The Best Lowe's Hacks That Will Change How You DIY
Most people tend to favor either Home Depot or Lowe's for their home repairs and improvements. Both stores offer tons of resources for their customers and special deals. However, shopping at Lowe's offers some surprising advantages for the savvy DIYer. We have some of the best Lowe's hacks that will change how you DIY. Besides having the tools you need to complete your home improvement tasks, Lowe's also has the goods to help you plan, prepare for, and crush all your DIY goals. Calculators help you determine how much paint you need or how much flooring, grass seed, pavers, or concrete slabs.
Articles abound with tips for basic projects like building a birdhouse or installing a toilet paper holder. However, there are also more advanced products like tiling a bathtub wall niche, installing an exhaust fan, or a pedestal sink. There are buying guides, tutorials, tips, and inspiration. If you want to take your DIY skills to the next level, check out the resources on Lowe's website before your next trip to the home improvement store.
DIY-U by Lowe's
Did you know that Lowe's offers virtual and in-person workshops to learn new DIY skills? Most of the current features focus on gardening. They also have ways to get your kids involved in the process and tips for home offices and bathroom remodels. The Lowe's Workshop page offers live stream events you can participate in from the comfort of your home. These are great options for people who want to be in the midst of their own projects while seeking out a little guidance.
If you're more of a hands-on learner, you can attend in-person sessions at your closest store. Current options in-store include a little gardener's workshop for children. There are also in-store and live stream versions of a lesson in creating flower beds for the grownups. Upcoming courses include online and in-store lawn care and a feeding feathered friends course for your kids. On-demand options available now include both indoor and outdoor home improvements. There is also a course for planting your own farmer's market in your backyard, making your home office work for you, and a bathroom refresh you can DIY.
Step by step how-to guides
If you're looking for something more in-depth, there's a Lowe's DIY guide to every topic on the How-To page. Check it out for tips, tricks, suggestions, and even complete instructions. They explain how to anchor your furniture, upgrade your lighting and other electronics, and even the best way to spring clean your home.
These guides are available in both English and Spanish. They cover topics ranging from preparing an emergency kit or using an emergency generator to painting your own mural wall. If you're not an artist but not a novice, articles like how to determine which direction your fan should spin will help. Pro tip: You should be using your fan in the summer and winter, but it shouldn't turn in the same direction. You can find out which lights to install in your home while you're at it. You can also find some great tips on deep cleaning your carpet and making your own drain cleaner or advice on arranging things in a pantry or other small space. That last part is excellent for apartment-dwellers.
Deals of the day
These deals are short-lived but well worth it. You can find the items you're looking for at 20 to 40 percent off if you time it right. The deals last all day or until supplies run out, which seems to happen in less than a day in most cases. The best deals are the ones that go the fastest.
The best thing about these deals is that they aren't always for the traditional stuff. A recent item on the Deals of the Day page was the Linsay Tablet. Depending on the model, the tablet price was between $30 and $80. You can search through the deal of the day page by savings percentage, category, or scroll to the bottom of the page to check out the best deals available. Some of these are only 10 to 15 percent off, but one recent find was a single sink vanity cabinet for $199, a whopping 43 percent off its list price. Or a Samsung washer at 31 percent off for $749.
Rent tools from Lowe's
Don't have the tools you need for that DIY project? While there are tools every homeowner should have, others are not a staple in the home. You could rent from Lowe's. This feature is ideal if you need a tool you will only use one time for one project, especially if the item you require is expensive. Lowe's has them all, and you can go right online to rent at the click of a button.
You need to select the tool you want from the Tool Rental page, confirm your rental dates, and reserve the item online. Lowe's will email a rental confirmation and provide additional instructions. Then take your ID, the confirmation, and a credit card to pick up your tools in-store or curbside. If the project takes longer than planned, you can extend your tool rental by contacting the store. Lowe's offers 4-hour, 24-hour, one-week, and four-week rentals. Now you can power through your home improvement project with the same tools the professionals use.
Tool how-tos
You've picked your project, looked over the steps, and rented or purchased the necessary equipment. But what if you don't know how to use the tool? This problem could happen if you rent the item for just one job. However, Lowe's has you covered with how-to guides for all your devices and tips for using specific products on their Tools page.
The Tools page is a perfect resource for learning about the specifics of less common tools. If this is your first time using them, you could even familiarize yourself with the more common ones. Besides generators, you can learn how to use calipers and safely use a table saw. You can learn the basics of welding, how to use a power drill, and how to use a circular saw. They'll even teach you how to remove a stripped screw. Or, if you're working on an outdoor project, check out the tutorial on cutting bricks and patio blocks.
Have Lowe's cut your wood for you
Did you know that Lowe's offers woodcutting services in-store? According to Nicer Abode, there are some limitations to this service. For example, Lowe's won't cut wood that didn't come from their store. While the service used to be free, the stores now limit the number of free cuts per customer. Many Lowe's stores will cut wood to fit in your vehicle for transport to your home or other workspaces. However, cutting wood to predetermined sizes for your projects might be more expensive.
Plus, Lowe's wood cutting service will only do straight cuts. If you need circular or angular cuts, you will have to do them yourself or hire a professional. They will also not do lattice cuts, but many pre-cut lattice options are available. Some Lowe's stores will cut your wood to size for a project, but there are some things to keep in mind if you choose this route. Visit the store during its least busy hours, as they are likelier to accommodate your request. You also need to be prepared. Have the number of cuts, markers, and measurements ready to go, and be polite to the staff cutting the wood for you.
Choose custom blinds
There are many options to choose from here. You can select custom blinds, shades, and shutters or pick one of the premeasured varieties from the Lowe's Blinds and Window Shades page. Custom versions allow the most design choices, of course. They come in various shapes, sizes, materials, and colors, allowing you to select the best option for your personality and your room.
In-stock blinds may not come with all the bells and whistles, but they can be an excellent choice at a lower price. You likely won't find motorized versions. However, you can buy them when you need them instead of waiting for your custom version to arrive in a store. In-stock shades share this benefit and come in different opacities, letting you decide how light or dark you want the house to be when you lower them. The window treatments page explains how to measure accurately to get the right fit for your windows. If you don't want the hassle or don't trust yourself to do it correctly, Lowe's will come to you and take measurements for your custom blinds for just $19.
Save money on mistinted paints
Have you ever wondered what happens to paints that don't come out the right color? Or ones the customer didn't like once they were mixed? Lowe's sells these "mistints" at deep discounts. You will need to stop by regularly if you hope to score a color you're looking for at these prices. However, you could get a spectacular deal if you do.
According to The Craft Patch, mistints are one of the best DIY painting tips for those on a budget. It's best to check your local Lowe's for mistake paints. Stopping by will help you find some great deals. You don't just have to pick colors you love from the mistints shelf. Mixing them together or adding in some leftover paint at home could create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind color for your walls. For example, you could find a peach mistint and add black to create a unique pale gray shade for your bathroom walls.
Use discount programs, or go pro
You can also use one of Lowe's discount programs for your DIY projects. Take a look at the Lowe's Discounts page. You'll find that Lowe's offers a 10 percent discount to military members, veterans, employees, and first responders. The Krazy Coupon Lady points out that there is one catch to the first responder discount. It is a one-time-only 10 percent discount. It is only available in October, which Lowe's has deemed "First Responder Appreciation Month."
They also provide a 5 percent discount to those with a pro membership. These are best for people who do a lot of home remodeling or upgrading. Lowe's credit cardholders also save 5 percent on every purchase. However, before signing up for one or more discount programs, beware that you cannot stack your discounts. So, if you already have a 10 percent veteran's discount, signing up for a credit card or a pro account will not get you 15 percent off.
File for rebates
Lowe's also has a rebate center. You can search for rebates by brand, SKU, or product type. You can get up to 11 percent back on your purchases. That's more than you can get with any of the store's discounts, but you will have to fill out some forms or online requests and wait for them to be approved and paid.
According to AskingLot, the typical wait time for a Lowe's rebate is eight weeks, and there is a number to contact if you haven't received your money by then. Or you could go online and check out Lowe's rebate center. You can file for those digitally. You might even find a rebate you didn't know about before. If you recycle your old appliances when buying new ones, Lowe's will pay you to pick them up. This situation is a win-win. You have more efficient appliances and get paid for the old ones.
Get free shipping
Lowe's offers free shipping if you spend more than $45. This offer applies to My Lowe's Customers, who must log in first to receive the discount, and non-members, who need to select standard shipping if their order totals over $45 before taxes and fees. There are some limitations to this service, however. It is only for items weighing less than 150 pounds to a residential address or 70 pounds to a PO Box. All items must ship to the same address. It is also not available for special or custom-ordered items or outside the contiguous U.S.
The Lowe's and Go page reminds customers that shipping fees will apply if they cancel an item and the order costs less than $45. Large appliances have a 90-day window for delivery, but all other items must be delivered within 30 days of placing the order. Keep these time frames in mind if you plan to use this hack.
Price match other retailers
According to The Krazy Coupon Lady, Lowe's will price match other major retailers, such as Amazon, Wayfair, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot. You will need proof of the lower price, so bring a flyer or a screenshot, and keep in mind that they won't match third-party prices. The item has to be in stock at Lowe's and the competitor, and they have to be current prices at both locations. You can also order online and still use the price matching feature, but it gets slightly more complicated. You'll have to call the store to validate the price match.
You have up to 30 days to request a price match if you find the item you purchased while shopping at Lowe's for a lower price. Ironically, the store does not price match the prices on its website. So you could very easily find something on Lowes.com at a better price than what's in the store. In this case, you should order it online even if you're already standing in the store.
Measure your space with the Lowe's app
There's an app for everything these days, but this one can really come in handy. According to Geo Week News, the Lowe's app is still in its beta phase, but you can use the lidar to generate actual measurements of your rooms for all kinds of projects. You can access this by using the "Measure My Space" link on the Lowe's website. You only need to point the tablet or phone at the wall. From there, the app will instruct you to scan the room. Then it creates a floor plan, generates room measurements, and provides a personalized measurement using the information.
In the beta version, it only works for measuring flooring. However, this could be invaluable when pricing out your project. You don't want to order too much and have wood piling up in your garage or storage area. You also don't want to try to match the wood on a separate trip.
Pick the right size and style of wood
You can have your wood cut for free or for a small price at your local Lowe's store. Lowe's also offers pre-cut 2-foot by 4-foot plywood sheets. These are great for all types of DIY projects. If the wood you're picking out is of the floorboard or wall covering variety, you should ensure you select pieces of the same type, color, and tone. This tip is essential if you plan to stain the wood.
According to Family Handyman, selecting the correct wood is critical to your success. Several things could influence this decision. The first of these is price. Hardwoods are more expensive to purchase than softwoods. He also says to pay attention to the grain of your wood. Just because it is the same type of wood doesn't mean it will appear the same once installed or built. You should always buy more wood than you need for a product. It's all too easy to have a piece splinter or run into issues once you've started working. Plus, matching grain and other wood details in a separate trip could prove challenging.