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Hardware Store Items: A Complete Shopping List for Your Construction Project
Introduction
Walking into a well-stocked hardware store can be both exciting and overwhelming. The range of hardware store items on offer — from tiny screws to heavy structural steel — is enormous, and knowing exactly what you need before you go can save you significant time and money.
Whether you’re a first-time homebuilder trying to navigate the hardware store for the first time, or an experienced contractor refreshing your materials list, this guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the key hardware store items you’re likely to need for a construction project in Kenya.
Structural Hardware Store Items
Cement and Binders
– Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) — for general concrete, mortar, and plaster
– Rapid-hardening cement — for applications where faster strength gain is required
– Tile adhesive — for bonding tiles to walls and floors
Aggregates
– Ballast (coarse aggregate) — for concrete mixing
– Sand (fine aggregate) — for concrete, mortar, and plaster
– Hardcore / murram — for sub-bases and fill
Steel Products
– Reinforcement bars (Y8, Y10, Y12, Y16, Y20, Y25) — for reinforced concrete
– BRC mesh (welded wire mesh) — for ground floor slabs and walls
– Structural steel sections (I-beams, H-beams, channel sections, angle iron)
– Hollow sections (square and rectangular) — for columns, frames, and gates
– Steel pipes — for structural and service applications
– Wire rods — for tying reinforcement and other uses
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Roofing Hardware Store Items
- Iron sheets (mabati) — corrugated and box profile, in various gauges
- Ridge caps — for finishing roof ridges
- Roofing screws with neoprene washers — self-sealing fasteners for iron sheets
- Roof purlins (timber or steel) — for supporting iron sheets
- Soffit boards — for enclosing roof eaves
- Fascia boards — for finishing roof edges
- Polycarbonate sheets — for skylights and carport roofing
- Gutters and downpipes — for roof drainage
Plumbing Hardware Store Items
Pipes
– PVC pressure pipes (cold water supply)
– PVC soil and waste pipes
– PPR pipes (hot and cold water supply)
– HDPE pipes (underground water mains and drainage)
– Galvanised steel (GI) pipes (selected applications)
– Copper pipes (premium water supply applications)
Fittings and Valves
– Elbow fittings (90° and 45°)
– Tee fittings
– Couplings and reducers
– End caps
– Ball valves and gate valves
– Check valves
– Float valves (for water tanks)
– Pipe clips and supports
Bathroom and Sanitary
– Toilet suites (WC pans and cisterns)
– Washbasins and vanity units
– Shower trays and enclosures
– Bath tubs
– Taps and mixers
– Showerheads
– Waste traps
Electrical Hardware Store Items
Cables and Wiring
– Single-core PVC cables (for wiring in conduit)
– Twin-and-earth cables (for final ring circuits and lighting)
– Armoured cables (SWA) — for underground runs and exposed applications
– Flexible cords — for appliance connections
Containment
– PVC conduit (heavy and light gauge)
– Conduit bends, junction boxes, and fittings
– PVC trunking — for surface cable management
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Accessories
– Consumer unit (fuse board) with MCBs and RCDs
– Switches (single, double, dimmer)
– Power sockets (single and double)
– Outlet boxes and mounting plates
– Ceiling roses and pendant fittings
– Downlights and surface-mounted lights
– LED tubes and fittings
– External weatherproof sockets and switches
Finishing Hardware Store Items
Tiles
– Ceramic floor tiles
– Porcelain floor tiles
– Ceramic wall tiles (bathroom and kitchen)
– Mosaic tiles
– Natural stone tiles (marble, granite, slate)
Paint and Surface Preparation
– Masonry primer / sealer
– Interior emulsion paint (various sheen levels)
– Exterior masonry paint
– Gloss and satin paint for woodwork and metalwork
– Undercoat
– Anti-rust metal primer
– Paint brushes, rollers, and trays
Joinery and Timber
– Hardwood and softwood doors
– Door frames and architraves
– Window frames (aluminium and timber)
– Skirting boards
– Plywood and MDF panels
Adhesives and Sealants
– Tile adhesive (floor and wall)
– Grout (sanded and unsanded, various colours)
– Silicone sealant (sanitary and construction grades)
– PVC solvent cement
– Construction adhesive (PVA, grab adhesive)
Hardware Tools to Buy
- Tape measure (3m, 5m)
- Spirit level
- Hammers (claw, club, rubber mallet)
- Screwdrivers (flat, Phillips, Pozidrive)
- Spanners and adjustable wrench
- Pipe wrench
- Hand saw and hacksaw
- Trowels and floats
- Paint brushes and rollers
- Safety gear (gloves, goggles, hard hat, safety boots)
Shopping at Pioneer Hardware for All Your Hardware Store Items
Pioneer Hardware in Ruaka stocks all the hardware store items listed in this guide and many more. Whether you’re sourcing structural steel for a reinforced concrete frame, plumbing supplies for a full water system, or finishing tiles for your kitchen and bathrooms, Pioneer Hardware is your one-stop hardware store in Nairobi.
Visit us at pioneerhardwares.com or call 0723364999 / 0782005737 for assistance with your shopping list and to arrange delivery to your site.
Partner with the most reliable hardware shop in Kenya. Contact Pioneer Hardware today at 0723364999 for a free quote on your materials.
*Pioneer Hardware | Ruaka, Nairobi | Stocking All the Hardware Store Items You Need to Build in Kenya*
