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[OKPrincess]

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@novamc1 wrote:

@OKPrincess

Lucky you for getting a good job done by a HD contractor.

I own stock in HD and continue to love the company, but after bitter personal experience with one of their "chosen" contractors to install several new interior and exterior doors in our former house, I would NEVER do biz with a HD contractor again

A close relative who is in the insurance services biz (handling property and casualty claims for many different insurance companies) has an even stronger negative  opinion of using  HD (or Lowe's) contractors.  

After all,  common sense "should have told me" that these workers cannot get enough business on their own and need to hook up with a retailer to get jobs.  In both of the regions where I have lived up to now, the good home improvement/plumbing/etc. companies can get enough work all by themselves without extra help from a big-box store.

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The only contractors we used installed three storm doors, door w/blinds, garage door, and 7 inside doors. This was three trips because we paid cash and couldn’t afford everything in one trip. We had same contractor twice. The other guy once. Yes after reading this I am lucky to have a great job done for me. Next time could be different.

[homedecor1]

we had good experience with Lowes.  The job was small new storm & exterior front door.

The contractor (a husband & wife team) were friendly & neat. Job done perfectly.

Now on the flip side my gf had her kitchen remodel done thru Lowes. A 10 job took 4 months -- contractor had been "fired" by Lowes for complaints.  They were "trying" to get another contractor to finish.  

I don't know anyone who used either HD or Lowes for any big jobs because the prices are "higher" and you don't contract directly with the contractor.

[Mominohio]

I replaced all my interior doors a few years ago, and Lowes did it. They were quick, clean and the doors were hung perfectly. I'm painting them myself this week. That really isn't a very intensive job though.

Now my brother on the other hand, who lives near a major city and has so much in the way of contractors at his disposal, had Lowes completely gut and re do a bathroom in their house, and it was a total disaster.

They laid the tile floor wrong, and it all had to be torn out and done over. 

They broke pipes installing the new bathtub or shower or something, and water leaked down from the upstairs through the main floor ceiling. Destroyed the ceiling, the wood floor below, and even went down to the basement which has a $25,000 recent renovation down there. 

They started the bathroom in August and it wasn't finished until February. They tore it out, then the special order tiles didn't come in, then they were laid wrong, then they had to be torn up and re laid. It was a complete disaster. 

I don't have all the details but my brother has said it is finally all done and fixed, but honestly, all that water damage would have been grounds for me to sue someone, and I'm really not like that. 

I think you are often better off to break work up into specialties. Get the window done by a window company with a warranty on the window and the work. 

Tackle the air conditioner separately. I'm not sure I understand, but shouldn't you just be able to replace the window then buy another window air conditioner to put in, without the need for a contractor for that? 

At any rate, good luck!

[CelticCrafter]

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@ Montana wrote:

I was concerned about the subcontracting.  It does seem to be a roll of the dice.

I live in an old house and this old window air conditioner finally bit the dust.  Central air would require major duct work so that’s out.  I have considered a  Mitsubishi Split type wall air conditioner. It isn’t too costly and from what I’ve  read, not too complicated to install.

It gets hot and humid during the summer so I need to do something.

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If you're talking about the ductless system, with an outside condensor, and a slim unit hung on the wall, you need a qualified HVAC person or an electrician and a plumber to do the work.  

You don't just hang it on the wall, plug it in and walk away.  It needs a dedicated circut breaker and a drain line run to the outside.

[drizzellla]

We have used both Lowe's and Home Depot. 

Lowe's - twice tried to deliver a stove that had a large dent in the front and expected us to take it. They would give us a $10 credit. We had to take off work each day to refuse delivery. They never mentioned dent until they tried to deliver. The second time, the delivery guy wouldn't take it off the truck before we saw it. The dent was big and he was sure we wouldn't want a big dent in the front of the stove. But he said Lowe's insisted that he deliver it.

They installed a dishwasher at 10PM. Was supposed to be here at 2PM. Had to take off work. Then the contractor did not want to install it because our water was on the right. He wanted to charge extra for the installation. Nothing in the contract mentioned charging extra for water on left or right. He got nasty and I thought he was going to just leave the dishwasher in the middle of my kitchen. My husband showed him the contract. 

Next we tried Home Depot - they installed my washer. Brand new washer, no dents, hooked up water and were on their way. 

We have talked about it. And we are not sure if we will try Lowe's again.
I 

[Regal Bee]

We have used both companies and had good results. 

[Goldengate8361]

Ive used both HD and Lowes on projects with great success. Right now, I've contracted to have the siding on my front porch replaced, along with a new "lip" lining installed around my garage door (they're doing it in May). Lowes is going to do it. I trust them (Lowes and HD) far more then a contractor that I might select from Angie's List of some other online site.

[Kachina624]

I had Lowe's replace some folding interior doors.  It was an ordeal.  I think they use contractors who cents get work elsewhere.  One of the doors would not stay in place.  The contractor came 2 or 3 times finally blaming it on my dogs.  The salesman from the store came out and he couldn't see any problem.  Finally, I took a good look at it and noticed a plate on the floor into which a pin was supposed to fit.  There was just one screw in this plate with an empty hole.  This allowed the door to swivel out of place and fall over.  After I figured it out, they came and fixed it.

[lil spot]

I would never, ever recommend Lowes. Horrible service from the store it's self to the contractors.

From the date of ordering carpet and wood flooring, it took approximately 8 months to complete. Wrong size ordered, wrong color, lost rolls, three no shows by contractors. The list goes on and on.

[jpie]

I purchased a refrigerator from Lowe's and the installation was a nightmare.  One guy from the team of three was just there to supervise a new hire and there was a third guy that basically had to be told what to do in a step-by-step situation.  They scratched up my hardwood floors in three different locations and did not hook up the water line correctly for me.  Also one of the workers kept flirting with me (very creepy). The very next day, I had to have a certified plumber come in to make sure the connection was tight and that there were no water leaks.  Sure enough, the water line was not connected correctly and there was a slow leak!  

About a month later I had to have a service man come out because the door was not shutting properly.  Lowe's installation team did not make sure it was level.  So no, I had a terrible experience with Lowe's.  

There is no way I'd let them do any other projects for me.