I will never buy a Home Depot brand item again

[Fanatical Meat]

The exception will be simple things like a tape measure.
Our home has tons of Home Depot exclusive items in it, I didn’t buy any of them.
Every single item that fails has the same issue, non standard parts and nobody knows nothing about them.
First failure was our faucet hose got a leak. Pull out from the base kind of faucet. Appeared to be a super easy repair, just screw in new hose. Turned out the faucets hose diameter was a non standard size completely impossible to find. I did order a hose from amazon that appeared correct but it was too thick to screw into the faucet and have the faucet recoil. Ended up buying a new faucet
Next thing to fail was a hinge on the medicine cabinet, again 5 minute fix with the right part but that part is some custom made solution which cannot be purchased.
Third thing to fail is the toilet lever on a glacier bay toilet. Again a Home Depot brand and the handle is a non standard part. Universal kits won’t fit, glacier bay doesn’t sell a replacement lever. Just ordered a different vendors lever that says it fits all glacier bay toilets. Amazon reviews said its a cheap part that is bound to fail.
I think it’s incredibly irritating to replace an entire item because one small easily replaceable part fails.


Home Depot I am done with you house brand products.

 

[Greenman]

Glacier bay fixtures suck, they always have. As far as I can tell they're rebranded low end chinese junk. Whoever put them in your house did you no favors.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Glacier bay fixtures suck, they always have. As far as I can tell they're rebranded low end chinese junk. Whoever put them in your house did you no favors.

Agreed, ignoring the funky handle set up its a decent crapper.

 

[snoopy7548]

Yeah, all that stuff is cheap Chinese crap. It's always better to spend the extra money on a midrange or better product, especially if it's something you'll be using everyday like a faucet or a toilet, and if that something happens to fail, you're gonna have a huge mess on your hands.

I don't even buy Home Depot-brand tools, considering the better name-brands are usually only a few bucks more. Life is too short to get frustrated with crappy tools.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Got the replacement lever kit yesterday.
Thing appears to be utter Chinese garbage. Lever is loose on the kit and absolutely will fall off. Replacement parts are noticeably lower quality. Fits loose on the existing parts too.
I’m thinking I’ll glue it on and either replace the toilet when it fails or saw it off somehow.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

@Greenman I thought about replacing the toilet a few years ago because it was constantly wobbling. I fixed it with one of those reinforcement bars.
I remember my measure was weird, I think it was 10 3/4 measure bolt to wall. The wall has approximately 1/4 in wood panel covering the presumably old tile that runs about 4 feet high.
If I decide to replace should I go with a 10 inch rough-in or an 11 inch rough-in?

I’ve never measured from the drain but I know the bolts are about center of the drain.

 

[BoomerD]

Yeah, all that stuff is cheap Chinese crap. It's always better to spend the extra money on a midrange or better product, especially if it's something you'll be using everyday like a faucet or a toilet, and if that something happens to fail, you're gonna have a huge mess on your hands.

I don't even buy Home Depot-brand tools, considering the better name-brands are usually only a few bucks more. Life is too short to get frustrated with crappy tools.

unfortunately, even the "better" stuff is almost all "Made in China" nowadays...it's gotten to be a crap shoot on quality between name brands.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

unfortunately, even the "better" stuff is almost all "Made in China" nowadays...it's gotten to be a crap shoot on quality between name brands.

I know I’ll be replacing the toilet within months. Any suggestions regarding my non standard rough-in?
Is it safer to go too small or slightly bigger?

 

[Greenman]

@Greenman I thought about replacing the toilet a few years ago because it was constantly wobbling. I fixed it with one of those reinforcement bars.
I remember my measure was weird, I think it was 10 3/4 measure bolt to wall. The wall has approximately 1/4 in wood panel covering the presumably old tile that runs about 4 feet high.
If I decide to replace should I go with a 10 inch rough-in or an 11 inch rough-in?

I’ve never measured from the drain but I know the bolts are about center of the drain.

You'll have to go with a 10" rough in. 11 will leave the tank jacked forward a little.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

You'll have to go with a 10" rough in. 11 will leave the tank jacked forward a little.

Thank you, sort of what I thought. I think the current one is 11 inch and that f’Er is jammed tight against the wall.

 

[highland145]

unfortunately, even the "better" stuff is almost all "Made in China" nowadays...it's gotten to be a crap shoot on quality between name brands.

I think I already posted this....plumber Bro bought, his cost, a $400 delta faucet. Aluminum amd plastic innards. Said it won't last but there are no other options.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I think I already posted this....plumber Bro bought, his cost, a $400 delta faucet. Aluminum amd plastic innards. Said it won't last but there are no other options.

Agreed, the faucet I replaced the glacier bay one with is plastic on the inside.
At least the hose is replaceable.
Forgot the name brand but it’s a normal mid range faucet. I’m on year 5 and it’s fine but definitely not going to last decades.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I hate that it's so hard to find quality products now days. Pretty much everything is cheap Chinese junk now and you really need to research hard if you want to find good quality.

 

[highland145]

I hate that it's so hard to find quality products now days. Pretty much everything is cheap Chinese junk now and you really need to machine your own if you want to find good quality.

fixed.

 

[jmagg]

Thank you, sort of what I thought. I think the current one is 11 inch and that f’Er is jammed tight against the wall.

Standard rough in is 12 inches, there are also 10 and 14 inch rough in toilets. It seems if your toilet is tight to the wall at 10 3/4, then you should move the rough in to 12 or get a 10 inch rough in toilet as is.

Its a huge PIA picking reasonably straight lumber at Home Depot as some is kept at and above eye level. That being said I still prefer the depot to lowes

 

[snoopy7548]

This page is extremely useful when judging quality of faucet brands. I decided to go with Kraus for my kitchen sink and it seems well-constructed; it's all metal construction except for the sprayer head/housing, which is plastic.

Best Independent Reviews of Over 250 Faucet Brands

The most comprehensive independent review of over 250 Faucet brands.

starcraftcustombuilders.com

https://www.amazon.com/Function-Pull-Down-Kitchen-Stainless-KPF-1673SFSMB/dp/B07J6T4RKZ

I've read that there are multiple versions of the same product - if you buy a Delta faucet from Home Depot, it will most likely be made in China with crappy plastic parts, but if you buy it from a plumbing supply house it will be the made in USA version with metal parts.

 

[Greenman]

This page is extremely useful when judging quality of faucet brands. I decided to go with Kraus for my kitchen sink and it seems well-constructed; it's all metal construction except for the sprayer head/housing, which is plastic.

Best Independent Reviews of Over 250 Faucet Brands

The most comprehensive independent review of over 250 Faucet brands.

starcraftcustombuilders.com

https://www.amazon.com/Function-Pull-Down-Kitchen-Stainless-KPF-1673SFSMB/dp/B07J6T4RKZ

I've read that there are multiple versions of the same product - if you buy a Delta faucet from Home Depot, it will most likely be made in China with crappy plastic parts, but if you buy it from a plumbing supply house it will be the made in USA version with metal parts.

That's common with name brand stuff from the homie. I discovered it with a Rheem water heater, the home depot version had an extra letter at the end of the model number. Guy from Rheem said it's because they're made differently, just for home depot. I took that to mean cheaper.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That's common with name brand stuff from the homie. I discovered it with a Rheem water heater, the home depot version had an extra letter at the end of the model number. Guy from Rheem said it's because they're made differently, just for home depot. I took that to mean cheaper.

Damn that sucks. Rheem is generally a good brand too and HD is like the only place I know of where you can get it. Maybe Canadian Tire but I assume they do the same.

Trades people always have access to the higher quality stuff but it sucks that as a home owner who just wants to DIY you have to settle for the cheaper crap.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I know I’ll be replacing the toilet within months. Any suggestions regarding my non standard rough-in?
Is it safer to go too small or slightly bigger?

Build an outhouse in the back yard…..

 

[Scarpozzi]

True Story...I installed a brand new American Standard shower recently. Tested the plumbing, but had to finish drywall/plumbing/hvac...which took me months. Some time between testing and drywall and no use (because the water wasn't on), the shower fixture developed an issue. The valve would close, but the water wasn't off. I assumed crap was in the line somewhere....I couldn't fix it. I called up American Standard because it was new, but past Home Depot's 90 day return window.

They sent me a new valve and pressure balancing unit. I installed both and instantly water was flooding the inside of the walls....turns out the new valve had a huge crack in the side of it. (plastic chinese crap) I put the original back in and used the new pressure balancer and the valve worked now...no drips. Just goes to show that plumbing fixtures are total crap these days...even when they cost $100+ and are from decent brands.

When I renovate my other bathrooms with new showers, I plan on sticking with the 3 knob design. It seems to have the fewest problems and can easily be remedied with new stem valves/seals.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I actually hate shower valves. 90 degrees of so of rotation, but about 5 degrees of actual functional use. Why are the made this way?! Nudge it slightly one side, and you get water straight from Antarctica, nudge it slightly the other side, and it's Mordor.

Next shower I setup, I'm going with an old style setup where there are 2 separate normal valves.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I actually hate shower valves. 90 degrees of so of rotation, but about 5 degrees of actual functional use. Why are the made this way?! Nudge it slightly one side, and you get water straight from Antarctica, nudge it slightly the other side, and it's Mordor.

Next shower I setup, I'm going with an old style setup where there are 2 separate normal valves.

Really hard to find setups like you describe today.
Few years ago a shower handle broke, no complaints about this handle it was from 1959 50+ years of use is good to me.
The valve needed to be replaced because I could not find a replacement handle because that type of valve wasn’t made any longer. There were replacement valves certified to fit but they were too long, they’d work but they looked really stupid.
Finding two separated hot/cold valves and handles is surprisingly difficult unless you went with cheap Chinese stuff.


Sad moment and there may be a picture in AT from my work. Old valve I pulled out in bold proud letters “MADE IN USA” on the side, new valve that was too long proudly stated “MADE IN CHINA”

 

[lxskllr]

I wouldn't mind using vintage plumbing fixtures; like 1930s vintage. They look nicer, and for the most part can be fixed with a 5¢ washer.

 

[randay]

being that it was from home depot, cant you just return the thing and get something else?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

being that it was from home depot, cant you just return the thing and get something else?

Return a toilet that has been in the house for around 10 years and from a previous owner?