701 Amador Street, San Francisco, CA
415-285-7814

Donations

Donate Materials

Donation Hours:
Donations of building materials are accepted 7 days a week, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm only.

All donations are tax-deductible. The BRSF management team has over 30 years experience receiving donated building and related materials worth over 250 million dollars, and can advise donors as to when appraisals are required. When appraisals are necessary, only materials appraised by IRS qualified appraisers will be accepted.

Consumers appreciate the advantages of purchasing used items. Vehicles are perhaps the most familiar example. Used building materials, like cars, are desirable because they can be obtained at lower prices. However, demand is also driven by limited quantity, quality and design. Think of old growth lumber, stained glass windows and vintage light fixtures.

The majority of materials are donated by homeowners who have had their homes deconstructed in order to make way for a new houses, or who want to refresh their present homes through simple or extensive remodels. However, BRSF also receives industrial or commercial materials, such as bricks, old growth timber, carpet tile, generators and compressors, wrought iron fences and soapstone lab tables.

Other sources include contractors who have accumulated materials that were erroneously ordered and can’t be returned, hardware stores and lumber yards clearing out unsold or slightly damaged inventory, and materials from motion picture sets.

Donated materials must be in immediately reusable condition. BRSF accepts only those materials that have been inspected by BRSF staff. We reserve the right to refuse any item or donation.

Make a Donation to Building Resources

Items We Accept

Drop-off Materials Wanted and Not Wanted

Materials must be immediately reusable and not missing parts. Materials accepted only if given a written receipt when dropped off.

All items must be approved by a staff member. 
We reserve the right to refuse anything.
If it is not on our list of materials we receive, we do not want it.

MaterialsWantedNot Wanted
Air ConditionersCompressors10 years or older
AppliancesGas and digital electricIf electric – older than 10 years
ArchitecturalAsk
ArtFramed only
Brick/PaversPalletized w/o mortar
CabinetsWith doors, drawers & shelves
CarpetingNew rolled or good used tiles
DoorsWith hardware & frameHollow core flush & shower doors
ElectricalNew in boxesNo used
Flooring (wood)Denailed t&g wood or laminate
FurnacesComplete20 years or older
FurnitureOnly AntiqueOffice or anything upholstered
Garage doorsOnly single car doors
Garden artSculptures and clay pottery
Glass (plate/bottle)NoneNot accepted
HardwareBy approval of staff only
LandscapingRocks
LightingMust be complete
Lumber6′ or longer & denailedSplit or insect infested
Moulding/trimOnly denailed wood
Planters & PotsCast, metal or clayNo dirt or plant material
Plumbing FixturesMust be completeOlder toilets or bath tubs w/o claw feet
Plywood1/2″ or greaterNo smaller than half sheets
RoofingOnly clay mission “C” tile
Tile (floor & wall)New boxes or antique
ToolsNoneNot accepted
Water heatersGas or electric10 years or older
WindowsOnly dual-paned or architectural