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On the surface, Home Depot and Lowe’s seem remarkably alike: massive big-box stores where you can buy everything from screws to paint dropcloths to major appliances to everything you need to build a backyard gazebo.
In some areas, deciding between the two home improvement giants for your home improvement needs is a coin flip. In others, one has a decided advantage over the other. Read on to find out when you should shop at Home Depot and when you should shop at Lowe’s — and where they remain a tie.
Find: How Much Is Lowe’s Worth?
Also See: How Much Is Home Depot Worth?
Truck Rentals
If you need a way to transport your new front door or project supplies too weighty for your car, the good news is that both stores offer heavy-duty pickup trucks for rent. All things considered equal when it comes to what you’re buying, purchase them at Lowe’s.
At Home Depot, a rental truck costs $19 for 75 minutes, or $129 per day. At Lowe’s, it’s $19 for 90 minutes, plus $15 for each additional 15 minutes, or $89 all day.
Craftsman Products
Once the gold standards of hand and power tools, Craftsman products were the house brand at Sears. But with the downfall of the retailer, Stanley Black & Decker now owns the Craftsman line, which also includes lawn mowers. Lowe’s carries an extensive line of Craftsman products now.
Some Craftsman items are priced similarly to their Home Depot competitors. For example, the Craftsman 239-piece tool set is $119 at Lowe’s. A 270-piece set from Husky, Home Depot’s house brand, is $129.
Learn: 20 Home Renovations That Will Hurt Your Home’s Value
Carpet Installation
Retailers frequently offer specials on carpet installation, and that’s one aspect you’ll want to consider when shopping for carpet at Home Depot and Lowe’s.
Currently, carpet installation at Home Depot is free with a minimum purchase of $699. At Lowe’s, a $499 minimum applies. Both include removal and disposal of your old carpet, installation on stairs and basic furniture moving. You should ask whether you’re responsible for any extras.
Carpeting is expensive, and it’s easy to meet the minimum if you’re carpeting a whole house. But, if your carpet replacement consists of just a few rooms, you could be socked with an additional charge at Home Depot.
Price Matching
Both stores will match prices of competitors. That’s a convenient feature if you find that one store has in stock all of the products you need, but one of them is …….
Source: https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/shopping/home-depot-vs-lowes-which-has-the-better-deals/