Most knowledgeable Home improvement store?

[Burque]

Master bath renovation is my next big project as well.
I found out tile is surprisingly affordable- going with ceramic, and it will be my first time doing vertical tile.

Funny enough the you tube vid I was mining for tips was from lowes.

I needed assistance on thermostatic temp controls and the body jets... as well as conversion kits for hardware.
The bones are there for 4 body jets and 3 shower heads... one on each side and a rain shower overhead.

The hardware is trash though, so I don't know of i can find new bolt on replacements or if I need to get new valves and whatnot.

Really looking forward to getting it done.

Price wise, tile and hardware for that bathroom is going to cost me less than the stand up fiberglass shower I am putting downstairs.

Another issue I have is the 2 sinks in the master bath. They are both 42" which appears to be an odd size... the 42 inch vanities are few and far between.
I dont have a ton of room to go bigger, because there is a tub and windows between them.
Maybe I can get a couple 43" and trim back the wall sides.

I do not know if you have this option where you are located, but I would look for a smaller plumbing shop. I know that around here there are some places that are dedicated to plumbing only and they have counter guys that know their shit. You can walk in there with strange bits and pieces and they will be able to handle all of your questions. They are usually dealing mostly with contractors and repair people that are coming across strange situations constantly so they are better equipped to handle those type of questions than a lowes or HD person.

Also, I have found that most plumbing places deal with the public, whereas sometimes the electrical places are contractor only with no public sales. If you run into that, finding a buddy with a license that can get you access (to the store and subsequently the knowledge base) can be a life saver as well.

 

[airtime143]

I do not know if you have this option where you are located, but I would look for a smaller plumbing shop. I know that around here there are some places that are dedicated to plumbing only and they have counter guys that know their shit. You can walk in there with strange bits and pieces and they will be able to handle all of your questions. They are usually dealing mostly with contractors and repair people that are coming across strange situations constantly so they are better equipped to handle those type of questions than a lowes or HD person.

Also, I have found that most plumbing places deal with the public, whereas sometimes the electrical places are contractor only with no public sales. If you run into that, finding a buddy with a license that can get you access (to the store and subsequently the knowledge base) can be a life saver as well.

Our local shops are dying out here- There was a great plumbing shop in crystal lake that I went to years ago to get a spanner wrench for work... but they are gone now.

I do have a local electric shop that has led me right in the past though.

 

[Crystallas]

All have their advantages, even Sears (not mall ones, those exist for handy men who hate shopping and keep busy while family runs about). Internet for 80%, and split the rest with the B&Ms. Well, aside from Lowes, who never seems to have anything I'm looking for or a better price. People know only know what is already written on the box of items, not very knowledgeable by comparison. ....and I think they still use a certain shady pay-wall service for Veteran discounts. Now that I think about it, I really don't like Lowes. But my southern friends love Lowes, so maybe it's a regional thing. In Illinois, Lowes is a joke.


But here's what I want to know. You go into a Menard's just to get ideas, no shopping list or idea of what you want to buy. How often do you walk out empty handed? LOL, I swear, they buy all these random bulk items, sell them dirt cheap, and some are fantastic. Wanted to look at light fixtures, and walk out with 5lbs of jerky, a gallon of cleaner, a case of brackets. Seems like everyone I know buys something from Menards, and it's rarely the thing they went there for in the first place.

But I'll echo that. The small shops that REALLY knew their shit are sadly dead. If you want knowledge, don't look for a brand, find PEOPLE. Lucky to have a Truevalue within a short drive of me with guys who can tell you how to build a skyscraper if you wanted.

And *edit*, Harbor Freight needs some mention. Not knowledgeable on repairs, but tools on a budget, they usually have a guy in there that knows which cheap tools are worth buying. That place, while 90% shit, is 10% save your ass.

 

[airtime143]

I’m working on a flip house right now. Tiles are cheap it’s the instal if you pay someone that is expensive. And demo sucks dick pay someone lol. I’m returning a 42 inch vanity from Costco paid 636 for it. I found room to make bathroom bigger so now need a 60 inch vanity with double sink. Just finished the plumbing to put in a double sink and got rid of all the galvanized steel. I found room cause outside the bathroom were two closets that I eliminated and reframed.

post some pics inside and out of bathroom maybe can come up with something for you

The sinks and vanities are really the thorn in my side right now. I dont want to custom order, I dont want to go smaller and loose counter space, so I may be forced to go 48" and cut the wall side down. the ones pictured are 42, and anything beyond 45 would protrude beyond the windows behind the tub.

I was toying with the idea of going custom on the vanities and doing them at 45 degree angles from the edge of the windows to the corners behind the tub.
There is a triangular window above those windows in the center, and the ceiling follows the roof line, so the ceiling above goes 45 degrees up to the peak with a couple skylights- triangular wouldnt be out of place.





The tile on the tub is gonna go- the floor is beige with no pink tones, but the tile is pinkish and makes the room look like raw chicken. THe same shit is in the shower.



All the brass hardware is gonna go, I cannot tolerate it. Going with brushed nickle.
Each side of the shower is going to need 4 jets, shower head, thermostatic controller, and 2 knobs.
I am putting a heat lamp overhead in the shower, and there is a bluetooth thermostatic controller that isnt much more than the mechanical, so I may just go all tony stark and get that... it would be amusing.

The tile job in the shower is going to be pretty easy- plenty of room to work and a door out on to the deck for shuttling shit in and out.

 

[airtime143]

All have their advantages, even Sears (not mall ones, those exist for handy men who hate shopping and keep busy while family runs about). Internet for 80%, and split the rest with the B&Ms. Well, aside from Lowes, who never seems to have anything I'm looking for or a better price. People know only know what is already written on the box of items, not very knowledgeable by comparison. ....and I think they still use a certain shady pay-wall service for Veteran discounts. Now that I think about it, I really don't like Lowes. But my southern friends love Lowes, so maybe it's a regional thing. In Illinois, Lowes is a joke.


But here's what I want to know. You go into a Menard's just to get ideas, no shopping list or idea of what you want to buy. How often do you walk out empty handed? LOL, I swear, they buy all these random bulk items, sell them dirt cheap, and some are fantastic. Wanted to look at light fixtures, and walk out with 5lbs of jerky, a gallon of cleaner, a case of brackets. Seems like everyone I know buys something from Menards, and it's rarely the thing they went there for in the first place.

But I'll echo that. The small shops that REALLY knew their shit are sadly dead. If you want knowledge, don't look for a brand, find PEOPLE. Lucky to have a Truevalue within a short drive of me with guys who can tell you how to build a skyscraper if you wanted.

And *edit*, Harbor Freight needs some mention. Not knowledgeable on repairs, but tools on a budget, they usually have a guy in there that knows which cheap tools are worth buying. That place, while 90% shit, is 10% save your ass.

Harbor freight is my go to place for single use tools- I bought a roof nailer and trim nailer there for dirt cheap- not pro grade but will do the jb for sure.

 

[Crystallas]

View attachment 6520

It may be a little late now, but full wood frame medicine cabs can be recessed into the wall nicely. Dealing strictly with working space, that is a huge space saver.

I see your issues though. Nothing is *wrong* with that layout, but nothing quite fits or flows. My master bath is tiny (by choice), so I opted to just to have a shower with a gym style drain in the floor with no bath. Fast foreward 15 years, now I want to add one of those old people walk-in bath tubs that you can sit inside for the days I just want to soak aches. For me it's impossible to retrofit without shaving off some of the bedroom space, so I'm stuck. Perfect bathrooms are a ***** to do, because you can't have perfect form without sacrificing function, and a mix of the two puts you back at square one.

 

[ZOMBIE@CTESPN]

Going custom with vanities or get a smaller tub. So with the bathroom I’m doing now I found a good 60 inch double sink vanity for under 1000 at menards. To do custom it would cost me 700 plus a countertop. So if you are also doing let’s say a kitchen or multiple bathrooms etc going custom MIGHT be the way to go you will save. When you buy countertops you are paying for a full slab. So based on measurements you might come out on top if that slab can cover kitchen and bathrooms. But if you are just doing that bathroom you will be paying around 1400 custom which is way over paying.

man wish you were local my friend just got three pallets of tile for $8 a case (regular price 19)from hd that would have matched you up perfectly. Make friends at hd pro counter if you do allot of work. They always have Closeouts before they dump things in the trash

once you pull that tile it looks like you can reframe around that tub actually and gain the space you need there if I’m reading your dilemma right. Also factor in you still want to tile between tub frame and the vanities

 

[airtime143]

Going custom with vanities or get a smaller tub. So with the bathroom I’m doing now I found a good 60 inch double sink vanity for under 1000 at menards. To do custom it would cost me 700 plus a countertop. So if you are also doing let’s say a kitchen or multiple bathrooms etc going custom MIGHT be the way to go you will save. When you buy countertops you are paying for a full slab. So based on measurements you might come out on top if that slab can cover kitchen and bathrooms. But if you are just doing that bathroom you will be paying around 1400 custom which is way over paying.

man wish you were local my friend just got three pallets of tile for $8 a case (regular price 19)from hd that would have matched you up perfectly. Make friends at hd pro counter if you do allot of work. They always have Closeouts before they dump things in the trash

once you pull that tile it looks like you can reframe around that tub actually and gain the space you need there if I’m reading your dilemma right. Also factor in you still want to tile between tub frame and the vanities

Yeah- the space is just barely too short to go 48 without the edges protruding beyond the window glass... 45 on the wall and almost 3 around the windows.

the custom ones I was thinking would look neat if I followed the footprint in yellow... I kind of like the edge around the tub, and I may actually go with a larger more triangular tub that I saw the other day... make it multi-person.
Now that I got the pump and inline heater going and know I dont have to spend on that, it frees up money for a new drop in.

I am doing multiple bathrooms, but no hurry on them. They are down the road.

I am saving tons of bank on the kitchen- new custom cabinets for virtually nothing. My ladies best friend married a cabinet maker with a kid. for many years we took him wakeboarding, taught him how to ride, and he is very passionate and good at it now.
We never took a thing from them for gas or time, cause they were a young family. Fast forward to today, they are doing spectacular. he lives up near green bay and is still a cabinet maker, but he works for gulfstream- makes the cabinets on private jets.
he is my resource for the kitchen remodel.

 

[ZOMBIE@CTESPN]

Don’t go in an angle lol

 

[ZOMBIE@CTESPN]

The same person doing your custom kitchen can do the custom vanity you need. He can also measure out the counter tops and give you estimate of cost for bathroom two ways. One estimate if doing different color countertop in bathroom and kitchen and second estimate if using same colors. Like I said before you are paying for a slab whether you use the whole thing or not. Depending on size of kitchen might not get the savings regardless cause won’t be enough for the bathroom. Just diff ideas to save $$$

 

[Burque]

The sinks and vanities are really the thorn in my side right now. I dont want to custom order, I dont want to go smaller and loose counter space, so I may be forced to go 48" and cut the wall side down. the ones pictured are 42, and anything beyond 45 would protrude beyond the windows behind the tub.

I was toying with the idea of going custom on the vanities and doing them at 45 degree angles from the edge of the windows to the corners behind the tub.
There is a triangular window above those windows in the center, and the ceiling follows the roof line, so the ceiling above goes 45 degrees up to the peak with a couple skylights- triangular wouldnt be out of place.

View attachment 6520



The tile on the tub is gonna go- the floor is beige with no pink tones, but the tile is pinkish and makes the room look like raw chicken. THe same shit is in the shower.

View attachment 6519

All the brass hardware is gonna go, I cannot tolerate it. Going with brushed nickle.
Each side of the shower is going to need 4 jets, shower head, thermostatic controller, and 2 knobs.
I am putting a heat lamp overhead in the shower, and there is a bluetooth thermostatic controller that isnt much more than the mechanical, so I may just go all tony stark and get that... it would be amusing.

The tile job in the shower is going to be pretty easy- plenty of room to work and a door out on to the deck for shuttling shit in and out.

Id Search around online for your counters/ cabinets. I bet you could find exactly the size you wanted and have it shipped for cheap.

I know that I bought a strange ass sink for a small bathroom I have, it was kind of expensive at 300$, but anything else i was going to put in there was going to cost me AT LEAST 150 and it fits the spot perfectly and is the exact right size for what I am working on. found it on Amazon, and it was Prime, so didn't have to pay a nickle for shipping, and I think it was from Italy or something.

Sometimes it is worth it to pay a bit more for something that is custom or fits the spot perfectly rather than trying to.... Square peg reference.

 

[Granada]

Damn, that's a massive-ass bathroom

 

[Burque]

Don’t go in an angle lol

seconded.

 

[truthbedamned]

I am so glad there are no Menards out here. That store will **** you in a split second. Their return policy is worse than a thrift store with a big "All Sales Final" sign out front. I bought linoleum for my kitchen in about 1990. I was at work and got a call from the guy laying it telling me there was a big slice down the middle of it AFTER it was already glued down. I went to the store that night to talk to them and sitting on the floor by the linoleum was a rolled up section of flooring with my name on it. Got the store manager and showed him what happened and he casually reached over.....pulled my name of the roll....crumpled it in his hand and asked my how I could prove they made a mistake. Never wanted to deck someone so bad in my life.

Or at least they were when I lived there.

**** Menards.

Best places to get expert advice is local distributors. Guarantee most of the people in the big box stores will stare at you with a vacant stare if you go in and ask for a tack rag.

 

[Burque]

I am so glad there are no Menards out here. That store will **** you in a split second. Their return policy is worse than a thrift store with a big "All Sales Final" sign out front. I bought linoleum for my kitchen in about 1990. I was at work and got a call from the guy laying it telling me there was a big slice down the middle of it AFTER it was already glued down. I went to the store that night to talk to them and sitting on the floor by the linoleum was a rolled up section of flooring with my name on it. Got the store manager and showed him what happened and he casually reached over.....pulled my name of the roll....crumpled it in his hand and asked my how I could prove they made a mistake. Never wanted to deck someone so bad in my life.

Or at least they were when I lived there.

**** Menards.

Best places to get expert advice is local distributors. Guarantee most of the people in the big box stores will stare at you with a vacant stare if you go in and ask for a tack rag.

I know man they thought I was crazy when I was in Auto Zone looking for some blinker fluid the other day.

 

[truthbedamned]

I know man they thought I was crazy when I was in Auto Zone looking for some blinker fluid the other day.

It's on the isle next to the cans of dial tone.

 

[airtime143]

I am so glad there are no Menards out here. That store will **** you in a split second. Their return policy is worse than a thrift store with a big "All Sales Final" sign out front. I bought linoleum for my kitchen in about 1990. I was at work and got a call from the guy laying it telling me there was a big slice down the middle of it AFTER it was already glued down. I went to the store that night to talk to them and sitting on the floor by the linoleum was a rolled up section of flooring with my name on it. Got the store manager and showed him what happened and he casually reached over.....pulled my name of the roll....crumpled it in his hand and asked my how I could prove they made a mistake. Never wanted to deck someone so bad in my life.

Or at least they were when I lived there.

**** Menards.

Best places to get expert advice is local distributors. Guarantee most of the people in the big box stores will stare at you with a vacant stare if you go in and ask for a tack rag.

That does not bode well for me....i bought a generator from them last November, never used it until 2 weeks ago when we had a storm here.
****** wouldn't fire...no spark.
I have the receipt and thought it would be no issue...the exhaust pipe has not a smudge of carbon on it.
Now I am worried.

 

[airtime143]

Damn, that's a massive-ass bathroom

It is... it is larger than the kitchen of the place I have lived in for the past 20+ years.

I shit you not, my tiny 2 bedroom is maaaaaybe 900 sf.

 

[airtime143]

seconded.

I have been shot down here and irl... majority wins.
I thought it might look cool, but I am the only one.

 

[Tater]

I have been shot down here and irl... majority wins.
I thought it might look cool, but I am the only one.

Probably too late, but I think the angled would be/look great. And you get a little more elbow room at the sink since there wouldn't be a wall close to one side. You have the space for it so why not.