[email protected] wrote:
> On Dec 28, 12:07 pm, Steve <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Has anyone had any experiences purchasing building materials from a
>> Habitat For Humanity ReStore? Specifically, how do their prices compare
>> to retail?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> --Steve
>
>
>
> prices are good- about like going to a thrift store. some things are
> ridiculously low, some are ridiculously high, most are a solid savings
> for either used or surplus stuff.
The store in our area is about 30 miles away, and they won't give out
prices over the phone, which is why I posted this - didn't want to drive
all the way down there ($12 to $15 worth of gas!) without knowing it's
gonna be worth my while...
What about selection? I need studs, OSB panels, and roofing materials
to build a shed to serve as paint booth and/or wood storage.
--Steve
Steve <[email protected]> writes:
>What about selection? I need studs, OSB panels, and roofing materials
>to build a shed to serve as paint booth and/or wood storage.
I'm pretty sure I've never seen studs at my local ReStore. I don't think
I've seen OSB or plywood either. The local store I think has shingles,
but I don't recall if they were especially low priced.
Demand is high for basic building materials while few people will donate
that kind of stuff.
The ReStore here in Minneapolis was originally a building materials outlet
operated by a local lumber company that also does home improvements.
Prices were sky high for a so-called outlet.
The local lumber company was hit hard by the new home turndown and donated
the entire store with the $1 million inventory to Habitat for a new
ReStore. The lumber company is also offering the use of the building
rent-free.
On Dec 28, 12:07 pm, Steve <[email protected]> wrote:
> Has anyone had any experiences purchasing building materials from a
> Habitat For Humanity ReStore? Specifically, how do their prices compare
> to retail?
>
> Thanks!
>
> --Steve
prices are good- about like going to a thrift store. some things are
ridiculously low, some are ridiculously high, most are a solid savings
for either used or surplus stuff.
"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote on 28 Dec 2007 in
group rec.woodworking:
> I don't have much of anything good to say about our local store. They
> are almost the same price as retail, except they off no return policy
> and a lot of the material is beat to hell and back. Basically, a lot
> of contractors drop their leftovers there because their vendors won't
> take it back.
>
> They come up with some goodies every once in a while, but since they
> are so inconsistent in quality, quantity and price I have stopped
> wasting my time to "shop" there. I like to order, pickup (or have it
> delivered) and go on down the road.
ReStore isn't trying to be a supply center for serious DIYers and
contractors. They're goal is to raise money for Habitat for Humanity to
build houses by getting some surplus materials out of the trash stream.
The ReStore in my area (Fort Worth) always has lots of used stuff with a
little new surplus thrown in. The last time I demoed a bathroom, they
took the tub but wouldn't take the cabinet and countertop. They had
changed their policy to only accept new cabinets, because no one was
buying the used ones.
It's a crap shoot whether they'll have what I need, so I only go there
to look for used items. ReStore is staffed by volunteers, mostly
homeowners working their required hours to buy a house, so I don't
expect them to even know what's in stock. If you get hold of the
manager, you might have better luck.
If I need new, but don't want to pay full price, I go to an outlet near
my house. They look just like ReStore inside, but all the stuff is
surplus and seconds, and the prices are higher than ReStore.
--
Steve B.
New Life Home Improvement
On Dec 28, 3:52=A0pm, "Bonehenge (B A R R Y)"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Instead of a 60 mile round trip, why not fax your >materials list to loca=
l "real" lumber yards and see how >they do?
I don't have much of anything good to say about our local store. They
are almost the same price as retail, except they off no return policy
and a lot of the material is beat to hell and back. Basically, a lot
of contractors drop their leftovers there because their vendors won't
take it back.
They come up with some goodies every once in a while, but since they
are so inconsistent in quality, quantity and price I have stopped
wasting my time to "shop" there. I like to order, pickup (or have it
delivered) and go on down the road.
Robert
On Jan 2, 11:46=A0pm, [email protected] wrote:
> Steve,
>
> I volunteer every other Saturday at the ReStore here in Paso Robles,
> California. =A0I'm not a Habitat homeowner and I'm not there as part of
> a court settlement... :^) I'm just a guy doing what's right for my
> community. =A0I worked on two Habitat builds back when I lived in Austin
> and will participate in the upcoming build in Atascadero in the
> spring. =A0I do log my volunteer hours with my employer and can get cash
> or computer equipment donations when I hit certain targets.
>
> Our store policy is to price new items at 50% of retail and used items
> at 25% of retail. =A0Some items are sold by the foot (like trim), by the
> pound (like nails), or by the square foot (like windows and mirrors).
> We have a binder with standard pricing on common items so if you do
> call us, we should be able to give you what the price would be and we
> can do a quick check to see if we have something in stock. =A0We have an
> internet connection to do a price check for something we can't make a
> reasonable guess for.
>
> Our selection is driven by our donations. =A0We almost never have studs
> and the OSB tends to be odd-size sheets removed after a remodel or
> teardown. =A0We currently aren't taking doors or ceiling fans because we
> have so many we can't store any more.
>
> Think of the ReStore like an organized flea market of building
> materials - some days you can find a great buy, other days nothing
> catches your eye. =A0I've personally bought two huge double-pane
> windows, two metal cabinets, a door lock set and various other bits
> and pieces for the woodworking shop building I'm renovating, but most
> of the time I have to go retail to get what I need when I need it.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Mike Brown
>
As my business also retrofits countertops, quite a few 'tear-outs' are
perfectly fine. I many cases the customer just wants to change colour
or upgrade in quality. The local HfH ReStore gets all my sinks and
taps (I pretty much know what to throw out, lol) and many straight,
perfectly fine laminate countertops.
The same goes for cabinets, and perfectly fine bath tubs.
The last couple of years, there has been less and less retrofits
because the old was just shot. Just an upgrade to a Jacuzzi or a
colour change.
The outfeed table on my table saw was somebody's kitchen island.
It has been said before, many times, but you'd be surprised what
people will throw out....and, conversely, what they should throw out
but won't.
They will come to pick them up when I ask them to.
Steve,
I volunteer every other Saturday at the ReStore here in Paso Robles,
California. I'm not a Habitat homeowner and I'm not there as part of
a court settlement... :^) I'm just a guy doing what's right for my
community. I worked on two Habitat builds back when I lived in Austin
and will participate in the upcoming build in Atascadero in the
spring. I do log my volunteer hours with my employer and can get cash
or computer equipment donations when I hit certain targets.
Our store policy is to price new items at 50% of retail and used items
at 25% of retail. Some items are sold by the foot (like trim), by the
pound (like nails), or by the square foot (like windows and mirrors).
We have a binder with standard pricing on common items so if you do
call us, we should be able to give you what the price would be and we
can do a quick check to see if we have something in stock. We have an
internet connection to do a price check for something we can't make a
reasonable guess for.
Our selection is driven by our donations. We almost never have studs
and the OSB tends to be odd-size sheets removed after a remodel or
teardown. We currently aren't taking doors or ceiling fans because we
have so many we can't store any more.
Think of the ReStore like an organized flea market of building
materials - some days you can find a great buy, other days nothing
catches your eye. I've personally bought two huge double-pane
windows, two metal cabinets, a door lock set and various other bits
and pieces for the woodworking shop building I'm renovating, but most
of the time I have to go retail to get what I need when I need it.
I hope this helps.
Mike Brown
On Dec 28 2007, 11:43 am, Steve <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > On Dec 28, 12:07 pm, Steve <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> Has anyone had any experiences purchasing building materials from a
> >> Habitat For Humanity ReStore? Specifically, how do their prices compare
> >> to retail?
>
> >> Thanks!
>
> >> --Steve
>
> > prices are good- about like going to a thrift store. some things are
> > ridiculously low, some are ridiculously high, most are a solid savings
> > for either used or surplus stuff.
>
> The store in our area is about 30 miles away, and they won't give out
> prices over the phone, which is why I posted this - didn't want to drive
> all the way down there ($12 to $15 worth of gas!) without knowing it's
> gonna be worth my while...
>
> What about selection? I need studs, OSB panels, and roofing materials
> to build a shed to serve as paint booth and/or wood storage.
>
> --Steve
>
> The store in our area is about 30 miles away, and they won't give out
> prices over the phone, which is why I posted this - didn't want to drive
> all the way down there ($12 to $15 worth of gas!) without knowing it's
> gonna be worth my while...
>
> What about selection? I need studs, OSB panels, and roofing materials
> to build a shed to serve as paint booth and/or wood storage.
>
> --Steve
again, it's like a thrift store. stock is gonna be a complete
crapshoot. at the store near me (Tucson) they have a pretty steady
supply of used doors, cabinetry and lighting fixtures. they get some
interesting hardware sometimes. as far as using them as a lumberyard,
it might be worthwhile if you could lurk there on a semi-regular
basis, but on a one time walk in basis you'd probably be disappointed.
I don't know what store is local to you so your mileage may vary.
Steve <[email protected]> wrote:
>What about selection? I need studs, OSB panels, and roofing materials
>to build a shed to serve as paint booth and/or wood storage.
They operate like thrift shops. They have whatever has been donated
and not yet sold or recycled / sent to the landfill. The only control
they have over what comes into the store is to decline a donation, so
you would be smart to have no expectations re selection.
Do you know others who shop there? Ask them to look out for you and
let you know when the store has a new load of stuff you want. Do the
same for them.
Una
On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:43:25 -0800, Steve <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>The store in our area is about 30 miles away, and they won't give out
>prices over the phone, which is why I posted this - didn't want to drive
>all the way down there ($12 to $15 worth of gas!) without knowing it's
>gonna be worth my while...
>
>What about selection? I need studs, OSB panels, and roofing materials
>to build a shed to serve as paint booth and/or wood storage.
>
Instead of a 60 mile round trip, why not fax your materials list to
local "real" lumber yards and see how they do?
I have a local guy who beats BORGS by as much as 30%, including free,
usually next day, delivery.