The GTA has no shortage of places to buy renovation supplies — but not all stores serve every project type equally well. Home Depot, RONA, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, IKEA, and a network of specialty suppliers each have distinct strengths depending on what you're building, your budget, and how much project-specific expertise you need from the staff. This guide compares the major players so you can match your project to the right store before making a trip.
If you're budgeting a specific project, pair this guide with our cost resources: deck building costs in Toronto, kitchen renovation costs in the GTA, and flooring installation costs for the GTA.
Home Depot — The Default for Full Renovation Projects
With over a dozen GTA locations spanning Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan, Home Depot is the most accessible full-service home improvement retailer in the region. For DIYers tackling decks, flooring, painting, or kitchen updates, it covers the full supply chain in one trip: lumber, hardware, tools, lighting, flooring, plumbing, paint, and seasonal equipment.
🏬 Home Depot Strengths
- Widest GTA location network — 12+ stores across the region
- Deep product range: lumber, flooring, tools, paint, appliances, lighting
- In-store design consultations for kitchens and bathrooms
- Tool rental program (power tools, concrete mixers, trailers)
- Same-day pickup on most in-stock items; delivery available
- Pro Xtra loyalty program for DIYers who buy in volume
⚠️ Home Depot Limitations
- Floor staff expertise varies widely by department and location
- Specialty products (premium hardwood, trade-grade tools) have limited depth
- Lumber quality is inconsistent — inspect boards before buying
- Busy on weekends; pro shoppers go early on weekday mornings
- High-volume store experience — less personal service than specialty shops
Best for: whole-house projects and one-stop renovation supply runs. If your project spans multiple categories — lumber for a deck, paint for interior rooms, new light fixtures, and tile for a backsplash — Home Depot covers all of it. For specialty materials (deck-grade cedar, premium LVP, cabinetry beyond semi-custom), add a second stop at a specialty supplier.
RONA — Strong on Lumber and Contractor Pricing
RONA acquired former Lowe's Canada stores in 2023, rebranding the large-format locations to RONA+. GTA RONA+ locations in Brampton, Mississauga, and Scarborough operate at a scale comparable to Home Depot. Standalone RONA stores (smaller format) are common in older Toronto neighbourhoods. RONA's contractor pricing program is worth activating even for active DIYers — volume discounts on lumber, fasteners, and building materials are meaningful on a multi-thousand-dollar project.
🏆 RONA Strengths
- Competitive on lumber and building materials — check vs Home Depot on any major buy
- RONA PRO contractor account for volume discounts
- RONA+ large-format stores (ex-Lowe's locations) carry comparable range to Home Depot
- Smaller RONA stores in Toronto neighbourhoods more accessible for city homeowners
- Good selection of Beauti-Tone and other house-brand paints at competitive prices
📍 Key GTA RONA+ Locations (Former Lowe's)
- Brampton: 195 Bovaird Drive W — large format, full range
- Mississauga (Erin Mills): 2800 Argentia Road
- Scarborough: 1375 Kennedy Road
- Richmond Hill: 9625 Yonge Street
- Smaller RONA stores at multiple Toronto and GTA locations
💡 Lowe's Canada Is Now RONA
Lowe's Canada exited the Canadian market in 2023 — all former Lowe's Canada locations were sold to Rona Inc. and rebranded to RONA+. If you used to shop at a Lowe's in Brampton, Mississauga, or Scarborough, that same location is operating today as a RONA+ store with a similar product range. The RONA PRO account replaced the Lowe's Pro account for contractor pricing.
Canadian Tire — Tools and Hardware, Not Building Materials
Canadian Tire is a strong option for tools, hardware, seasonal outdoor equipment, and plumbing/electrical fittings — but it is not a full renovation supply store. You won't find lumber, structural building materials, drywall, insulation, or flooring in meaningful depth at Canadian Tire. For renovation projects, use Canadian Tire for tools (MASTERCRAFT is a solid mid-range line), fasteners, paintbrushes, caulk, pressure washers, and seasonal items. Route anything structural to Home Depot or RONA.
⚠️ Canadian Tire Tool Sales Are Worth Watching
Canadian Tire runs aggressive seasonal tool promotions — particularly in spring (May–June) and fall (September–October). If you need a cordless drill, circular saw, pressure washer, or outdoor power equipment, check Canadian Tire's flyer before buying at Home Depot. MASTERCRAFT tools (their house brand) offer reasonable performance at entry-level price points. Milwaukee and DEWALT are also sold at Canadian Tire locations in the GTA, often at competitive prices during sale weeks. See our guide to the best cordless drills for GTA DIYers for a full comparison.
Home Hardware — Specialist Depth, Neighbourhood Locations
Home Hardware is a co-operative of independently owned stores — GTA locations vary considerably in size and product depth. The best Home Hardware stores in the GTA are genuinely valuable for specialty hardware, obscure fasteners, quality paint (Home Hardware carries Benjamin Moore at many locations), and products that big-box stores have rationalised away. Staff at independent Home Hardware stores are frequently more experienced and more willing to troubleshoot your specific problem than a large-format big-box floor associate. For paint specifically, Home Hardware is one of the most accessible sources of Benjamin Moore in Toronto.
IKEA — Kitchen Cabinetry Value That's Hard to Beat
For kitchen renovation projects specifically, IKEA's SEKTION cabinet system deserves serious consideration. At GTA IKEA locations (North York, Burlington, Etobicoke), a complete SEKTION kitchen — including cabinet boxes, doors, hinges, and drawer systems — typically costs $3,000–$8,000 for a small-to-mid-size kitchen, versus $8,000–$20,000+ for comparable semi-custom cabinetry at Home Depot or a kitchen design centre. IKEA cabinets are industry standard for BLUM hardware, and a robust third-party modification ecosystem (custom doors, panels, organizers) makes SEKTION cabinets highly customizable.
Specialty Suppliers Worth Knowing in the GTA
🪵 Turkstra Lumber
- Locations in Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton
- Best for: deck-grade cedar, pressure-treated lumber, premium decking
- Better quality control on cedar boards vs. big-box
- Will-call lumber pickup available; delivery on large orders
- Staff are lumber specialists — useful for structural questions
🎨 Benjamin Moore Dealers (GTA)
- Hundreds of independent dealers across Toronto and GTA suburbs
- BM Aura interior (2026 price: $90–$110/gallon) — premium DIY finish
- Colour consultation and custom tinting available at most dealers
- Many Home Hardware locations are also BM dealers
- See our best paint stores in the GTA guide for a full list
How to Choose the Right Store for Your Project
Identify Your Project Needs
List every material category your project requires. A deck build needs: pressure-treated lumber, deck screws, concrete or helical piers for footings, deck boards (PT, cedar, or composite), joist hangers, post hardware, railing components, and possibly a permit. A kitchen update might need: cabinetry, countertops, a backsplash, plumbing fixtures, and paint. Once you have your full list, you can see whether one store covers it all or whether you need two or three stops. Most GTA renovation projects of any size benefit from a Home Depot or RONA run for building materials plus a specialty supplier stop for at least one category (paint from a Benjamin Moore dealer, flooring from a specialty store, lumber from Turkstra).
Compare Pricing on Big-Ticket Categories
Don't assume any single store is the cheapest across all categories. For 2026 GTA renovation projects, the biggest savings opportunities come from comparing: lumber at Home Depot vs RONA vs Turkstra (differences of $0.20–$0.50 per linear foot on cedar add up quickly on a deck); paint at big-box vs Benjamin Moore dealer (you're often buying a better product at the dealer for a comparable total price when you factor in coverage); and cabinetry at IKEA vs Home Depot semi-custom (IKEA is consistently 40–60% cheaper for comparable storage capacity). Time spent on a 30-minute price check across two or three suppliers saves real money on projects over $5,000.
Verify Stock and Delivery Before Committing
GTA big-box stores can have inventory discrepancies between their website and actual shelf stock — especially on lumber and specialty items. Before planning a large material run, call the store or check their inventory tool online to confirm the product and quantity you need is in stock at your specific location. For delivery on large lumber orders, both Home Depot and RONA offer delivery, but lead times vary from same-day to 2 weeks depending on your location and order size. Turkstra Lumber offers will-call and scheduled delivery. Plan your material delivery date around your project start date, not the reverse — waiting for a lumber delivery while trades are on-site is an expensive delay.
2026 GTA Store Comparison by Project Type
The table below shows which store type to prioritize for each major renovation category based on 2026 GTA availability, pricing, and product depth.
| Project Category | Best Primary Store | Best Secondary Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deck building (lumber) | Turkstra Lumber (cedar/PT) | Home Depot / RONA |
| Deck hardware / fasteners | Home Depot | RONA / Canadian Tire |
| Flooring (LVP / laminate) | Home Depot / RONA | Specialty flooring store |
| Flooring (hardwood / condo) | Specialty flooring store | Home Depot (limited selection) |
| Interior paint | Benjamin Moore dealer | Home Depot (Behr) / RONA |
| Exterior paint | Benjamin Moore / Sherwin-Williams | Home Depot (Behr Premium Plus) |
| Kitchen cabinetry (budget) | IKEA (SEKTION) | Home Depot (Hampton Bay) |
| Kitchen cabinetry (custom) | Local GTA cabinet maker | Home Depot kitchen design centre |
| Tools (power tools) | Home Depot | Canadian Tire (watch for sales) |
| Specialty hardware | Home Hardware (neighbourhood store) | Home Depot (large stores) |
Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Stores in the GTA
❓ Is Home Depot or RONA better for renovation supplies in the GTA?
Home Depot generally has more GTA locations and a wider product range for big-ticket categories (flooring, lumber, appliances, lighting). RONA competes closely on pricing and has a strong contractor program. For most GTA DIYers, Home Depot is the default first stop due to stock depth and location density. RONA is worth checking for lumber and building materials — their RONA PRO trade pricing can be competitive if you're buying in volume.
❓ Does Lowe's still operate in Toronto?
No. Lowe's Canada exited the Canadian market in 2023 and sold its stores to Rona Inc. Former Lowe's Canada locations in the GTA were converted to the RONA+ banner. The physical stores still exist at the same addresses — they're just operating as RONA+ with a comparable product range and pricing structure.
❓ Is Canadian Tire a good store for home renovation supplies?
For tools, hardware, seasonal equipment, and plumbing/electrical fittings — yes. For building materials, lumber, flooring, or drywall — no. Use Canadian Tire for tools and small hardware during their seasonal sales (spring and fall). Route structural materials and large renovation supply runs to Home Depot or RONA.
❓ What is the best store for lumber in the GTA?
For deck-grade cedar and pressure-treated lumber, Turkstra Lumber (Mississauga, Brampton) typically offers better quality control and competitive pricing versus big-box stores. Home Depot and RONA carry standard SPF, PT, and cedar at consistent prices with same-day availability at most GTA locations. See our where to buy lumber in the GTA guide for 2026 pricing by species.
❓ Where is the best place to buy kitchen cabinets in Toronto?
IKEA SEKTION is the dominant value option — a complete kitchen typically costs $3,000–$8,000 at IKEA versus $8,000–$20,000+ for comparable semi-custom at Home Depot or a kitchen design centre. For fully custom cabinetry, local GTA cabinet shops offer the most flexibility at $15,000–$40,000+. See our kitchen renovation cost guide for a full budget breakdown.