I've owned and bashed houses in North London since 1989. Was 30 years in N6, now in N14. Others might appreciate a few of my recommendations below. I have obviously not bothered with the sheds, Screwfixes or Toolstations, which are all around, or my favourite online sources. These are mostly independent or small-chain outlets that not all may know.
P.O. Joyce, N2, https://www.pojoycetimber.co.uk/: excellent traditional timber merchant. Park inside premises.
Builder Depot, N11, https://www.builderdepot.co.uk/stores/new-southgate (also in NW2, NW6 and NW10): huge place, extremely busy. Great choice of timber and sheet materials, also departments for many other things including a large bathroom goods showroom. You may need to wait to park although there are a good few spaces to the side of the huge building as well as just inside the gate.
Chris Stevens, N10 (and original shop in N19 with poor parking as on the main Holloway Road), https://www.chrisstevensltd.co.uk/: good to great for paint and some similar or related materials that can be hard to find locally, such as Owatrol and Floetrol. Terrific selection of Osmo oils/waxes. Pretty decent on Sikkens finishes. Other departments in other buildings on same site including bathroom showroom but I haven't spent much time in them. Parking on site not extensive but I have never failed to get a spot.
Zyber, N14 and 6 other London locations, https://www.zyberltd.co.uk/: recently-opened Southgate branch. Mouthwatering selection (yes I know I'm sad) of high-end decorating tools and materials, including Purdy brushes and other tools, paints from Little Greene and many others and various products such as primers for difficult surfaces etc. Small selections of other stuff for plumbing, electrics etc - not really their thing I think. You can park free for 2 or 3 hours (I forget) in the nearby Asda carpark even if you are not an Asda customer.
Securebase, N2, securebase.co.uk: not a DIY supplier as such but an excellent local supplier, fitter and maintainer of intruder alarms and other security equipment. They are happy to take over maintenance of alarms fitted by other firms (they did this for me in N6 when I tired of Chubb's appalling and arrogant excuse for customer service). Installed a new alarm in my current gaff. Over the years I have had cause to call them a very few times including in the middle of the night and (a) a real human has always answered and (b) an engineer has always rapidly called back to talk me through what is usually a false alarm.
If helpful, let me know please!
P.O. Joyce, N2, https://www.pojoycetimber.co.uk/: excellent traditional timber merchant. Park inside premises.
Builder Depot, N11, https://www.builderdepot.co.uk/stores/new-southgate (also in NW2, NW6 and NW10): huge place, extremely busy. Great choice of timber and sheet materials, also departments for many other things including a large bathroom goods showroom. You may need to wait to park although there are a good few spaces to the side of the huge building as well as just inside the gate.
Chris Stevens, N10 (and original shop in N19 with poor parking as on the main Holloway Road), https://www.chrisstevensltd.co.uk/: good to great for paint and some similar or related materials that can be hard to find locally, such as Owatrol and Floetrol. Terrific selection of Osmo oils/waxes. Pretty decent on Sikkens finishes. Other departments in other buildings on same site including bathroom showroom but I haven't spent much time in them. Parking on site not extensive but I have never failed to get a spot.
Zyber, N14 and 6 other London locations, https://www.zyberltd.co.uk/: recently-opened Southgate branch. Mouthwatering selection (yes I know I'm sad) of high-end decorating tools and materials, including Purdy brushes and other tools, paints from Little Greene and many others and various products such as primers for difficult surfaces etc. Small selections of other stuff for plumbing, electrics etc - not really their thing I think. You can park free for 2 or 3 hours (I forget) in the nearby Asda carpark even if you are not an Asda customer.
Securebase, N2, securebase.co.uk: not a DIY supplier as such but an excellent local supplier, fitter and maintainer of intruder alarms and other security equipment. They are happy to take over maintenance of alarms fitted by other firms (they did this for me in N6 when I tired of Chubb's appalling and arrogant excuse for customer service). Installed a new alarm in my current gaff. Over the years I have had cause to call them a very few times including in the middle of the night and (a) a real human has always answered and (b) an engineer has always rapidly called back to talk me through what is usually a false alarm.
If helpful, let me know please!
