7 Things You Should Never Buy At Ace Hardware

Many professional contractors and DIYers alike have a positive view of Ace Hardware. As Charlie Hughes, co-founder of ContractorNerd, tells House Digest during an exclusive interview, "Ace is a pretty great place for all things home improvement. I think of it as a kind of hardware convenience store where you can find just about anything, from gardening to plumbing. I love it because it's a place where you can get two bolts you actually need to get your project done for $0.07 each instead of a box of 100 for $4.50." And it's true, there are tons of Ace Hardware shopping secrets that make it an excellent place to head for many of your home improvement needs.

However, there are some things that you're better off buying elsewhere than Ace Hardware. We spoke with Hughes, along with several other home improvement and landscaping experts, to learn more about which purchases you shouldn't rely on Ace Hardware for. It turns out that this home improvement store is not the best stop if you're looking to buy materials for a large landscaping or painting project, and you need to shop with discernment when buying plumbing parts, power tools, and things like tile adhesive from Ace. Ahead, you can learn more about our experts' recommendations through the advice they share with House Digest.

Sure, Ace Hardware has some power tools. However, that doesn't mean that they are the best place to shop when you're looking for a new string trimmer, cordless drill, or circular saw. Hughes explains that many of the power tools you'll find at Ace "are pretty expensive for the quality you get. I'd much rather go to The Home Depot or Lowe's to get these." Bar Zakheim, a licensed general contractor and the co-owner of Better Place Design & Build, echoes this sentiment. He says, "One area where [Ace Hardware] doesn't offer much of an advantage is power tools. They're likely to have a smaller selection than larger stores." Heading to Home Depot, Lowe's, or even a reputable online dealer can ensure you find a larger selection of options to help you get the best price for the tool that you really need for a given job. 

Zakheim and Hughes offer slightly varying opinions on shopping for hand tools at Ace Hardware. While Zakheim finds that the hardware store offers a good selection of some of the basics, Hughes finds them to be a bit overpriced. Ultimately, you'll need to make the best decision given your budget and time constraints. Paying a dollar or two more for a screwdriver set is probably be worth it if you're already at the store, but you may want to drive a little further if your primary aim is to stock up on tools.

If you're wandering around an Ace Hardware store, or browsing their selection of products online, you might be intrigued by some of the low prices on plumbing goods. Some no-name brands may cost significantly less than other alternatives you've been considering. However, according to Kelly Russum, the owner of KC's 23 ½ Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning, picking these items up at Ace Hardware will be a mistake. He says, "Non-branded, subpar plumbing parts like faucets, connectors, and pipe fittings are what you should pass by at Ace Hardware. Even though they save you a few bucks right now, they don't last long and require replacement soon." 

Plumbing is not something you want to mess around with. As Russum notes, "Plumbing issues caused by low-quality parts can lead to big problems that are expensive to address and can seriously damage your home — leaks, floods, mold growth." So, instead of buying non-branding plumbing fixtures and pipe fittings from Ace, Russum suggests spending more upfront to ensure you get a quality product that will minimize the chances that you'll have a plumbing issue in the future. You may still be able to shop at Ace Hardware for your plumbing necessities, as it also carries products from more reputable brands. For example, the retailer has a large selection of Moen and Delta kitchen and bathroom faucets. However, you'll want to research any brands you're not familiar with before making a purchase.

If you're repainting your living room or bedroom, staining your deck, or refinishing an old piece of furniture, Carr Lanphier, the CEO of Improovy, recommends against going to Ace Hardware to purchase paints, stains, and other painting supplies. "Like many other general home improvement stores, Ace just isn't going to often have the best range of options here." Selecting the ideal shade of paint or stain can actually be quite a tricky business (even picking the right white paint for your space is often pretty complicated!). A narrow selection might feel like it makes things simpler, but in reality, being forced to pick between just a handful of shades could corner you into a decision that you may regret until the day you repaint once more.

So, unless you know precisely the brand, color, and finish that you want — and have verified that Ace Hardware actually has it in stock — Lanphier recommends looking elsewhere. "I just tend to recommend visiting a paint-specific store to get the best possible range along with the best possible guidance from employees with a more specialized knowledge of your painting projects and what you will need," he says. "This could mean visiting a Sherwin-Williams store if there's one in your area, or another local paint retailer," Lanphier adds. Specialized paint stores offer hundreds of color options to help you find the right fit. Sherwin-Williams, for example, has more than 1,700 colors, and Benjamin Moore offers more than 3,500 colors.

Besides a vast array of colors, you'll also be able to choose between multiple sheen levels for every shade. If you're doing an extensive repainting project that includes things like doors, trim, exterior areas, raw plaster, etc., you may need to pick out multiple colors, finishes, and types of paint. Browsing through the paint samples and talking to a knowledgeable employee can help you channel your inner designer to pick the perfect shade of paint – and ensure you select the right sheen level for high traffic areas, moist areas, etc. and avoid any regrettable paint buying mistakes.

Ace Hardware is known for its generally competitive prices, so you might think you're scoring a great deal by picking up a cheap tile adhesive or sealant from the retailer. However, according to Mark Lumpkin, the sales director at STR Cribs, doing so could later prove to be a serious mistake. "A cheaper option like that low-cost tile adhesive might seem like a great deal, but lots of tile adhesives fail over time, especially in moist areas, which means your installation integrity will suffer and you will have to pay a lot to repair it," he cautions.

When you're shopping for tile adhesive, sealant, or other supplies to ensure your tile is applied — and stays in place — properly, Lumpkin recommends choosing a top-rated, reliable brand." Ace Hardware is convenient, but, for critical projects, the long-term performance of premium supplies is absolutely worth paying for," he explains. A quality adhesive is essential for ensuring that the bond between the tiles and the surface is firm and lasting. Without a strong enough bond, your tiles may become loose. They will also be more likely to crack or chip. As you can guess, such issues can not only make a floor, backsplash, or shower less attractive, but they can also make the area less safe. Low-quality grout sealants can also cause a bunch of issues, including cracked grout, stains, mold growth, and more. 

The selection of tile adhesives at big box stores is often limited, but if you're planning a DIY tiling project and want to opt for adhesive over mortar (which can provide better results on non-porous tiles), Lowe's stocks Mapei's Type 1 Mastic Ceramic Tile Adhesive, as well as a range of other Mapei products, which are trusted among professional tile installers and DIYers alike. The best grout sealer to opt for can depend on the tiles and grout used, but Aqua Mix Sealers Choice Gold is a multipurpose sealant that's racked up positive recommendations from both professionals and homeowners. 

Whether you're looking for soil for your garden or want to use mulch with ground cover plants, Eduard Negodenko, the managing director of Avanti Landscaping, advises against shopping for it at Ace Hardware. "Another item I never buy at Ace is bulk landscaping materials such as mulch, gravel, and soil. Even though they carry some small bags, the price per cubic foot is far more than purchasing in bulk from a landscaping supplier or garden center."

Instead, Negodenko recommends working with a local landscaping supplier or garden center for your mulch and soil needs. He explains that if you get one of these businesses to deliver mulch to your home, you could be charged as little as $30 per cubic yard. If you shop at Ace Hardware, Negodenko estimates that you'll likely spend between $5 and $7 for a 2-cubic-foot bag. When you consider that each cubic yard has 27 cubic feet, the savings become evident (you could get the same amount of mulch for about a third of the cost). Negodenko also highlights that working with a local supplier could give you access to higher-quality materials. Locally-sourced compost and mulches can also mean fewer resources are involved in transporting and storing them, helping to keep your garden efforts green. If you are looking for wood chips specifically, you might be able to save even more money by sourcing a load from a local arborist company. Without any middlemen, the price (if you have to pay anything) should be lower, and in some cases, you might even be able to get them at no cost — as some tree care companies are only too happy to find a way to dispose of this waste product. The con is that you often need to accept a large load, making this route best for larger gardens where you need a lot of mulch. 

When you're buying outdoor furniture, it is essential to choose the right retailer to purchase the items from. According to Michael Clarke, the founder of Pulled Inc and Yardwork, Ace Hardware just isn't the best choice. "Outdoor furniture is also not the best to buy at Ace since they offer less variety and prices tend to be higher compared to dedicated outdoor retailers or larger chains that specialize in outdoor living items," he says.

We did a quick comparison to assess Ace Hardware's selection against that of some other popular retailers. One common type of furniture that shoppers want to find for their patio or deck is an outdoor table and chair set. With applying a filter on Ace Hardware's website for five-piece sets (so, a table with four chairs), just over 30 options showed up. That might sound like a lot, but not when you compare it to what other well-known retailers offer. For example, similar searches and filter options on The Home Depot and Wayfair's websites each turned up several hundred options. Additionally, the least expensive option from Ace Hardware still costs more than $800, while both The Home Depot and Wayfair had some options that cost less than $200. If you have a local outdoor furniture retailer, you could also start there as Clarke suggests. But, if not, larger retailers like The Home Depot and Wayfair look to be better options.

You may be able to find some cute or stylish outdoor decor items available at Ace Hardware to help you decorate for the seasons, but not always at the best price. If you're looking for budget-friendly Christmas decorating solutions or simply love finding the best deals, then rethink buying such products from this hardware store. "Items like Halloween decorations, Christmas lights, and seasonal outdoor décor are often pricier at Ace than what you'll find at discount stores, like Target, Walmart, or even discount stores like Big Lots," says Clarke.

As with any other purchases, your best bet is to do a little research before adding anything to your online or physical shopping cart. Many retailers will offer sales on these decor items, so keep that in mind when you're shopping. For the best deal, you could also consider waiting until after a holiday is over to purchase decorations for next year. This will often allow you to get a deep discount. However, of course, this approach won't help you decorate for the current season. Ultimately, you'll need to consider your budget, the specific decor items you would like to purchase, and the selection and pricing available at Ace Hardware and other retailers to get the best bang for your budget.