Introduction
The Hardware Store in Rooms & Exits Chapter 1 Level 4 presents a unique blend of classic escape‑room mechanics and inventive puzzle design. Unlike the cozy confines of the flower shop or beauty salon, this level thrusts you into an expansive workshop teeming with tools, machinery, and hidden compartments. Success hinges on meticulous observation spotting a screwdriver in a drawer or a hidden candlestick in a vent as well as clever item manipulation, such as crafting a hammer or combining a candle and lighter to illuminate dark corners. In this comprehensive walkthrough, we’ll explore every nook and cranny of the hardware store, detailing where to find each essential tool, how to solve each puzzle step by step, and the strategies that seasoned escape‑room veterans use to breeze through even the most devious challenges. Whether you’re hunting for hidden objects, deciphering security codes, or assembling makeshift devices, this guide ensures you’ll have the knowledge to escape swiftly and confidently.
1. Collect the Screwdriver
Your first critical tool is the screwdriver, and it’s hiding in plain sight. Upon entering the hardware store, turn your attention to the workbench area on the right side. Here, three sets of drawers await inspection. Open the middle drawer to automatically add the screwdriver to your inventory. This tool will prove indispensable for opening panels and dismantling objects later on.
Fact: Screwdrivers are often the backbone of escape‑room puzzles, enabling you to access vents, panels, and hidden compartments that conceal further clues.
2. Obtain the Lighter
Next, you’ll need a lighter to ignite candles and reveal heat‑sensitive clues. Head to the locked cupboard against the far wall tap on the working suit hanging nearby. A hidden pocket yields the lighter. With this in hand, you’re equipped to tackle any pitch‑black corners or burn‑reveal puzzles that await.
Tip: Always examine clothing and fabric elements in escape rooms; pockets, seams, and folds frequently hide small but vital items.
3. Access the Ceiling Compartment
A candlestick high above holds the next piece of the puzzle, but first you must reach it:
- Repair the Stairs
- Click the door on the left to reveal a broken staircase.
- Use the screwdriver to tighten loose bolts and restore the steps.
- Click the door on the left to reveal a broken staircase.
- Climb the Ladder
- Ascend the repaired staircase to the ceiling vent.
- Ascend the repaired staircase to the ceiling vent.
- Open the Cover
- With the screwdriver selected, tap the vent cover to pop it open.
- With the screwdriver selected, tap the vent cover to pop it open.
- Collect the Candle
- Inside lies a candle tap to add it to your bag.
- Inside lies a candle tap to add it to your bag.
This multi‑stage interaction combines mechanical repair with inventory usage, showcasing the level’s layered design.
4. Craft a Hammer
Some puzzles demand more brute force than a screwdriver can provide. To craft a hammer:
- Find the Raw Material
- Move to the yellow trash bin near the back corner.
- Tap it to retrieve a metal rod (or similar material).
- Move to the yellow trash bin near the back corner.
- Dismantle in Inventory
- Open your bag, select the rod, and choose Dismantle.
- This action yields a hammer head and a wooden handle.
- Open your bag, select the rod, and choose Dismantle.
- Combine Components
- Select the hammer head, then tap the wooden handle and hit Combine to forge a hammer.
- Select the hammer head, then tap the wooden handle and hit Combine to forge a hammer.
The ability to dismantle and combine items is a hallmark of Rooms & Exits puzzles, encouraging creative use of resources.
5. Organize the Hanging Tools
The front wall displays an array of wrenches, pliers, and spanners but they’re all jumbled. Restoring order here unlocks a hidden locker:
- Match Handles to Tops
- Drag each tool to its correct slot by aligning handle shapes and head sizes.
- Drag each tool to its correct slot by aligning handle shapes and head sizes.
- Listen for the Click
- Once all six tools are properly positioned, a faint click signals the opening of a locker door.
- Once all six tools are properly positioned, a faint click signals the opening of a locker door.
This visual‑matching puzzle tests your attention to detail and pattern recognition, two critical skills for any escape‑room enthusiast.
6. Unlock the Security Locker
Inside the newly revealed locker sits a power saw, but it’s secured by a six‑digit code. Enter 578632 the code can be found etched subtly into the floorboard near the tool rack. With the saw in hand, you’re prepared for the next challenge.
Pro Tip: Floorboards, ceiling beams, and other architectural elements often carry hidden inscriptions or patterns that serve as codes.
7. Illuminate the Dark Area
A dark alcove near the trash bin hides a jack needed for your final escape. To access it:
- Break the Wall Section
- Equip the hammer and tap the plastered wall above the trash bin to crack it open.
- Equip the hammer and tap the plastered wall above the trash bin to crack it open.
- Light the Alcove
- Combine the lighter and candle in your inventory to create a lit candle.
- Select the lit candle and tap inside the dark hole to illuminate it.
- Combine the lighter and candle in your inventory to create a lit candle.
- Retrieve the Jack
- With the area lit, you can now spot and pick up the jack from within.
- With the area lit, you can now spot and pick up the jack from within.
This sequence demonstrates the importance of combining tools and environmental interaction to reveal hidden objects.
8. Open the Final Cupboard
Back at the locked cupboard, it’s time to cut through its iron chain:
- Use the Power Saw
- Equip the saw and tap the chain to slice it cleanly.
- Equip the saw and tap the chain to slice it cleanly.
- Collect the Crowbar
- Inside the cupboard, you’ll find a crowbar resting atop a stack of crates tap to add it to your bag.
- Inside the cupboard, you’ll find a crowbar resting atop a stack of crates tap to add it to your bag.
This step underscores the value of newly acquired tools and encourages players to revisit previously inaccessible areas.
9. Solve the Weight‑Stone Puzzle
The last major puzzle resides in a green‑painted box secured by a vertical rod. Inside the cupboard, you’ll see a set of weight stones:
- Arrange by Size
- Drag and drop each stone onto the rod, ordering them from lightest at the top to heaviest at the bottom.
- Drag and drop each stone onto the rod, ordering them from lightest at the top to heaviest at the bottom.
- Listen for the Unlock
- A soft click signals that the green box has opened, revealing a metal handle.
- A soft click signals that the green box has opened, revealing a metal handle.
This sequencing puzzle tests your logical reasoning and reinforces the theme of ordering and balance throughout the level.
10. Use the Jack to Escape
With the jack and handle in your inventory, it’s time for your grand exit:
- Combine Items
- In your bag, select the jack, then tap the handle and hit Combine to assemble the door‑jack.
- In your bag, select the jack, then tap the handle and hit Combine to assemble the door‑jack.
- Position Under Door
- Drag the assembled jack to the exit door’s threshold.
- Drag the assembled jack to the exit door’s threshold.
- Open the Door
- Tap the jack to lift the door slightly, triggering the escape animation.
- Tap the jack to lift the door slightly, triggering the escape animation.
Congratulations you’ve successfully navigated the Hardware Store, overcoming every hidden‑object challenge, code puzzle, and mechanical test the level throws at you!
Items & Locations Table
| Item | Found At | Purpose |
| Screwdriver | Middle drawer by workbench | Open vents, remove panels |
| Lighter | Pocket of working suit | Ignite candle |
| Candle | Ceiling vent compartment | Illuminate dark alcove |
| Metal Rod | Yellow trash bin | Dismantle into hammer components |
| Hammer Head/Handle | Dismantled from rod | Craft hammer |
| Hammer | Combined from head & handle | Break walls, drive nails |
| Hanging Tools | Front wall rack | Unlock security locker |
| Power Saw | Security locker (code 578632) | Cut iron chains |
| Crowbar | Inside final cupboard | Remove wooden planks |
| Jack | Illuminated alcove above trash bin | Final escape tool |
| Weight Stones | Inside cupboard | Sequence puzzle for green box |
| Metal Handle | Revealed from green box | Combine with jack for escape |
Expert Tips & Tricks
- Thorough Inspection
Divide the Hardware Store into zones workbench, trash area, hanging tools, cupboards and clear each systematically to avoid missing items. - Inventory Mastery
Learn the four core bag functions Use, Combine, Dismantle, Examine to unlock the full potential of your collected items. - Note Hidden Codes
Subtle markings on floorboards, ceilings, or tool edges often hide the numeric sequences needed for locks and safes. - Revisit After New Tools
Always return to previously explored areas once you acquire new equipment; hidden compartments often become accessible only after tool collection. - Balance Observation with Action
If stuck, switch focus: examine a different puzzle area, then return with fresh eyes to the original challenge.
Conclusion
Rooms & Exits Chapter 1 Level 4 – Hardware Store exemplifies the series’ knack for combining hidden‑object searches, mechanical repairs, and code‑breaking puzzles into a cohesive, immersive experience. By following this detailed walkthrough locating the screwdriver, crafting a hammer, balancing weights, and ultimately using a jack to escape you’ll conquer every challenge with confidence. Ready for the next adventure? Chapter 1 Level 5 awaits in the Coffee Shop, where fresh puzzles and new surprises beckon. Good luck, and happy escaping!
Rooms and Exits Room Escape Level 4 is now complete. Let’s begin solving Level 5!
