Rebuilding Exchange

I’ve never been to a Billion dollar re-​used scrap yard before, it a was amazing to see how much old wood costs! Yay
Walking into this place it was exactly what I expected. I noticed that the pricing on most items seemed a little high for what they were (ie. $ 40 for a cut tree stump ???) Ok but I wasn’t looking for a tree stump so I paid no heed to that. My best friend was going to make something out of some old wood. They had a cool looking «barn wood» section. It looked reasonably priced too.
The sign said this:
Priced by linear foot:
1X4 — $ 2.25
1X6 — $ 3.00, So on and so forth.
We picked up about 4 pieces of wood. Keep in mind this is old, warn, warn out painted pieces of wood that looks like it came off a barn door.(keep in mind, old! possibly termite invested)
I was expecting to pay $ 15 or something. The lady measured each piece and told me it comes to $ 115.00. I thought she was messing with me. And the funny thing is this place is «non profit». What a joke!
Granted I don’t really know «priced by linear foot», (and thanks for making that so easy to understand too). But c’mon, these prices are ridiculous. There inventory alone at these prices must make this a Fortune 100 company. Our cashier should be clearing about $ 200K a year. This place is a joke, too bad, if they priced their crap as they should it may be a fun place to buy stuff for projects. I’ll be going to my favorite Home Depot in the meantime!

This place is the best of the best with a work crew that are more than willing to help you. I came here twice and each time the same person asked if i needed help, what I was building, what sizes, etc and stayed with me to make help me pull out the boards I needed and pick out wood that looked as close to what I had chosen.
The prices are better than Restore, Artifactual, or any other one in the area. I would say the price is 25−30% better and is priced by era vs just a steady price. And I personally think that is much better. 100 year old wood is much better than mid century or younger. I showed a contractor my 2×12 boards and he was shocked, never scene such big boards. And solid!
I also picked up some copper wiling tiles. They had more in the back that were more rustic and needed some tlc. Both were the same price. I think they should had been cheaper since they were beat up but even at $ 60 24“x24″ that is still a very solid price.
The doors are what I was looking for and they have tons to choose from. New, old, glass, solid they have it all and it’s all ½ off retail or better.
I could go on and on with what they have. Toilet, cabinets, lights, old bathtubs, knick knacks and more. I build a new desk out of the materials they sold me.
As Arnold said’ «I’ll be back»

Ok not as good as Construction Junction in Pittsburgh (probably because there’s more gentrification to be had in Pgh so the demolitions aren’t as frequent) but pretty legit! Got two pieces of marble for my kitchen island for under $ 50 and that’s a good look! Go if you’re DIY-​er!

This place is fantastic — i had a wonderful experience working with them. I selected a few pieces of wood /​train car flooring and had them built me a table top. the table took 3+ weeks to construct and finish but it is amazing. very fair pricing and quality work

I can’t say more about this place except they are affordable and have great customer service. Prices are affordable and sometimes negotiable.

The place is huge. I wasnt able to find what I was looking for but the next time I need to replace old windows and doors I will definately be back.

where else can I find doors for my 100 year old City 3 flat. Prices were fine and they were running a class on woodworking that I might want to try again.
Staff were circulating and giving direction — it was fun to ramble around that great old building — found some things that would be useful and will keep it on my list

These guys are the best I jus had a painful experience with an oven and they totally have me a hand I usually use this app to trash most businesses but these guys are the best. Wish there were more places like this.

We are redoing renovations in a very old house and want some era-​specific items. We heard of this place and one other (Reuse in Maywood). We went in here after checking the other one out and were thoroughly disappointed. The prices are way too high comparatively. The staff is ok, but they were blasting techno on Saturday at 10:30 AM.
The selection of certain items is scant.
However, the silver lining is the aged lumber selection which is stellar and cut on site.

I’ve walked by this place a few times and have never been inside. This Saturday I changed that– and I’m so happy that I did! This is a great non-​profit!
This place is a woodworker/​carver/​crafty/​construction person’s dream. Piles and piles of different kinds of wood (everything from plywood to furniture to doors) and all kinds of little project odds and ends. They also have a workshop where they offer classes and also open time.
Everything is priced so reasonably and they even have a nice scrap section where you can get wood pieces (perfect for carving) for $ 1. I also enjoyed looking at all of the finished projects (which you can buy). All of the staff members were so friendly.

We loved it and will be back as we attemp to remodel!

This place is super fantastic for the DIYer! Check out the pictures I posted from yesterday (2÷12÷2014). Great selection of reclaimed wood, sinks, windows, doors, cabinets, tiles, lighting, appliances and more! Prices are a bit more that what I would usually pay at a place like Habitat for Humanity’s Restore but one of a kind and vintage galore! Staff totally knows how to answer any and all of your questions (I asked quite a few different people a hundred questions).
Awesome classes posted online and in the store. I left feeling inspired without being overwhelmed. If you know of another store like this in the Chicago or Naperville area, please reply with a link!
DBDD (Don’t Be Dumb Disclaimer): I love LOVE taking pictures at all the places I visit. I list the date on the pictures so I can remember and share what the store/​establishment looked like at the time of my visit. Not everything you see in the pictures are available for sale. Not everything you see in the pictures is in stock at all times. What was once available the day I was there, might not be available when you’re reading this. I’m simply sharing the experience of my visit. Don’t Be Dumb, if you’re interested in something you see in a picture I’ve posted, call the store first and see if it’s still available.

The Rebuilding Exchange is my nightmare and my boyfriend’s dream. By that, I mean it makes me want to buy several power tools and a table saw that my brokeass cannot afford!
The repurposed wood is typically in very good condition and honestly the DIY possibilities are endless!
Seeing as I can’t afford pricey woodworking tools, I’m hoping to sign up for one of their sweet workshops in the future!

A DIY-er’s dream!
We’ve been looking to spruce up the place with some rustic wood accents. We decided to give Rebuliding Xchange a look around and immediately fell in love with their assortment of wood planks. Walk a little bit further around and you’ll find cabinets, misc appliances, sinks, light fixtures, etc. All at pretty decent prices. You never know what kind of resalvaged treasures you might find! We stumbled upon some original doors from the Merchandise Mart. How swell is that?
They also have classes: how to make wood crates, to lamp rewiring, basic furniture repair– even beekeeping? Definitely will be back to get schooled on some home improvement basics!

Most people go here to shop, but what you should do is participate in their workshops! My wife and I signed up to learn how to build a bench, and it was a great Saturday afternoon. The instructor was great, patient, and super knowledgeable. I learned about where the wood came from etc so now we have a story to tell with the rustic addition to our apt.
I highly recommend enrolling in their workshops

This is a great place to purchase items if you’re looking to restore your home. I purchased 4 sconces and found a pendant light, identical to one I own, that are perfect for my bungalow. I also purchased some antique glass bottles. Be warned, I had my eye on a pedestal sink and was thinking it over when a couple purchased that very same sink… you snooze, you loose! I’m pretty sure something else will become available, so I’m not worried :)
The prices are very reasonable and certainly less than the big box stores. The sink I wanted required a little elbow grease and some re-​glazing, but would cost no less than $ 400, retail. The store (warehouse) is well-​organized and the staff is very friendly. I’ll definitely returned for more items to continue my restoration.

Neat-​o! What a friendly staff and totally cool stuff to look at. I’m excited to go back and get a replacement vintage door for one of our rooms. The inventory is constantly changing, its totally worth it to meander through!

Take a class at the Rebuilding Exchange! I’ve taken both the workshops and make it /​take it classes, and have sat in on the DIY classes. They’ve all been top notch. They find knowledgable (and patient) pros that can teach a room full of eager DIY-​ers.
The woodworking 101 course was especially rewarding. The cost is cheap, you get your pick of the warehouse for the project (yes!), and you get taught how to use all sorts of awesome tools. Chuck was our instructor, he led with a blend of humor and smarts that i) didn’t make me feel like less of a man for not knowing how to work a planar and/​or joiner, and ii) left me feeling all sorts of cool for knowing how to use both with confidence at the end of the course. There is a real thrill sawing through these old boards… and hey, no one lost a finger! You had free range on the project, and Chuck has the experience and creative ingenuity to figure out how to put together your goofiest woodworking scheme.
If you’re in for building supplies the selection of course will depend on what they’ve salvaged. Compared to any other salvage firms in the City ReX’s prices are unbeatable. Compared to any big box… well, maybe you can say it isn’t fair, cos no big box in the land offers product with this much craftsmanship. Used? So what! These things were built to last forever. With a little care they can be quickly restored and you have something that’s one of a kind.

We took the «Build an End Table» class with Blake and Sergio and absolutely loved it. They spent about 45 minutes going over safety and basic planning for the table, and Blake whipped one up pretty quickly as an example.
Our table: They had precut the table legs for us to save some time. The only limitation was that our tables were supposed to be under six square feet (for the sake of preserving materials), so while we made a perfectly square end table, others made benches, rectangular tables, etc. Blake and Sergio gave lots of helpful tips, and we loved the way our table turned out.
We spent some time walking around the building outside of the class, and this place is just so cool. TONS of awesome materials for DIY projects. I wish that we were living in Chicago more permanently, because we’d totally go back and get things for home improvement projects. Their mission is really admirable – trying to divert building materials from landfills, all the while doing job training programs and generally educating the public (and helping people make awesome stuff).

We did have to replace the fan on it, but that wasn’t a big deal. Looks great, works great.
Same thing at ABT 1498.00. RX, plus parts and installation about 300.00, yes it isn’t new, so it’s not meant to be an exact comparison, just want to be fair here.