Buy Used and Surplus Building Supplies to Cut Remodeling Costs

source: Orange County Register

Remodeling your home can cost a small fortune...and these days, that's just not kosher. If you've decided that your remodel just can't wait until your economic situation improves, why not consider buying used and surplus building materials instead of new ones?

Introducing Habitat for Humanity's ReStores - "retail outlets where quality, used and surplus building materials are sold at a fraction of normal prices." Many of the items sold in ReStores are donated from building supply stores, contractors, etc. who support Habitat for Humanity and are in new or almost-new condition - the average savings is about 60%! Find one near you in the U.S. and Canada. If you can't find one, locate your local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

No Habitat ReStore near you? Check out the sites below to find other suppliers of recycled and surplus building materials.

Nationwide

The ReUse People
These folks de-construct (as opposed to demolish) properties allowing them to salvage almost 80% of materials. They then channel these materials back into the marketplace through donations and sales at their retail outlets located throughout California, Connecticut, Colorado, Illinios, Missouri, and Washington state.

Eastern and Southern US

ReCycle North
A non-profit organization located in Burlington, VT, with a 3-part mission of waste reduction, job-skills training and poverty relief; they have two stores open to residential and commercial customers alike: the Household Goods Store and the Building Materials Center.

Empire Surplus
Empire Surplus sells a comprehensive line of closeout, buyback, liquidation and other hard to find products for the building and remodeling industry. Located in Leesport, PA.

Builder's Surplus Atlanta
Find a large selection of doors, windows, flooring, kitchen cabinets, and plumbing products at savings of 40-60%. Located in Atlanta, GA.

Northside Material Brokers
Northside Material Brokers warehouse a wide variety of surplus building materials. Located in Atlanta, GA.

Build It Green! NYC
New York City's only non-profit retail outlet for salvaged and surplus building materials, including appliances, sinks, windows, and more. Located in Astoria, NY.

Building Materials Resource Center
BBR provides high-value, affordable materials, both new and used, for home maintenance and improvements. Located in Boston, MA.

Miller's Surplus Home Center
Specialize in home improvement and construction products; they sell doors, windows, kitchen and bath cabinets, flooring, locks, faucets, lumber and exterior products. Located throughout Northeast PA.

Surplus Products
Features large inventories of home improvement products and great deals. Located in East Point, KY.

Big John's Closeouts
Specializes in volume buying and discontinued / slightly-blemished building materials. Located in Elizabethton and Mountain City, TN.

Western and Mountain US

BuildingSurplus.com
Find reclaimed, reused or excess materials, appliances and tools - a kind of classifieds for surplus construction materials. Majority of postings are for materials located in California and Colorado.

Albion Doors & Windows
A 23-year-old business located in Albion, CA, specializing in antique door hardware, turn of the century entry doors, and decorative glass.

The ReBuilding Center
Located in Portland, OR, the ReBuilding Center is a project of Our United Villages working to strengthen local communities by providing used building and remodeling materials, deconstruction services, and green furniture and home accessories.

Black's Farmwood
Black's Farmwood provides reclaimed hand-hewn barn beams, weathered barn siding and rustic wide plank flooring. Located in San Rafael, CA.

Crossroads Recycled Lumber
Located in North Fork, CA, and recycling since 1981, Crossroads Recycled Lumber supplies old growth lumber, timbers, flooring, doors, siding and more to residential and commercial projects.

Builder's Surplus
Offers the largest selection of kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and doors for the best cash and carry price in all of Southern California. Located in Santa Ana, CA.

Second Use
Since 1994, Second Use has helped contractors and homeowners recover reusable building materials from their remodeling and demolition projects. Located in Seattle, WA.

Community Warehouse Estate Store
Offers a wide variety of antique, vintage and retro furniture, housewares, and collectibles. Located in Portland, OR.

Surplus Building Materials
A “One Stop Shop” for home improvement and building materials. Located in Farmers Branch, TX.

Online Communities

AmericanBuilderSurplus.com
AmericanBuilderSurplus.com is an online trading community for the construction industry and residential consumers to buy or sell surplus or salvaged building materials and equipment.

And if you're a twitter-er, check out these tweets:
- remodeling
- the Remodeling Editors
- remodelers