This is a reuse store; that means the inventory is based on community and business donations or materials that ReCONN's volunteers and supporters salvaged from renovation sites with the work of their own hands and subsequently, the inventory changes constantly. This gem a local architectural salvage joint is 100% volunteer run. They do the work because they believe in the mission which is sustainability and keeping midcentury and vintage and the occasional antique items out of landfills. Keeps dollars in a well planned Reno budget too. It is NOT overpriced. They sell hardware by the pound and take whatever Home Depot charges and halves it or more. Occasionally there is a unique or valuable item and they sell it for whatever comps online show it to be "worth". Outside of the landfill these materials and items can be sold for substantial savings to consumers who prefer the second hand market (for whatever reason). However, in order for the place to survive, they have to make enough money to keep the overhead going. I'd rather give my money to a local nonprofit than a big box mass manufacturer any day. I love ecclectic designing and bohemian mixes. Prices fluctuate as does the inventory. All of my lighting fixtures in my 1947 cape cod style home were purchased here. I buy all the lumber for my DIY projects and enjoy the creative process of making it work with what I can salvage from their multiple piles of very usable lumber, flooring, tile, doors, a few appliances, windows, copper pipe remnants, hardware and more. They negotiate and if you think something is overpriced take a walk over (or search the web) to Home Depot and see what they're charging. If you can find a comparable item (actually comparable, most stuff now is made of junk wood while mid century stuff may be hardwood; not the same!!), ReCONN offers it either half the price or less. But the sad reality is prices are going up everywhere. That's not a local non-profit's fault, I assure you. I am also a local artist. I have been buying tile and wood scraps here for over 10 years to use as canvases. I do think the location is UNDERUSED by local recycled materials artists and I'd love to help spread the word. Local contractors know about it! The word is spreading among local DIYers. We should all support this local nonprofit: by donating our usable materials Shopping here for materials; they do have vintage or rustic or the occasional antique fixture, door and hardware Volunteering a couple of hours a month helping the core volunteer crew haul stuff around and tidy up. Once a local, neighborhood gem like this is gone, it's gone. It takes with it decades of heart and soul from the people who kept it going this long. Spread the word, support sustainability. Help nonprofits keep usable materials in our community. Protect our planet. Find yourself some cool 1960s cabinets for the Italian family basement kitchen! read more

We bought a beautiful kitchen with granite countertops that was in perfect shape some time ago. We were so happy with it that we decided to go back and look for lighting and doors. What a disappointment guys, we walked in and within 1 minute we noticed signs that were so offensive we just left. We would be willing to pay the price asked but when a business puts in large letters, if you dont like our prices you can leave, this says they can care less if anyone buys. I guess they are open just to be open. Lastly, if you care about the environment and look at these type of stores for some items, I will tell you that there are other stores with better price points and who care about you visiting their store. Go somewhere else...... read more

The ReCONNstruction Center - Building Supplies Near Me - New Britain, Connecticut

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Take equal parts Home Depot, Habitat for Humanity, Harbor Freight, your local flea market and neighborhood Goodwill store, combine in a cement mixer and you have a pretty reasonable facsimile of The ReCONNstruction Center. Their website says it " provides a convenient, local, and environmentally responsible opportunity for property owners and contractors to recycle their reusable construction materials at no cost while reducing their overall cost of waste disposal". So it accepts and re-sells used stuff, and it accepts donations which is why we were there in the first place. As part of our spring cleaning, we decided to part ways with a whole lot of left over lumber from my son's Eagle Scout project. The ReCONNstruction Center gladly accepted it and were prompt and efficient as we e-mailed during the week to arrange the Sunday drop off. As I wandered through the store I saw, kitchen cabinets, dozens of cabinet doors, boxes of screws, nails and hardware, rolls of carpeting, windows and doors, cook-tops, hand tools, power tools, electrical supplies, lighting fixtures, globes and lamps, office furniture, window air conditioners, table saws, sinks, vanities and plumbing fixtures , appliances, ceramic tile, vinyl floor tile, and gallons of paint. Pricing is low, but the selection is understandably low too. They do some community service projects, and all in all it's a really sweet concept. So go and look around, you might score that hard-to-find cabinet door you've been meaning to replace for a long time. Or you might find a worthy cause that will gladly take some of your home improvement related accumulation out of your basement or garage. read more

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My husband and I are in the process of searching for some cabinets/shelving to put in our garage but are not looking to spend an arm and a leg to do it. Luckily there is a place like the ReCONNstruction Center to help make our dreams a reasonably priced reality. It's the perfect place to visit if you are looking to do a home renovation and have limited budget to complete it. The store - although not well light and a bit dusty - the store well organized. Like most secondhand/thrift stores, however, it's the type of place where you have to search through the stacks of doors, windows, etc to find the item that fits your project. Walking through the doors of The ReCONNstruction Center is definitely not the same as walking into your local Home Depot or Lowes. Depending on the day you shop (as their inventory constantly changes) you might not find what you are looking for or even very modern items - but there are some gems for those with a sense of scavenging adventure. All of the items are "gently used" but if you take the time to search through the store - you might find that perfect claw foot tub or sink that will help you make your bathroom dream a reality. read more

They have old outdated stuff, and have gotten over priced. Used to have better stuff years ago

this store is pretty cool if you are brainstorming home projects or have a specific need - it's a nonprofit run recycling center for building materials. paint, doors, windows, complete kitchen cabinet setups with counters, appliances .. lots of great stuff, you just need to make sure it fits! read more

they just moved here from new britain. this place used to be great but once they moved here everythong changed. the manager who built up the place when it was in new britian left and it went down hill after that. i only go here when i really need something bad if not i go to lowes. the problem is they do not know alot about fixing things, there prices have gone up. they are only a few bucks cheaper than lowes it almost pays to buy new. read more