DIY etc

Chines shops I call them -

They are warehouses with all sorts of stuff in them and probably where you will get 90% of anyting for your house and home. There are three on the main dual carraigeway out of Vera towards Vera Playa. One at the bottom of that road and turn left to the next roundabout. There is another at Antas (top of Vera) on the motorway roundabout. You will also be able to buy drills and other mechanical devices for DIY, plus a new toaster. They are only useless when they don't have something specific that you want.

Most towns have at least one Ferreteria which are small versions of the above and can often do things like key cutting

Then there are Leroy Merlins at Almeria and Murcia with another at Lorca (small)

Also, I have been using Lidl online, bought a new drill and attachments etc, good tech and quick delivery to your door. Easy returns too. I had some excellent stuff bought ten years ago from them and wanted to have  second tool kit. Not doisappointed. The drill made short wortk of dismantling next doors gazebo that was destroyed in the wind...

One thing to lay your hands on in shops frequented by  Brits are the free Focus mags and the like that advertise local businesses. It is like a small phone book of all sorts of enterprises and charities etc.

There will be more comments on here for sure as I do not know your local patch that well :)

Hi 

There’s the ferretería in Purchena who is very reasonable and Jose speaks a little English also a slightly bigger place still in Purchena but on the way in to olula del Rio ( first turning from somontin) para pasta and a larger place in Tijola on the road up to cela plus the famous longos in Albox 

Also lapantos in albox are very good and aladasur which I think comes under

 arboleas if not it’s albox

Hi Claire, I live in an old village house in Somontín that I've been working on more or less since I bought it in July 2020. In fact, it sometimes seems like I've spent most of my time here in ferreterías and building merchants of one sort or another. Generally, there's no single place that has everything you need, or at least not necessarily conveniently located. Plus it really depends on what you want. I'd be happy to meet up with you and Paul when you're here if you like, as it may be easier to discuss in person. I'm quite busy at the moment (having a delivery of bricks, cement, guttering etc from Parra Pastor early tomorrow morning) but usually go to the El Minero bar in the town square on Sundays about 1.30pm (or earlier if I need anything from the market), if that's any good? I don't proclaim to know it all by any means; it's still very much an ongoing learning process as there's always something new or different that you need but I'm happy to share whatever I know. My friend Martin is/has been doing the bulk of the work and he's usually there too, as is another British couple, sometimes more. Everyone here has had to do DIY work, and more, at some point. But if that's not convenient just message me with any specific questions or things that you need. Best wishes. Marina