House build fixture questions??

[Deer716]

Ok so we are in the process of getting plans done for our house and now I have a question about plumbing/lighting fixtures. Our builder is recomending we get everything from Ferguson's $$$$$$ and doesn't want us to get them from home depot, lowes etc. What is the difference aside from PRICE? What have you done or you builders do?

Thanks,
Ruben

[FLASH_OUTDOORS]

I know that the plumbing fixtures you get from a big box store are built a lot "cheaper" than the ones at a plumbing supply. But I can assure you that all light fixtures are the same when it comes to copper wire and bulb sockets. The only thing money gets you with light fixtures is looks. You get what you pay for with ceiling fans.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Deer716]

I know that the plumbing fixtures you get from a big box store are built a lot "cheaper" than the ones at a plumbing supply. But I can assure you that all light fixtures are the same when it comes to copper wire and bulb sockets. The only thing money gets you with light fixtures is looks. You get what you pay for with ceiling fans.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. We completely understand you get what you pay for and my wife found some pendant lights she likes at lowes and those are $160 each. We are ok with that but a similar light at fergusons is around $230-250 each. We don't want to go cheap but that sure is a price jump.

[TP3]

Don't cheap out on plumbing fixtures. There really is a differenc .

[FLASH_OUTDOORS]

Thanks. We completely understand you get what you pay for and my wife found some pendant lights she likes at lowes and those are $160 each. We are ok with that but a similar light at fergusons is around $230-250 each. We don't want to go cheap but that sure is a price jump.

I've installed lights for 15yrs. I can assure you there is nothing different from a $250 pendant to $160. If you like the cheaper one get it. Im personally blown away at the markup on light fixtures. Don't get caught up in plumbing fixture quality either. The only thing that you should spend real money on is your shower/tub valves. Anything that will be in a wall behind Sheetrock. As far as faucets and toilets go........buy what looks nice and is budget friendly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hawkpuppy 1]

As long as you stick with a name brand like Moen or Delta you're gonna be fine.

[Deer716]

Not gonna go cheap on the plumbing really its the lighting that we were wondering about. Plumbing he did say go with moen and not delta.

[Deer716]

We are just starting the custom build process and i'll tell you we are already frustrated with decision after decision. Lol!!

[silencer2011]

I have installed fixtures for several friends. I never buy cheap plumbing. I always buy decent ceiling fans. They buy the light fixtures that they like. I installed some really neat pendant fixtures from pottery barn online a few months back.

[LFD2037]

We are just starting the custom build process and i'll tell you we are already frustrated with decision after decision. Lol!!

We're in the same boat right now! Haven't even closed & I'm already so stressed out. I was in construction for 10 years & know exactly what we want, for the most part. The hardest part, this far, was getting everything we wanted that wasn't the norm into the contract so we didn't get screwed/nickel & dime to death. Needless to say, I had a rather long & unorthodox contract that was very detailed!

The way our builder does it is that he allots a price for each set of items. Say, $2,500 for plumbing fixtures. We can have him get what he'd normally install or we can have the $2,500 to get what we want, where we want. If it costs more than that then we pay out of pocket for the extra. If it costs less then we're under budget. Maybe your builder can/will do the same?

[Deer716]

We're in the same boat right now! Haven't even closed & I'm already so stressed out. I was in construction for 10 years & know exactly what we want, for the most part. The hardest part, this far, was getting everything we wanted that wasn't the norm into the contract so we didn't get screwed/nickel & dime to death. Needless to say, I had a rather long & unorthodox contract that was very detailed!

The way our builder does it is that he allots a price for each set of items. Say, $2,500 for plumbing fixtures. We can have him get what he'd normally install or we can have the $2,500 to get what we want, where we want. If it costs more than that then we pay out of pocket for the extra. If it costs less then we're under budget. Maybe your builder can/will do the same?

He is. He allotted like $7000 for appliances, $4 sf for tile, etc and I thing it was like $2500 to 3500 for fixtures but when you figure the price of the fixtures from who he wants us to use vs big chain store I would rather save money.

[kmitchl]

We just went through the same thing. Ferguson offers no benefit over anyone else. There is a Houston company called Brass Werks that sells good quality plumbing fixtures at reasonable prices. Also efaucets direct is an online source, however, I have not bought from them. The advice about valves that go behind walls or tile is sound. One of those fails and it becomes a really expensive repair. Don't know where your will get your water but if it is hard a water softener will extend the life of your fixtures.

[Antlers86]

I can hook you up with any Antler lighting fixtures and home decor!

[ColinR]

As stated above get your plumbing fixtures from a reputable dealer we used Morisson supply and highly recommend them, we got most of our electrical fixtures from Home Depot. We ordered some of our fans online as we could not find the rustic looking fans we wanted local.

[lakefork]

I'm a builder here on Lake Fork and one of my best friends has a 100 million dollar plumbing supply company, Winston Water Cooler. He also owns The Jarrell Company. Google them. I buy all my plumbing fixtures from HD and Lowes because he can't match the price. He's never told me that the box store fixtures are any less quality than his. Save your money. Also I wouldn't trust a GC that told me where to buy something. A suggestion is one thing. Pressure means he's getting something from them.