Truitt & White Lumber Company

great service — great product Marvin Windows and super help from
Glen Rodgers who bid the project and followed through with installation
awesome store,

Wow! I needed a referral for a contractor to do a window installation and I was expecting hemming and hawing and «we don’t really do that» and instead they said «Absolutely, what’s your email?» What an incredibly and unexpectedly delightful customer experience. I can’t tell you how happy I am. Thanks Truitt and White!

To date, Truitt & White has produced the best price point twice in a row for us. First they found us a window. Now they’ve found us a French Door.

Warranty Service is non-​existent. I have tried detailed emails and voicemail over the last week but no response. There is never a human answering the phone. I have a 3 year old Marvin Casement Window and the retractable screen mechanism snapped. I’m ready to call a lawyer! Marvin isn’t any easier to deal with. Their web site states to send them a snail mail complaint if their retailer does not respond within 5 days. Heck it’s been 2 weeks and no response from T&W. Just sent a letter to Marvin. We’ll have to wait at least another week to see if their warranty means anything

I’m not really sure how T&W survives. Yes, they have great inventory. But, the service sucks. I went in there today in the afternoon, there were hardly any customers, and even fewer sales personnel. I took a number and … Finally, I walked out. What good is having lots of inventory if you don’t have the sales people to provide service?

T&W came and inspected my lumber and gave me a refund. I worked with Mark and he agreed that there was something wrong with the Lumber they sold me and he wasn’t sure how I was sold it. I’d try them out again and inspect the lumber or pick it out myself. Point is, they took the time to right the wrong.

They do have quality products and some knowledgable sales people
As far as delivery notification they get a 0.
We have arranged for workers to install according to their promised arrival and both for sliding door and door handle they have been wrong.
Do not call back, do not have information.
Will look somewhere else next time…

When you need quality tools, or materials that won’t fall apart after a month /​year or two (think everything that Home Depot sells), head to Truitt and White. You have a project question? You’re just a DIY, non professional, perhaps even female sort? Totally a-​ok. While lumber yards can be a bit intimidating, these guys are worth stepping up and asking that ‘stupid’ question to. Cause unlike your mechanic, or most contractors, they will admit that everyone wondered the same thing, at some point — and they often have the exact answers, with helpful advice on how to tackle any building /​fixing that needs doing. And your bucks stay local. Done.

Best Lumber Yard in the world. No questions. Best people, best product. Outstanding on all fronts. Consider that Berkeley is a very demanding populace and the best builders in the area all shop here. some may by tools cheaper at other places but their tools are actually fairly priced and they have a terrific selection of bits, blades and everything you need. The real reason to shop here is that the staff are superlative. They will make sure you leave with the right stuff and that’s worth a LOT. They’re smart and won’t rush you. A++

I generally like this place, and I find some of the staff helpful. I had been looking at doorknobs for two weeks and had worked with Sam in the hardware department. Got the information I needed, left with a catalogue. SAM IS AWESOME!
A few weeks later I go to place the order but Sam’s not there so I work with Larry. DO NOT WORK with Larry. What should have been a basic order that arrived in 4 – 5 days ended up taking two weeks and I ended up with more doorknobs than I had wanted.
I was very specific saying I was ordering door knobs for my new door which I had ordered at Truitt. First, a week after I place my order Larry called to say that the knob company needed one more piece of info to finalize the order, mainly how does the door open and to what side. Well, I should have been asked this question when I placed my order.
Second, two weeks later I received my door knob. I thought I was getting two door knobs but I got four! I had said I had wanted one for the exterior and one for the interior being told I could mix and match, as long as they were from the same company. Instead, I have a set of each of the door knobs.
So now I have to return one set and Larry tells me there is a 25% restocking fee. Well he messed up not me. Apparently Larry is new and not very well trained. Run!

I called this company a few days ago to order replacement windows for an older Craftsman house, and had one heck of a weird experience with Roger in that dept.
My 1927 Craftsman still has lots of original charm, however the windows are cheap aluminum, and are not standardized sizes. Our contractor measured them carefully and I called Roger to order replacement Milgards.
Roger then began to enthusiastically re-​evaluate each window’s size. He made guesses based on his knowledge of Craftsman styles, and said he wanted me to make sure my contractor was ok with the changes. I wasn’t happy with this, but went back to my contractor, who said that while he wasn’t super happy either about replacing windows using this approach, he thought he could handle it.
I had told Roger I would call him back the next day to order, but when I did, he asked me what my contractor thought, and when I said he was ok with it, told me he was uncomfortable with that! Then he wouldn’t allow me to order unless my contractor came in. I tried to reason with him but he insisted I could ‘reverse the charges’ if I was later disappointed in the sizes, and he just wouldn’t risk it.
Give me a break. When you place an order for windows and they come in the size ordered, there is no basis whatsoever for reversing charges. I have no idea why he put me through the whole thing but it was nuts. The good news is that I went to Royal Windows and Doors in Pleasant Hill and saved $ 1000 on the exact same order!

This is the closest and most well stocked hardware store to me so its quickly becoming my go to place. In the past I came in for basics — cut a key, sand paper, painting supplies, etc.
More recently I’ve been interested in traditional working using hand tools. This requires a fair amount of stuff to get started. There are several options ranging from cheapo brands to super high end heirloom quality and even restoration. I lucked out and was able to score some decent quality kit not much more than you’d find it online. I even shopped around the local stores and this place had the best prices for what I wanted. I’d much rather support my neighborhood place than a big box or an online retailer.
Never had an issue getting help no matter what my visit was for. I usually have a good time here, but I guess everyone’s experience varies. Can’t speak for windows or lumber but the rest is perfect for my needs.

Jim just left my house after fixing my 9.99 year old Marvin Window. I don’t know if Truitt and White gives extraordinary service, or if Marvin is particularly good about honoring their warranty, but our casement window was broken and locked closed. I was counting on it being an expensive mess, but Jim came in and had the basic problem fixed in 15 minutes. He then spent an hour making sure the window worked perfectly. He switched out hardware, he replaced window seals, he showed me the various trouble spots for windows and how to keep them from becoming a problem. He cleaned up every dust particle, and the window looks and works perfectly. I asked him if he would send an invoice and he said, «It’s comped.»
«What?»
Frankly if these windows are less than 10 years old, it’s by days or at most, weeks. Jim never asked for documentation of when and where the windows were bought, he simply fixed the window and left. It was a display of customer service that I had all but assumed had vanished. These guys are amazing, and it makes choosing the next window I buy very easy.

I always look forward to shopping at T&W. Great selection, helpful service from the staff, including the yard guys. So good to have such a local gem still alive in the East bay

Went there to shop for door knobs and pulls and was helped by Drew. Great place great selection, great service.

This place is number one in the east bay! I been buying Lumber from these folks over 30 years now, they never let me down!
If you are looking for a Namby Pamby service go to Home Depot, But if you want A pro behind your order Talk to these guys.
Most of the time, They go out of their way to help you.
Your Truck can be pulled to any location where your lumber is, and they will load for you. They do deliveries, on time and they place it were you want it, not on the curb.
Once, I remember One of my windows order came out wrong, Mark Pearsal gave me a great deal, and went out of his way to fix it.
The management are real cool old timers, get their help on the bigger job, they will give you better price that Home Depot!

When you want a wide selection of low quality goods sold by people without a clue, shop Home Depot. Truitt & White is where the good stuff is. When I’ve been prepared and know what I want, I have received straightforward and informed service here. But it is pretty clear this is a place mostly for professional contractors, and they just sort of tolerate retail customers.
If you want lumber, you have to speak to a person at a counter, which I’ve always found a bit painful.

The product is good but the service depends on the mood of the staff and time of the day and the blowing of the wind…
This place has got Berkeley written all over it… which is… «we are just fine in our socialist Berkeley fantasy world and we are too cool to give a crap if you buy our stuff or not.»
If you know what you want then fine, we will ring you up and you will be on your way ASAP. But if you don’t know what you want or you want some advice or help… then you need to be very, very nice to us staff. Cos you the customer are just and obstacle between us and our pay checks and we can not really be bothered with your ass.
The guys in the back and the product itself are good (if a little pricey). But the front desk guys… well er. you pay your money and you take you chance… maybe they will take pity on you and actually help… maybe

This review-​rating is only for their Window & Door Dept.
I’m not a pro contractor, but in 10 years I’ve installed over 25 doors of various quality and types (swings, bifolds, pockets, sliders, interior, exterior, glazed, shojis, 8-​footers, overhead, etc.). Some I’ve made custom from fir stock since I have my own workshop, some are from Home Depot, some from Pella direct, etc.
I’ve also installed over 17 windows of various types. I’ve literally remodeled my entire house foundation to roof. Basically I’m the ultimate DIYer.
I know a thing or two about installing doors as well as fabricating doors.
So it saddens me to report that Truitt & White, despite their reputation as a complete supplier for builders, runs a lousy Window and Door department.
Prices are sky high, service is disrespectful and quality is low.
If you don’t care about price, they would gladly sell you a $ 5,000 door. Just one door! However, if you walk in asking for a low cost french door for example, they’ll quote you a snotty snippy $ 900 and try to get you to go away.
But I went ahead and bought just that $ 900 door. It came down to their reputation as a premier door supplier. They hang these doors (to hang is to mount with hinges onto jambs) in their own shop same premises. I gambled that they would be able to put together a good door.
Lo and behold, their workmanship sucks big time!
Jambs are not straight or parallel. Clearances vary from ¼″ to nil as a result, which is nearly unacceptable for doors. Screws are not centered (easy to do with a centering drill bit), lots of dirty finger prints all over the bare wood panels. It’s like they hired an unskilled laborer to hack it together. Lots of other little problems.
It was downright impossible to re-​shim to make fit. But most installers I’m sure do just that — cover up the mess and never report the poor source quality.
So it was either transporting it back & wait another 3 weeks for replacement (and more disrespectful service & haggling) or just trimming it down myself and re-​mortising the hinges. I did the latter and got it done.
It’s very disappointing.
The main store and their lumber might be okay with higher than average prices.

Most of the reviews here are right on. When I need good lumber, I usually come here for quality lumber. Also, if you need a drill bit that was not made in China, you are more likely to find one here although I am starting to think it’s not possible.
Sort of good service, depends on who you talk to and how busy it is. I just realized they have Benjamin Moore paint here too.