ReBuilding Center

It has been 13 years since I moved to Portland. For 13 years I have had what can only be described as a love affair with my house, a 100+ year old bungalow that I want to do right by at every DIY opportunity. Friends and neighbors have sung the praises of the ReBuilding Center for as long back as I can remember. And I have visited, too many times to count over the years, only to leave empty-​handed, dejected, and wondering what is so wrong with me. Do I lack the eye necessary to locate just the right tile, or replacement molding, or front door? Am I so void of vision that I fail to see what others see there? Is my patience so paper thin that I’m failing to find treasures that are right in front of me?
But this winter, it all changed. I was admittedly there to pick up a free coffee mug for all my Mississippi Ave holiday shopping. But since I was there, why not a quick spin through lighting? To my utter amazement, there, in its full, wretched yellow brass glory, was a dining room light fixture that was almost exactly like what I have envisioned for so long. There were some minor deviations from what I would consider perfect, but when you’re talking about spending $ 55 rather than $ 1,500, you learn really quickly to accept «perfection adjacent» and focus on the deal, the find, the victory!
One can of flat chestnut spray paint and some frosted glass shades, and I’m beyond thrilled with the new-​to-​me light fixture. Funny how 13 years of failure are immediately erased with one victorious lap through lighting. I will now join the ranks of the smug ones who came before me, and I will tell everyone who will listen that they really need to go check out the ReBuilding Center. You owe to your house. And yourself. And if you’re lucky, it’ll take you less than 13 years to get on board.

I love the Rebuilding Center. I’ve brought old building products there to be resold and reused and I’ve bought a few cabinets, some lumber, and some other odds and ends there. Most recently I bought a lightly used kitchen cabinet to go over our washer to neaten up that area. $ 25 and a cleaning rag later, we had a good quality orphan cabinet serving a new purpose.
If you’re into digging through old building supplies, lighting, plumbing fixtures, appliances, cabinets, doors, and windows, the Rebuilding Center is a great place to wander around and browse. You may not find exactly what you want, but as with any shop full of old stuff, you’ll probably find something you didn’t know you needed!

This is an amazing place. When I walk through and look at the windows, wood, tiles, doors, fixtures, I get that feeling of boundless possibilities. Kind of the same as when I browse hardware stores, but it’s different here. When I browse a hardware store I’m aware of all the things that can be made, but the outcome is already determined, the plans are in place, the parameters have been established. When I walk through here I’m aware that the only constraint is how far my imagination can roam. Anything can be created — things I haven’t even dreamed of yet. All I have to do is look, let go, and let it happen.

This place is kind of incredible. Its a thrift store for home remodling. They have all kinds of stuff for your home. So far everything I have seen has been used before, but what a resorce for someone trying to match something! It is all devided into type of Items, sinks, lights, tile, cabinets… the list seems to go on forever.
While much of the stuff may look like trash to the untrained eye with a little TLC it may match what you already have or at least be in period so it doesn’t stick out. Besides that used door here will cost you a lot less then a new one.
It does pay to be a bit creative. if the window is slightly different then what you have you may want to shuffle them so it is not right next to another, that kind of thing.
Tip: ok its obvious but this is a thrift store. If they don’t have what you need, try again later. I have found some great stuff here.

This place is AWESOME! They got pretty much everything to remodel a house on a shoestring budget. Prices are not what they used to be, and materials to build from scratch are harder to come by. Still, there is so much stuff here, it’s just AMAZING!

So much yes!
I love this place. What a great idea to recycle and reuse! Saving the environment one donation at a time. And you can find some super sweet gems here. Xo!

Scored a medicine cabinet for $ 4. It’s clearly not new, but in great shape and clean.

The Rebuilding Center isn’t what it used to be… The workers are still pretty cool for the most part. But it now often costs just as much (more when accounting for bringing items back to a usable form) for used beat up material here that’s covered in lead dust as I can get new items elsewhere. CVG fir, siding, and framing material for example. It’s been disappointing every time I’ve visited in the last 4 years, literally shaking my head as I walk away. Before the new steel structure was built, this place was incredible. It seems like management’s attention to the Rebuilding Center became detached, maybe distracted by the off shoot DeConstruction or profitability. I hope it returns to its roots but kind of doubt it will happen as the property is now in gentrification land… Grump over.

If you want something for your house/​home/​apartment/​abode of any type — The ReBuilding Center is the place to go first. Light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, that Clawfoot Tub you’ve been wanting! Buy some doors, redo your floors. You can find materials from pristine to piss-​poor. Several grades of lumber to pick through.
The staff and volunteers are fantastic, always happy to help, but keep in mind, this is NOT a BOB (bigorangebox) — so service is likely to be a bit better — just a little tougher to find sometimes, because they are busy.
Here you can find the kitchen cabinets, or the lumber to build them.
Prices are super cheap to reasonable!

I could live here. If you’re a junker, an artist, a bored crafty person… go here. You can find wood, tile, windows, doors, misc everything! We have made numerous pieces for our home from old drawers, an old shed door, old hooks and on and on. The employees are helpful and nice.

Love all the restaurants and shops on Mississippi? Thank the Rebuilding Center. It was the key to turning around the entire area.
Until I saw the Rebuilding Center’s throne room I had never once thought to myself, «You know – I think I’ll buy a used toilet.» But that’s the plan now. As soon as we start the bathroom, I think I’ll try to outfit the entire thing with reclaimed materials. They work, it’s good for the Earth, and saves me a ton of money.
Finishing the basement of your 1924 bungalow but still paying off student loans? Look no further. We bought all our windows here for the cost of one new window (about $ 250) – and they’re great. They look absolutely fabulous installed. The friendly staff helped me stuff the windows into my tiny car and were nice and upbeat about the whole thing which I’m sure, was probably kind of annoying.
I had to wait awhile to find the person who could help me, but when I went to a big box home store later in the day, I waited even longer. It’s due to the fact that the store is huge and it’s non-​profit, rather than some deficiency in the staff.
The building is fascinating – itself built with reclaimed materials from homes and factories in the area. It’s open air and has a big cob tree decorating the entrance. Even if you’re not building something, it’s worth a look next time you’re in the MIssissippi area.
Pro tip: there’s often parking in the back.

Everyone that works here is wonderful! Price point is great and the possibilities are endless! Come ready to dig through stuff and leave stocked for your next project!

This place is inspiring. It makes me want to be a better homebody. And build forts out of Uncommon Objects. The staff, though in demand by all us hopeless assistance-​needers, are very helpful once you have their attention. They all seem to have a wicked sense of humor, imaginative minds, and love dogs. Some of my favorite traits in a fellow human.

This simply a cool place to go to get stuff for your home. That is, if you are a fix-​it kind of person. This isn’t slot A, tab B, IKEA furniture. This is sanding, refinishing, painting and make that cool piece work in your house. Reclaimed wood flooring, windows, doors, shelving, mantle places, molding and I’m sure fixtures were around as well. I didn’t wander for too long.
Huge places, a few buildings actually and friendly staff. Just look for the people with the hammer logos. Enjoy.

HUGE store, great selection. I didn’t see what prices were so I can’t really say much on that. But they sure did have a lot.

I could have spent HOURS in the ReBuilding Center. It’s huge!
I came in looking for a bathroom vanity/​sink. I didn’t find anything that suited me (yet) but found many, MANY other things that I fell in love with: cabinets, mirrors, light fixtures, tile… the possibilities here are practically limitless BUT you pretty much have to be very flexible with what you’re looking for.
Being a new homeowner, I see myself spending a lot of time in here. The whole concept of this store is way more appealing to me than buying brand new home improvement stuff from Home Depot or Lowes. The staff is also really helpful and polite.

As much as I would love to say this place has anything and everything a creative mind wants to rejuvenate their home, I’ve never actually purchased anything here. I’ve come here on many different occasions to find random things like doors, lamps, lighting, tiles, table tops etc… I think the trick is you just have to keep coming back and hopefully you’ll get lucky!

Pros
1. Loads and Loads of Great Stuff at great prices!
2. A good place to donate your unwanted items.
3. They may trade for credit if you have a business with service they can use.
Cons:
1. If you are looking for something specific you will be disappointed. The real method to use here is to have a bunch of ideas or items rattling around in the back of your mind and to stop in whenever you are in the area. Or if you have a project that has not taken shape yet look around and you might find something to use you had never thought of
2. If you have a specific vision and you are not inventive, frugal, or adaptable you will hate this place. They are not going to have what you are looking for you need to be open to that and if you are you might find something even better.
3. You must get your hands dirty. Customer service is present but for the most part you must help yourself and most of the items are not ready to go to work anyways they will require some TLC to shine.
Example: I am getting ready to move to a new condo and just happened to stop by when I found some California Closet organizers. These organizers cost thousands of dollars new so it wasn’t something that was on my radar but when I saw them I knew they would be perfect in my new place.

The Rebuilding Center is a recycler of Portland past that is being duplicated in other cities, based on its success here.
If you are a DIY remodeler, the Rebuilding Center should be on your go to list.
They take donations from remodelers and resell them to remodelers at bargain prices. Charitable tax deduction.
They have kitchen cabinets, bathtubs, toilets, fireplace items, tile, electrical, lighting, plumbing, windows, doors, lumber, moulding, gutters, flooring, marble-​granite, timber and more. The wood trim in the Portland City Grill is from the Rebuilding Center.
If you are tearing out, check with them to see what they accept. If you are remodeling, you can find a huge selection of vintage style items. Some items, like windows, are energy efficient. They have a small store on site with home items and furniture made from reused materials.
They have two buildings, one is to the West across the alley. They have a parking lot to the South and the alley is a good loading area.
Home despot has a huge selection. The Rebuilding Center has many of the same items at a lesser price. Know the the new price and be prepared to negotiate at the Rebuilding Center as their prices have risen.

The ReBuilding Center gives me wood. Well, okay, not in the literal sense. But from concept to execution it’s pretty neat all around. The idea is that it’s a place to donate and/​or buy used building supplies. Windows, doors, furniture, fixtures, cabinetry, etc. The ‘Goodwill’ of construction and remodeling, so to speak.
As with any concept along the lines of a thrift store, the supplies here are definitely hit or miss. I probably wouldn’t come here to find a fixture to outfit a street of dreams house or anything. But if you’re doing a project that’s either structural in nature, or you have the elbow grease to spend on touching up a pre-​loved cabinet, you sure can save some serious cash buying here. If you can find what you’re looking for.
I’ve stopped in to browse quite a few times, but most recently I’ve been undertaking some home repair and maintenance projects, and my needs have led me here once again. One of my exterior doors is warped, and I’m not sure I want to drop $ 800 on a fancy new door from Home Depot for what is essentially a side-​door. Especially if I want to paint it to match the scheme. A quick trip to the ReBuilding Center nets me multiple options that simply could use a good sanding and repainting, at prices that are a fraction of what I’d pay new/​retail.
This is, of course, not a perfect solution for every person or every need. As with Goodwill, you do have to dig to find your gems. But when you do, you profit, and so does the organization that runs this center. Well, they don’t technically «profit» since it’s a non-​profit, but they get money to support their cause. And that, to me, is a strong foundation for a store worth supporting.