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A professional contractor shares 5 things not to buy at Home Depot

The do-it-yourself big box store Home Depot might help “doers get more done” but there are some products the professionals say you should stay away from.

Greg Heilman

Update: Sep 19th, 2025 05:21 EDT

Remodeling or fixing up your house can be a costly affair which prompts many people with construction skills, and some who think they have them, to opt for doing it themselves. Home Depot is generally one of the primary places that do-it-yourselfers head to thanks to its ability to offer lower prices on tools and materials.

However, while the big box store may save you a sum of money on certain items, the professionals say that you should be careful with what you’re buying. Some of the home improvement items in the store may not be quite the deal that they seem.

Here are five things professional contractors told GOBankingRates to avoid purchasing at Home Depot.

Cabinetry

Thomas Borcherding, residential remodeling contractor told the personal finance website that in his opinion “Home Depot’s cabinetry services leave much to be desired.” He is not impressed by either the design nor the quality. He recommends to “reach out to a local cabinetry dealer that offers in-house design services.”

Flooring

Borcherding also feels that you’ll find better quality flooring materials from local companies which are usually owned by retired flooring installers. Not only are you supporting your local economy, but you’ll be talking to someone who has had years of experience.

Paint

Dan Shirley, owner of Chicago Handyman told GOBankingRates that he even tells his enemies to not buy paint from Home Depot. “Interior, exterior, deck stain, it doesn’t matter, just stay away from the coatings,” he said.

He explained that he has tried “every price point and it’s always the same.” His complaints with Home Depot paints are that they “often leave streaks or have poor adhesion, bad color matching, faulty cures, excessive cleanup and poor durability.”

Fixtures

President and CEO of San Diego-based Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel, Gregg Cantor, explained that “the quality of Home Depot fixtures, specifically plumbing, appliances, cabinets, doors, windows and flooring, is not the same as what we buy from wholesale suppliers.”

This is because manufacturers have specific products that are “made with cheaper materials and a shorter life span and warranty” which they sell to big-box stores compared to what you can get through smaller dealers.

Ready-Made Doors and Windows

Unless your door or window is the exact same size as what is on offer at Home Depot, you will want to avoid purchasing these. Wes True, general manager at Pella Windows & Doors warns that “air leakage from a poorly fitting door or window can account for a significant annual cost required to heat and cool your home, not to mention water issues.”

He’s had customers that thought they were getting a great deal until they ended up having to shell out hundreds of dollars more for alterations during the installation process.

Home Appliances

The main problem with buying home appliances at Home Depot is the return policy. “Home Depot only offers a 48-hour return window for appliances,” explained Borcherding. He “strongly” discourages people from purchasing appliance at Home Depot, noting that this is not nearly long enough for people to discover any defects.

So what is safe to buy at Home Depot?

Cantor explained that his firm only buys incidentals from Home Depot. This includes things such as “caulking, hardware, tapes, tarps, etc.” he told GOBankingRates.