Gravitas Blog

Often when we think of materials suppliers for building our homes, or even working on a DIY home improvement project, we instinctively include the big box home improvement store or regional contractor oriented building supplier. I have found a few sources locally that I want to suggest and bring to your attention. Some are specific to Boise, but the concepts are not, and chances are they can be found in your city with a quick search.

• Green building supply stores. Many city’s have storefronts that contain sustainable building products under one roof where you can educate yourself on how a product’s choice may impact your health, or the energy used to create it, or replace it (lifecycle costs). Locally we have a store called Green Foundations that has many products for all areas of construction. I suggest you stop by if you are in the Treasure Valley or find a similar store in your area where you can make an informed decision about the products that are going into your home.
• Recycled Building Materials Supply. All buildings have a life cycle, and even more so the styles and functions of the interior of the home. Although I am a proponent of heirloom homes that last many, many generations and investing in timeless design for interior furnishing and fixtures, many things have their day. In addition to style considerations though, there are many functional materials that can be refashioned or reconditioned for new uses. I think there is more soul in materials that already have a history and stories. We are working with a client now on an extensive remodel and the pride of her new home will be the reuse of the front door from her existing home. Another client of ours makes sure to point out the structural beam in their new home that was worked in from the house that he grew up in. Whether your sources are from a major remodel or moving a home, if you look around, there are materials everywhere that are just waiting to be put to good use. We have a local architectural salvage, recycled building materials supply store in Boise called Second Chance. I just got a solid wood closet door for $25 that was quoted at $125 from the big box. Last summer I got wood shingles for a shed, real chunks of wood, not the see through wood shakes you see at retail stores. Browse your local store to see what they have and you can add some character to your project and save a sink, door, or light switch from being created. Finally on Second Chance, or your local equivalent, take your extra stuff down there. They take all useable building materials, it might be closer than the dump.
• Craigslist. Craigslist isn’t just for finding a used car or football tickets, it’s also a great place for renewable building materials. This source of materials is another two way street, its a great place to keep your unused things out of the garbage and a great place to pick up new and used materials for your new home or remodel. I recently purchased two bathroom sinks for a remodel we are working on. This had many advantages, the most obvious is financial, two flawless Kohler sinks and fixtures for 40% of the retail cost. Equally important to me though is knowing that the embodied energy of those sinks is not entirely my responsibility. I also enjoy the community aspect of Craigslist, through all of my buying and selling transactions comes interaction with my neighbors. In the sink example, I met a builder who I had seen her work all over town for the last few years but had never met and we talked about her work. Those kind of contacts don’t happen at the self checkout at Home Depot. Windows, flooring, granite for your countertops, trusses for a garden shed, its new every day under the materials category on Craigslist.

So I encourage you to think about different sources for the materials in your home whether they be new green, reconditioned or reused. There are sources out there to be found if you think outside the big box….get it?