I build custom furniture. I've been to lowes twice in the past week for two beds that I am making. Each time I've been to this lowes I've needed very specific building materials that I've seen at home depot.\n\nI've gone to lowes because they're usually a little cheaper, and they have more decorative items. Unfortunately because of the increase of decorative items it seems theres not only enough room for adequate building materials, but adequate assistance as well.\n\nTrip one: 6 2x4s, two stain ready shelves, 6 5x10 pieces of pine. I also needed 10 L brackets, at least three inches wide each. These are essential to the stability of the frame. I informed one of the guys at lowes, not only did he have no options other than an overly long, very thin L bracket, he insisted no other building supply/hardware store would carry one, and that I should buy the wrong one at their store, or go to the welding class at MCC and commission a student there to create several for me. These brackets are common in home building btw. Found them at home depot (for 83 cents each!)\n\nTrip two: Ready to make the second headboard, I was looking for composite bender board. I needed about 6 12 foot pieces, but cut into six foot lengths to fit in the car. Found the boards ($6.12 ea.), found a very nice man to cut them for us. As he is cutting them, another lowes worker comes over, makes the man cutting them for us stop (halfway through) and tells us that this type of board cannot be cut on his (his??) saw, that it would ruin the blade (in a building supply store do you think they have replacement blades?), and that despite the sign that says several types of materials can be cut, including this, that we have to stop. We asked if they had another type of saw to cut them, he said no. We walked out. \n\nWe ended up at home depot down the street, not only did they have the correct board, in longer lengths, it was on clearance (sign said $2.06, but they ended up being a penny each!!), they cut them all for us for no cost, no questions asked. \n\nLowes is nice if you need a new ceiling fan (but not any parts to install it), and maybe some paint and lightbulbs. If you're actually making a project or doing some real home improvement, save yourself the trip, see the experts at home depot
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