Which is the best DIY chain?

Atelier

With the exception of the home brands, most of them do a large proportion of the Crown and Dulux ranges so I always have a quick run round and price them up because it can make quite a difference.

For all your sundries (brushes, dust sheets, rollers etc) then get them from Toolstation.co.uk. Next day delivery is free when you spend over £10 so make a list and go through there. Especially economical if you are after screws, nails etc which the shops sell in small quantities for multiple pounds.

SailorSam

B&Q have done a few 20% off w/e lately if you spend over £50, watch out there's sure to be another coming up.

Cool_Username

There's a B&Q and a newly-opened Wickes in Caerphilly where I live - always found B&Q pretty good but can be pricey a lot of the time - been in Wickes about three times and never come away with anything but disappointment - never any selection in there (or many customers for that matter)!

ormus

just proves yet again, that you do need to shop around all the time.
no single shed, does everything better and or cheaper.

one reason i use wickes so much, is that youre unlikely to get ripped off on anything.
across the board all the basic building materials are cheaper there, than elsewhere.

Imp

Decorating - Brewers (can normally get 10% off)
Plaster/plasterboard - Wickes - It is fresher and cheaper than B&Q
Power tools - Wickes
Plumbing/screws/small things/hand tools - Screwfix
Wood - I tend to go with Wickes
Pretty things - B&Q
Hardware - the local hardware shop
25kg bags of sand - Wickes

Tried builders merchants, without any sort of discount they are about 25% more expensive than the high street.

wallbash

I suppose the test is . would you drive past one shed to get to another ?

Take longer and costs more petrol.

Mankysteve

I must add I got a set of decent set of of lossless brush from pound stretcher, it best to shop around buy the best over all would properly be B&Q

27col

I agree with Kiran. There is no one shed that is better than the others. You just have to shop around and compare prices. Some of the Toolstation stuff is extremely reasonably priced. I wouldn't touch B&Q wood at any price. Wickes is much better, but even there you have to select it carefully yourself.. We happen to have a good selection of suppliers locally. Obviously if you haven't, then you more more limited.

Tucker

I heard B&Q are doing 20% off everything again over easter weekend. If you are spending over £50, migh be worth going then for a decent saving.

Ionkontrol

Trouble with B&Qs 20% off, is that it is usually 30% or more dearer than anyone else for what I want at that time.