does HD/Lowes have all the raw materials needed to build a house?

[Exterous]

Yep, the do.

Heh - available for free pickup from my local store

 

[bignateyk]

If you are doing PEX plumbing they likely won't carry that or the fittings for it. No clue on special ordering. And there's the afore mentioned foundation/concrete (garage slab, sidewalk, porch, ect). Plus there's other stuff like brick, lintels, natural stone, spray foam (icynene), uncommon HVAC systems, home itegration systems, ect that go outside of basic building materials you can't buy there.

So yeah, you could likely build an entire house soley from HD, but real question is would you want to and could you do it better/cheaper from a specialty supplier?

They've got all the stuff to do cPVC, copper, and PEX.

 

[Vette73]

If you are doing PEX plumbing they likely won't carry that or the fittings for it. No clue on special ordering. And there's the afore mentioned foundation/concrete (garage slab, sidewalk, porch, ect). Plus there's other stuff like brick, lintels, natural stone, spray foam (icynene), uncommon HVAC systems, home itegration systems, ect that go outside of basic building materials you can't buy there.

So yeah, you could likely build an entire house soley from HD, but real question is would you want to and could you do it better/cheaper from a specialty supplier?

Lowes carries PEX now with the fittings and tools. I think it is PEX-b. I had to order my PEX-a when I redid all my plumbing.

 

[vi edit]

Lowes carries PEX now with the fittings and tools. I think it is PEX-b. I had to order my PEX-a when I redid all my plumbing.

Weird. When I was doing my radiant flooring I couldn't find it anywhere. Only place I found 3/4" was at Menards but it was twice as expensive as I could buy online. It's not very common in my area. Most of the plumbers still see it as a cheap/lazy way of doing it and it hasn't received a lot of support. And many homebuyers think it's a cheapout on the builders part if they use it. Still mostly copper going in.

 

[0roo0roo]

lumber yard probably has better quality and price on bulk.

 

[Vette73]

Ah yes, I am near the border with DC, where 5-10 acre lots are uncommon - unless you're a University.

I can't wait to move and have more space.

There are some 1/2acre lots here and there. My lot in Springfield is .59 I think; all flat so its 99% useful. There are some 1/2 acre lots we saw that were so up hill you be lucky to use even 1/4 of what is there.

 

[Vette73]

Weird. When I was doing my radiant flooring I couldn't find it anywhere. Only place I found 3/4" was at Menards but it was twice as expensive as I could buy online. It's not very common in my area. Most of the plumbers still see it as a cheap/lazy way of doing it and it hasn't received a lot of support. And many homebuyers think it's a cheapout on the builders part if they use it. Still mostly copper going in.

Yea I am in N.VA, but its on their web-site.

PEX does not have the freeze issues, is cheaper, no flames to install, etc... Most plumbers hate it as even an idiot can do it so they don't want the DiY factor to take away any of their business.
Lat alone the price of copper is crazy. That and copper can pit out esp if you use well water.

Not sure why any home owner, that does their homework, would not want it. I still stub out copper as it looks better and is easier, IMO. But the rest, esp the main, is PEX.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

My point is that lowes doesn't sell anything that would be useful for a beam of any kind. It's just your basic DIY lumber for small framing jobs and decks.

Lowes can sell you any lumber you want, they may not stock it, but they can get it.

 

[MotionMan]

Weird. When I was doing my radiant flooring I couldn't find it anywhere. Only place I found 3/4" was at Menards but it was twice as expensive as I could buy online. It's not very common in my area. Most of the plumbers still see it as a cheap/lazy way of doing it and it hasn't received a lot of support. And many homebuyers think it's a cheapout on the builders part if they use it. Still mostly copper going in.

One of Holmes on Homes's plumbers loves the PEX, that's good enough for me.



MotionMan

 

[lxskllr]

Went to Asheville, NC a month or so ago and took a tour. They still have a few of these houses downtown and people still live in them.

I worked out of a Sears house for a few years. Very nice house, and you couldn't touch the quality with anything made today in it's relative price range.

 

[MotionMan]

One of Holmes on Homes's plumbers loves the PEX, that's good enough for me.



MotionMan

This is what I did with my home network wiring:

Yeah, so I think I would like having PEX in my house.



MotionMan

 

[highland145]

Weird. When I was doing my radiant flooring I couldn't find it anywhere. Only place I found 3/4" was at Menards but it was twice as expensive as I could buy online. It's not very common in my area. Most of the plumbers still see it as a cheap/lazy way of doing it and it hasn't received a lot of support. And many homebuyers think it's a cheapout on the builders part if they use it. Still mostly copper going in.

My bro is the most anal perfectionist that I know and a plumber. He loves the pex system.

+1 Motionman.

Edit: Motion, nice wiring. You and the bro would get along great.

 

[vi edit]

PEX does not have the freeze issues, is cheaper, no flames to install, etc... Most plumbers hate it as even an idiot can do it so they don't want the DiY factor to take away any of their business. Lat alone the price of copper is crazy. That and copper can pit out esp if you use well water.

I think that's a lot of it. Copper takes more skill/time. It was part of my contract but PEX didn't really save me any money at the time over copper because of the fittings. I guess a $.50 copper fitting would be a couple bucks for PEX. And the upside in tubing sort of cancelled out the costs of copper. It did take quite a bit less time though.

And earlier when I said the supply lines were 1" I meant to say main/trunk were 1". The supplies up to the stub ins were 1/2" I think. And then copper from the stub in to the shut off valves.

I asked about a manifold setup that I had seen in somebody elses house with everything clearly labled and easy shut offs, but the plumber told me that I wouldn't like the water flow. Whether he was feeding me a line of crap or not, I don't know. I'm on a well so my pressure isn't as good as some city fed water lines.

He also told me that a circulator was an option for the heat delay in the master bath shower but said it wouldn't be significant of enough improvement to warrant the cost. Again, his opinion.

 

[Exterous]

I asked about a manifold setup that I had seen in somebody elses house with everything clearly labled and easy shut offs, but the plumber told me that I wouldn't like the water flow. Whether he was feeding me a line of crap or not, I don't know. I'm on a well so my pressure isn't as good as some city fed water lines.

I am definately not a plumber but I thought the pressure what one of the big points of a manifold setup? You didn't have to worry about other lines taking your water pressure as everything had their own line.

Maybe if everything was on at once you would have an issue but it would be the same with the regular setup too

 

[Vette73]

I am definately not a plumber but I thought the pressure what one of the big points of a manifold setup? You didn't have to worry about other lines taking your water pressure as everything had their own line.

Maybe if everything was on at once you would have an issue but it would be the same with the regular setup too

My main supply is only a thick walll 1/2 copper line. That comes in and I convert that to 3/4" pex and split that in 2. Then split again with 1 going to Add 1 and the other to the manifold for Add 2. The 3rd one goes to the water heater.

The only time the water pressure drops is when someone is using 3+ items at full blast at the same time. Even then you will only notce it at a item full open.

Manifolds do drop a little pressure, but not much. The main line coming in the house and the main truck going to the manifold are the biggest drop of pressure.
I need to update my main coming from the meter. But digging the hole to lay the 1" pex plus the pex cost is not high on my list as 99% of the time my pressure is fine.

 

[DougK62]

I just want to chime in and say that PEX is awesome. I just redid my shower with PEX and push fittings. Super easy.

 

[Exterous]

Manifolds do drop a little pressure, but not much. The main line coming in the house and the main truck going to the manifold are the biggest drop of pressure.

Sorry I meant that I thought one of the big positive points of the manifold system was a balanced water supply with no drop in pressure after the manifold

 

[DrPizza]

Weird. When I was doing my radiant flooring I couldn't find it anywhere. Only place I found 3/4" was at Menards but it was twice as expensive as I could buy online. It's not very common in my area. Most of the plumbers still see it as a cheap/lazy way of doing it and it hasn't received a lot of support. And many homebuyers think it's a cheapout on the builders part if they use it. Still mostly copper going in.

That's because home buyers are foolish. The problem plumbers have with PEX is that the level of skill needed to install it is much smaller. A lot of people are intimidated by cutting copper and sweating joints. When they see how easy it is to work with PEX...

 

[Jadow]

I believe you can have THD or Lowes bid out the building materials for a house (I know Menards does). They can bid on the 2x6s, 2x4s, joists, shingles, windows, doors, siding, insulation, etc... However you'll probably be better off having a local lumberyard or building supply company bid it.

 

[Greenman]

Yea I am in N.VA, but its on their web-site.

PEX does not have the freeze issues, is cheaper, no flames to install, etc... Most plumbers hate it as even an idiot can do it so they don't want the DiY factor to take away any of their business.
Lat alone the price of copper is crazy. That and copper can pit out esp if you use well water.

Not sure why any home owner, that does their homework, would not want it. I still stub out copper as it looks better and is easier, IMO. But the rest, esp the main, is PEX.

The only reason not to use it is rats. Rats can smell water through the pex, and chew holes in it. At least that's the official reason for it being banned in Contra Costa county.