Helpful staff and good prices,pretty much everything you might need. A great alternative to bigger stores with less personal service

Just left wondering if I needed a package (male body parts) in order to be treated respectfully here. I appreciated the walk I took around the lumberyard looking for siding with a new employee who was very friendly and lovely. However, the front desk staff was beyond unhelpful and clearly disinterested in answering my questions. I got the feeling being female around there was uncommon and unwelcome. Ladies and those who identify as female, I'd recommend shopping around. read more

These guys have been awesome for me start to finish! Pull right into where I need to get lumber, they help load it up, I can pay and be in and out in less than 10 minutes. I won't go anywhere else! read more

I needed two lattice boards 4ftx8ft. I dont have a truck and didnt feel like driving it a long distance to the bug box stores. I measured my X5 and i know it would just fit. I found Novato Builders Supply and they were a few miles from my house. Their prices are good for being a local business. I would definitely go back. For all the people that complain about customer service issues, I did not experienced that over the phone or in person. They are very straight to the point. If you have a million questions about how to do a project, this is probably not the place for you. If you know what you want, and need it right away, this is the place for you. read more

Novato Builders Supply - The 4x8 panel barely fit. Luckily I live a few miles away. - Hardware Stores Near Me - Novato, California

A Local company with excellent service. I have used NB several times and always there when your in a pinch! They have got me through a new fence and AUD build at home. read more

I wish I can put 0 star, rude people at the desk, useless manager, over priced materials! Went on Saturday to get a quote on wood $675 went back today to buy it, different guy, different price $825. Novato builders supply is such a ripoff I was trying to support local businesses, I will never go again read more

I needed a small piece of wood, 3 in x 3 in x 3 in, cut in half diagonally for a project. When I went into Novato Builders Supply. They made it for me lickedy split and didn't charge me a cent. They are the best. read more

It's a great source for all your lumber needs -- even if the employees give off the strong sense that they'd prefer if you don't come in and bother them. Still, I'd go here 100 times before patronizing some crappy big-box Home Depot. read more

First, there are two older guys who work there who are always a$$-holes. I am a very friendly guy, always treating others as I want to be treated. It's not just a once in a while thing with these guys, they are always a$$-holes. Second, this place clearly buys lumber that is rejected by other lumber yards. I have gone there for 14 years now, and the lumber has actually gotten even worse lately (July 2018). I will never buy lumber here again. It takes WAY too much effort to find non-warped, cracked/split, undamaged straight wood here. I gave up trying to find good redwood and PT 2x4 at NBS. I have never seen such horrible lumber.... and they charge $2.00 per board more than other places (like Home Depot who has excellent lumber quality EVERY time that I go there.... and for much cheaper). read more

What a real gem of a store. Our 18 year old son will often come with me because he also likes the staff and can talk motorcycles with Bruce while I get advice and supplies from Luke or Tim or Creadon. Not often a teenager looks forward to speaking with an adult twice to three times his age. Surprising array of timber and hardware at excellent value prices. If they don't have it they happily suggest other places like Pini Ace Hardware. Yes 5 stars all round. read more

I've lived in Novato for almost 40 years and can say Novato Builders has consistently provided quality customer service every time I walk in the door. Luke was always the person I worked with the most, he was always attentive and helpful with any project I was doing. He knew my kids, my wife, my dog. Yesterday I went in for a very small project. I needed two pieces of wood shelving. I was helped by Jessie. He was awesome. He walked me around the property and found me the perfect material for my project. He cut it to size, and helped me locate a package of L brackets. When I choose an $8 package he pointed out I only needed the one that was $4. I'm not a major contractor purchasing materials weekly. I'm a home "do it yourselfer" but always get treated with respect. When you're there you feel that you're as important as a major contractor burying thousands of dollars in materials. So thank you Jessie for your help yesterday. I hope you know how important your help was and recognize it's nice to see you carry on the legacy of great customer service at Novato Building Supply. So to all who have taken the time to read this long review, if you're looking for two small cuts of wood or 500, my point is you're going to get the same service. read more

Had a great experience at Novato builders. Im building a few trellises for the first time and needed a good amount of advice and guidance on what supplies and tools I needed. Luke was really nice and helpful. he talked me through all of my options quickly and honestly. He made sure to find me the best deal on everything. Would absolutely recommend. read more

I live in Novato and have typically driven down to Home Depot in San Rafael for lumber needs on small projects around the house. Today I discovered Novato builders supply and am so happy I did. My typical experience at the San Rafael Home Depot involves some of the worst customer service you could expect, very long wait times for lumber cuts and 2/3 times the cut is not accurately measured. I tried Novato builders supply today, and received very friendly and helpful service within 3 minutes, reasonable prices, and lumber cut accurately, wrapped and delivered to my car within 5 minutes. They even gave lollipops to my kids. I've only been there once but it was a 5 star experience and will definitely go back there next time. read more

I came in here to buy one piece of wood, and I waited no longer than 30 seconds to be waited on and maybe 6 minutes to leave the store with exactly what I needed. I will definitely be back the next time I work on a home project. read more

Needed some lumber for a project that I am doing in the attic. Just moved into a new place and hadn't done something like this before. Walked into Novato Builders Supply (after being a loyal customer at Pini) and was shocked at the inventory and the amount of lumber they had on site. I walked around for a minute just to get my bearings and then wandered out into the yard. I wasn't quite sure what I was looking for so I then sauntered back over by the registers. Almost immediately I was asked if I wanted help by a salesman. I quickly described what I was doing, what I was looking for and asked for help since I didn't really know what supplies that I needed. He proceeded to take me on a walk-about and showed me the inventory that he had. He talked to me about the options and didn't try to oversell me. I bought the supplies that I needed, for a good price and it was delivered to my home within an hour of buying the wood! Not only would I go back there but this is going to be my main place to shop for my new house (and it is the closest too)!!!! Thanks guys! read more

Each time I go into Novato Builders Supply, I always have a good experience. A couple of weekends ago I had to go in for wood for a retaining wall. My husband said "Don't let them give you the cracked wood because you are a woman". First of all, I had my dog with me and didn't want to leave him in the truck so I asked if he could come in and they were really great about it. Tim, who helped me, actually came out into the yard to help select the lumber for me. I told him what my husband said and he laughed and said that wouldn't happen. He went through the pile and picked out some great wood so I wouldn't have to hear about it when I got home. BTW: my husband was hard at work with the rest of the people working on our project so it was better that I went. Throughout the process, Tim was polite and professional and super helpful. Total thumbs up to Novato Builders Supply! read more

Good place for supplies for selection and pricing. Even the big stores aren't saving you much if any after factoring in gas for sure. They are helpful, but you have to ask. I like that, I don't need to be asked three times if I need help. They tend to be more knowledgable here too. And if they don't know they ask someone who does, instead of making up something like the other place in town for hardware. It's no frills but great place. read more

Good store but I wish the employees would wear masks and that management would require customers to wear masks in the store.

Unbelievable , these guys have everything , plumbing and electrical , and when I needed pipe threaded they sent me over to another dealer and saved me a drive ! Above and beyond !!!!! read more

It's awesome having a resource like this in Novato. They have just about everything you could need. It's a great place that I really like to support. They could use customer service and to be more competitive on pricing for some things but definitely they're still a foundation to most trades in Novato. read more

Having a local full service lumber yard and building supply in the Novato area is critical to me as a local home owner. Novato Builder has come through for me time and again. In addition the friendly, good natured folks behind the counter seem to enjoy being there and that helps make my experience a positive one. They are typically willing to help me sort out a technical challenge on a building project and provide useful suggestions. They are not a full service hardware store but we have Pini/Ace hardware for that purpose on South Novato Blvd. Between these two I rarely have to go elsewhere to solve my home projects. read more

Good selection. Decent prices. Since they are the only lumber yard in Novato I go there frequently. I agree with other comments above that the guys behind the counter treat obvious non-contractors (like me) with disdain. Once you get one of them out from behind the counter out in the yard to help you they soften up a bit. When they are back behind the counter they all sort of sulk and smirk back there. I look forward to Friedman's coming to town to give them some competition. read more

As a homeowner (not contractor) I always get nervous going to a place like this. However, I have gone about 10 times to this lumberyard now and every time I get someone helpful and who takes the time to give good advice and suggestions. For example, two weeks ago my husband and I went there planning to make shelving in our garage. We had an idea of how we would build it and we scouted out the lumber we thought we would use. When they guy behind the counter started quoting us prices, he asked what we were building. Hearing our plan, he nicely and gently suggested a much better and cheaper way to build the shelving and drew up a sketch of how we would construct it. He cut the boards himself so that it would fit in our car and be the length we needed. His helpfulness was only topped by the fact that when we went in this week to get pegboard for the garage he came over to ask us how our shelving had turned out! I would highly recommend this store to everyone. read more

This is a lumberyard with a little hardware injection. And they have pretty much everything you might need for projects big and small... There is usually plenty of help and they are plenty generous with it as long as you can break up the always on-going conversation behind the counter. It is a complete godsend not to have to run to Home Despot (Yes, I spelled that correctly!) everytime you need something. Of course, you pay for the convenience, but I have and will again. They have Sunday hours!! read more

Same as other reviewer's comments though I might add that while the guys in the lumberyard are always very helpful and nice, most behind the front counter give you the feeling that they've got other things they'd rather be doing than fielding a dumb question from a non-contractor. They're quality of products is much better than Pini Hardware but their service isn't even close. read more

These guys are great. Prices are a bit higher than Home Depot but younger a better quality of service and material

My husband came home and told me how great these guys are. He said they were nice, friendly, and helpful...and we are not used to that at our local lumberyard in San Rafael!! Turns out they have Sunday hours, so I went with my husband to pick up some wood he had cut the day before...the people were super friendly, and it did seem like they were happy to be there...we give them four big thumbs up ('cause there's two of us)... I am a Marin County native...and this place reminded me of old Marin - when people were friendly and appreciated your business. read more

I ordered almost $1,000 worth of lumber and supplies. Four of the fence posts I ordered were split on both ends and unusable. When I called to request that they be replaced I received a very aggressive reply from the manager. It makes sense that the delivery guy was very surly. Needless to say I will not be using them again. read more

My husband was doing a mini playground project for the kids a while back, I went there with my husband. The guys and ladies seem really hard working and like to crack jokes. They may seem a little iffy to go up to but they're funny and nice when you start chatting. I think the reviews of them having "bad wood" may be due to lack of knowledge of how to maintain it possibly. I've been going here for years now and my husband and i have done our research of wood care to maintain the playground and it's been great for years, just have to know what you're dealing with. Definitely goin to keep supporting local! read more

I want so badly to like this place and support a local business. I have been coming here for years for small and bigger projects and every time I think "maybe this time they won't be totally rude and condescending." And each and every time, I am wrong. There are a few guys who work there who are incredibly nice but the VAST majority of the guys behind the counter have terrible social skills and act as though my questions, purchases, and even mere presence is a HUGE waste of their time and really bothers them. Poor customer service would not begin to describe it. I am a woman, but I am still a credible, competent customer and I would like to be treated as such. It really sucks and I wish management could do an intervention. All the contractors I know don't go there for the same reason, and THEY are contractors! read more

i live in Novato but i'm not a contractor. I really want to support this place, but I have to agree with everyone else...they are rude, expensive and the quality of their wood isn't good. Boards are warped and I bought a bunch of redwood for a new deck and less than a year later, it's all dried out and crumbling! I phoned and photographed the wood, which came pre-stained and treated so it was extra expensive, and they basically said it was my fault. Not sure how that is possible. If you live in Novato, you are better off making the drive to home depot. And I'm super sad about that!!!! read more

Made such a big deal when I asked to choose just (2) 4x6 post from their rack. Need to charge you extra...it's wood, they have knots and imperfections...we have higher grade if you don't want imperfections(no they didn't according to counter person)...don't worry about the huge warp, you won't notice it once you cut it. I can see if a commercial builder came in and wanted to take up the yard helps day picking and choosing, but I'm just a homeowner with a fence project. $130 for two sticks of wood, and I can't choose the product I'm paying for? read more

Love the place. Luc helped me, he's a great man. Really knows what he is doing. Appeciated him

Like the prickly service. Good selection of custom crown molding and an honest to goodness lumber yard. You pay a bit more but it's important to have alternatives to Home Desperate. I would hate to have to go to Santa Rosa or Berkeley for crown molding. read more

I like the products and lumber selection, but the rude employees are bad enough for me to drive many miles away to find a different store. I used to shop there frequently and put up with the poor customer service, but on my last trip to buy a lot of lumber, the manager (?) actually yelled at me. I had done nothing out if the ordinary and was amazed at the response from the employee. I will be searching elsewhere in the Bay Area for lumber, and will happily drive further away to avoid such bad service. read more

the people at novato Builders Supply are very helpful and very easy to deal with. They are knowledgeable and fair. they have a wide variety of product and don't take advantage of the fact that they are the only lumberyard within 20 miles of novato in any direction. I appreciate their commitment to the community read more

I see there were 5 reviews on here that didn't get posted for some reason. I guess maybe NBS pays Yelp enough to have the negative reviews put on a different page. We'll see if mine gets posted. But I couldn't agree more with the the other posters. The staff in here is very rude and condescending. If you are not a contractor or a regular customer making a big purchase, they don't seem to care too much. I even used to work in construction so I knew exactly what I wanted, but they treated me like a waste of time. I didn't get any names, but there was a guy behind the counter sitting at the desk who wasn't even helping me and he butted right in when I was asking the lesser experienced employee some questions. His tone and attitude were so bad I almost walked out. The only reason I didn't was they had something very specific that I needed. But if you want better service, I'd go somewhere else. read more