Central Builders Supply

«Builder’s supply?» Nope. «Plumbing supplies?» YES! YES! YES!!!
Central Builders Supply is an excellent «one stop plumbing shop.» When they started, back in 1989, they did carry construction supplies, but over the years, it evolved into a plumbing supply store «plus.» Do not miss out on this resource and let the name mislead you. If you want quality materials at prices competitive with, and more often better than, the big box stores, go here.
It’s a family operation, where I have always received great customer service. When you get there, you will see that this is a store that is always busy supplying professional plumbers; however, it is open to anyone, and the DIY customer will receive great service, as well. They are not going to tell you how to fix it (if they are busy), but they will help you find the right parts. Just today, I watched a «non-​pro» customer at the counter show one of the staff a photo on his phone and ask for the correct plumbing part. It was busy, and he was treated with respect and patience. The staff are all Asian, but don’t be ignorant and assume nobody speaks English. It’s SF; they’re American; they have their sh*t together.
They carry the parts that you won’t find at the big box stores. SF buildings have unique plumbing systems, mainly because of the SF plumbing code, and old systems. Sometimes you simply can’t fix the problem without, for instance, a certain cast iron part. This is where you can find what you need. They have all the modern components, as well. Plus, they can order special parts. More often than not, they also know where to send you, if they don’t carry what you need.
Central carries pipe (copper, cast iron, plastic …), fittings, and fixtures. They have the sheet metal parts for venting heaters; they have faucets (Grohe, Delta, American Standard, …), shower components, the repair parts; they have natural gas system components; fire sprinkler system components; they have too much to list. They have all of the parts to secure pipes and drains; bracket, brackets, brackets … And tools; regular and specialty.
Central is located mid-​block, West side, on Filmore between Geary and Post. The front window has a display of all sorts of faucets. There is usually plenty of metered parking on Geary and on Avery/​Boswell (the street behind). You can enter through the front or the back.
I recommend this store for anyone who is seriously working on their plumbing. :) Check it out!

The customer service was awesome! Been trying to locate very specific items and they made it happen. The plumber I hired was completely wrong about tjings and these guys helped save me a ton of money! So happy I found them.

Chose this place solely on reviews indicating these guys were a great help; my experience-​far from it. Walked in at 4:30 with a simple pipe-​and-​fitting proj to make 3 curtain rods. They closed at 5:30. Three employees behind the counter helping no one, and not one offered assistance.
Never working with pipe before, I approached the counter to be sure I was going about it the right way and was reluctantly greeted w/​a bothered sigh.
I was quick and to the point all the while remaining friendly despite the guy’s mood.
I provided an image of the finished product and call outs indicating the exact parts needed, plus, being a designer, I was able to sketch a quick layout so I could get the employee’s expertise.
He was and pointed down the aisle I had been looking on for 15 mins already, telling me «the parts are down there.»
I had been in his direct line of sight the entire time. He rudely told me to hurry b/​c they closed soon– even though there was 45 mins before closing.
The experience went on like this. In the end, it seems that unless you are male and/​or a professional plumber or similar, you will not be treated well. It makes me sad to be pressed to go to a big box store instead of my local shops. At least at the big box, they expect manners from the employees.

I needed to wrap some heating pipes with fiberglass tube insulation. After calling Home Depot and Lowe’s I had abandoned hope that anyone in town would have the insulation I needed in stock. I was incredibly delighted, and surprised when the friendly folks at CBS said they had them. I popped over and a sales person spent a huge amount of time making sure that I got the right size insulation for my variety of pipes. Who knew that you measure a pipe from the inside, not the outside — they did of course. On top of all the great customer service, they delivered my insulation to my door for free.
So then why the lower rating? When my fairly expensive insulation showed up at my door in two boxes, one of the boxes was slimed up on the inside with bird sh$&! WTF? Obviously the box they used had been sitting outside, and was coated inside with a healthy dose of poop and feathers. It was dry but some had rubbed off onto my nice white insulation. Not only was I disgusted, but I couldn’t believe the disregard for me, or my large purchase being placed in such a container.
5 * stars for the friendly, helpful customer service, delivery and product selection
1 * star for the bird sh&^ attitude

For all of the plumbing work. There is just no other alternative. They are not trying to sell you anything, they just solving your problems. This is the most important. Nobody else does it that well. Not even close.

This rating is really the average of two recent visits.
I need to somehow combine two type of drain set-​ups to make my bathroom sink work. On Monday, I went in and explained my situation. First, there was a lot of confusion, then I was told nothing can be done, better just buy a different sink/​drain set-​up. I showed them some instructions from a UK DIY site but was told no plumbing store has any of those pipe fixtures illustrated.
Very frustrated I went back to do more online research and formed some more ideas. I went in there this morning because the vessel sink drain they did show me on Monday was quite nice and price is very competitive with online sources and I can get it right there and test out sizes and such. This time, since I have already more or less figured out what I need, they were able to find the «coupling» that I could use to connect the top of one of drain set-​up to the bottom of the other drain set-​up. I walked out of the store feeling like an accomplished engineer!
So I guess my take is that they are extremely helpful if what you want is relatively conventional. They do have lots and lots of gadgets, pipes, and things and much closer than the big box stores.
And by the way, I did go to Home depot (daly city) for the other piece of this bathroom puzzle and the gentleman manning the plumbing islet went all out to help me figure out a way to connect certain two pipes.

I was going crazy trying to locate the right valve piece to fix a leaky faucet in the bathroom. After taking it apart, I brought it to Central Builders Supply, which was just a few blocks away from me smack in the middle of the city, and they had the exact same piece for a very reasonable price! The place is very well organized and is pretty much the mecca if you’re looking for plumbing type of hardware (i.e. you need something more specialized than what you might find at your local hardware store).
Great prices, great selection, well organized!

Hmm, no brand on the sink. What the hell kind of valve is this? Not a Delta, Price PFister, what the hell?
Take it to Central! Every time I go in there it’s like I’m issuing them a challenge of random obscurity with no helpful information to speak of. I think they couldn’t meet the challenge once… in 5 years.

After an earlier plumbing problem required me to go to five stores seeking a replacement part, I have learned that Central Builders Supply has what I need.
My first visit, a staff person was quite helpful in finding the part. Now that I know what I need, I was able to find it myself. If you live in an older house or apartment, then this is where you can find those plumbing supplies.
Parking is on the street, but there were plenty of spaces. It’s all metered.

I am by no means a plumber, however, my plumber (who is fan-​fricken-​tastic) recommended this place to buy my Toto toilets. The guys that work here are so nice, very helpful and they have incredible prices! You can’t beat them anywhere! That was hands down the best recommendation I have ever been given!

This place is great. I just went in the first time today.
I called and got excellent response and service and they had the item in stock. Then I got there and see that they have everything you need and lots of it. Nice and close and great people.

It will be 4 years in January 2011 that I have been buying supplies from Central on account as resident manager for Fillmore Plaza Apartments across the street. I knew nothing about plumbing 4 years ago and little by little I’ve learned from these guys. I replaced my first toilet last year with the owner pointing out the distance from baseboard (I measured wall above toilet –wrong!) to middle of flange, and so on and so forth. They have a little attitude and can show impatience if you are asking for a walk down the isle (again) to find a $ 10 dollar item, and yet this is exactly what I needed to speed up the learning curve. I had a hot tempered Irsh friend go in with me last year and I said listen these guys cater to contractors and can appear impatient if they are busy with larger accounts, so please watch yourself. My friend ended up yelling at the owner who in return was polite and calm and cool along with everyone else behind the counter. I went back the next day and apologized and never brought my friend in again. Free consulting is what makes things go smoother for contractors, but these guys will come through for the small, inexperienced customer every time if you if you just show a little respect and patience when they are busy. I know how Unilocal works and the only reason why I’m writing this is to thank Elson and his team from my wife and I for helping us through the learning curve. Good, honest, people that deserve a lot of respect for the help and time they give back to the community via customers like my wife and I. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

I bought a Kohler wall mount sink some time ago (from a different company), and the required Concealed Arm Carrier was supposed to be a separate purchase. Only thing is they don’t tell you where to find it. I’ve contacted several plumbing supply stores for advice on what I really need for a successful installation, and whether or not this extra $ 150 – 200 part is actually necessary. It’s driven me nuts to say the least, and today I finally found some help. Dan at Central Builders Supply informed me that I could stick with the hanger, which was included. And because I’m not installing the sink in a commercial building there’s no reason for the weight support that a Concealed Arm Carrier offers. I really appreciated his knowledge and honesty, and I’ll make my first trip over to Central Builders Supply when I’m in their area.

Good selection for most of your plumbing needs. Just make sure you know what it is you need and don’t expect any help finding out what you might need. Be prepared for allot of eye rolling and shrugging if you ask for any advice. This place is NOT too DIY friendly.

Real deal… reliable & honest… can’t beat that! This is a no b.s. place… they just get things done. Elson is completely knowledgeable, and can provide the best ideas/solutions…he’s about keeping the customers happy & coming back! They even have a hardware store around the corner for paints & other supplies… super helpful… no need to truck outside of the city limits to get home necessities. especially if you are not a contractor, plumber & don’t understand what you need… he will help you. A great 1 stop shop for a new home (like me)…and need help figuring it all out… and checked their prices… AWESOME…especially in this crazy economy its great to know there are honest businesses out there who still care about «people.» Great tubs, shower stuff, toilets, fixtures… and paint!!! 1 stop shop rocks.

Terrific prices, great selection, and excellent follow-​through. Not a glitzy showroom, so know what you need before you go. They’ll whip out a binder with the manufacturer’s brochures, quote you a price, and give you an accurate timeframe for arrival if they don’t have it in stock.

These guys ROCK!
I was refered to these guys after another wholesaler on the peninsula dropped the ball so many times it went flat. Ellsion the guy who owns it, or manages it, or who just picks up the phone, and gets shit done, was awesome, and he was able to get my stuff handled. He told me a date, and like my plumber told me, the date came, I got a call, and my tub that I had waited a month for from the other idiots, was in just as promised. I am a developer in the city, and these guys will be my new go to supply guys. Thanks for the bailout! Ryan