact that the old houses they talk about arent anything like my own old house, nor are the budgets for those old house remodels anything like the budget for my old house remodel. Those guys are out of touch, at least with me.
This week’s poll question is Trissa’s. We spend a lot of time and money at various hardware stores and lumber yards around Seattle. The one we spend the most cash at isn’t necessarily our favorite, but it sure is convenient. Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite store, especially if it differs from the one where you spend most of your hard earned $.
5 Comments
Jocelyn·May 1, 2005
We really like Clark-Devon Hardware here in Chicago. They were voted best hardware store by Chicago Magazine more than once I think. We are lucky because they are close by- but I have to admit we spend more $ at Home Depot. We use Clark Devon for smaller trips, but go to Home Depot for buying for bigger projects. Prices are lower at Home Depot, but for tool rentals and knowledgeable staff, no one beats Clark Devon.
jm·May 2, 2005
We’re fans of Menards here in Chicago (a good combination of knowledgeable help with big box prices and selection.) Also, we use the Ace Hardware on Irving Park for more traditional materials (such as spring bronze). Lee Lumber for wood, but I’m itching to try out Owl Hardwood Lumber Company on the recommendation of Lakewood 2-Flat. For very generic items, Home Depot is actually our closest hardware store but I still prefer Lowes if we are going to use a big box store, because Home Depot has such poor customer service.
I went to high school in PA, home of 84 Lumber! Loved that place but I don’t know how it is now that it has expanded to other states.
Kristin·May 2, 2005
The family-owned hardware store in our little town is handy for common items, but if it’s something even slightly out of the ordinary, they won’t have it. Lowe’s is right next to the Interstate we take into the bigger town, so it gets most of our business. We buy most of our painting supplies at a family-owned paint store. We love it there; they keep a little card for their customers with all their paint purchases.
Derek·May 2, 2005
We have Rona in Canada, another big box. There are a lot of good lumberyards, I just feel stupid going there with my car, they’re not going to wait for me to tie it on the roof. I like it when the Home Depot cashiers forget to charge me for stuff, like last night, when they charged me for all the gate hardware, and forgot about the lumber. I didn’t notice until I got home and checked the receipt.
ben·May 3, 2005
We visit Lowe’s a lot. I like their selection and price (service is improving) but for lumber I usually buy from Carter’s. They are in town so the delivery fee is less and their lumber prices are the cheapest in central Indiana. But the best place to find quirky, outside mainstream items is the internet. I’ve never found a store that carries replacement parts for our original double hung windows - they all want to replace them with vinyl!