The short answer is maybe. But based on some our users'
comments, we would stay away from in house shower and tub kits like Pegasus that
are installed in the wall.
Home Depot and Lowes Stores carry identical models of name
brand faucets that you would find in a fancier showroom or special in-house
models made just for them.
You're pretty safe with brands like Kohler, American
Standard, Delta, and Price Pfister. Also, if the store doesn't stock what you
want it can be ordered.
We like to see what we are buying and actually test the
faucet and feel its weight. For higher end models like Grohe or Hans Grohe,
visit a Expo Design or a bathroom and kitchen design showroom. It will give you
a sense of prices and quality in relation to Lowes and Home Depot.
Special faucets for
Home Depot and Lowes
Most major faucet manufacturers will make special faucet
models just for the Home Depot or Lowes. No one else can possibly have a lower
price on an in-house model, because no one else carries exactly the same model.
In many cases the faucet is identical to the manufacturer's regular faucet,
just renamed. You might find the same number with a HD (Home Depot) tagged on
at the end. But in some cases, the faucet can be sold at a lower price because
the materials used are lower quality - plastic spouts rather than brass, for
example.
If you're not entirely sure of whether an apparent main-line
faucet is actually an in-house model. Follow these instructions StarCraft
Custom Builders.
Should you buy a
house brand faucet like Pegasus Faucets?
The Home Depot and Expo Design stores carry Pegasus bathroom
and kitchen faucets and accessories. These seem like good faucets. We remodeled
our entire master bathroom with Pegasus faucets since they met all of our
criteria. The price was certainly lower and the styles of the faucet were
comparable to brands like Kohler and American Standard.
After buying and installing the faucets and pressure
balancing valve for the shower, we developed a case of buyer's remorse.
In reality, we were not too worried about the faucets, but
the pressure balancing shower valve was another matter. It's located behind
that expensive ceramic or travertine tile. If the pressure balancing valve
fails, you are in big trouble. You'll have to tear down the wall to replace it,
assuming that you can find the replacement part.
Perhaps that is the major reason for not buying a Pegasus or
other store brand. It definitely is the best reason to be very wary of very
cheap faucets, showers and the pressure balancing valves that come with them.
Currently, Pegasus faucets and accessories are easily
available. In our master bathroom, the pressure valve was mounted too far into
the wall and the screws that came with the shower cover could not reach it. Our
second plumber told us we needed and extender. We went to Expo Design and
easily bought one and our plumber completed the shower installation.
Why are the store
brand faucets less expense?
The in house store brands like Pegasus could cost less,
because inferior materials are used. I'm not really sure that is the case
though.
I believe stores like Home Depot, Expo Design and Lowes have
tremendous purchasing power. These companies get the product into hundreds of
retail outlets and in front of millions of consumers. So in effect they can
drive a hard bargain. Who knows, maybe Kohler, Delta or Moen are manufacturing
Pegasus. If you know who is, please contact me. I will share your comments with
our readers.
In closing, we hope that Home Depot or Lowes will respond to
these concerns on this website.
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