FAQ
Frequently asked questions
So what do you get when you cross a big box home improvement store, a thrift store, and an antique shop?
We have a wide variety of materials
The majority of our store is stocked through our deconstruction salvage work and reclaimed, secondhand materials that are donated by individuals, industry professionals or businesses.
We also have various revenue sharing partnerships, including Appliance Warehouse, Pitt Surplus, and Off The Floor Pittsburgh, that allow us to offer a wider variety of used, surplus, and refurbished items here in our store. We also carry recycled-content Amazon Select latex paints and helpful items like gloves, painting materials, and other household tools.
Construction Junction is a donation-based material reuse retail center
Construction Junction is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so it’s controlled by a board of directors, and has no owner.
As a nonprofit, the money from purchases goes to cover the costs involved in running this place – rent, utility bills, wages, worker’s comp insurance, parking lot maintenance, equipment maintenance, providing recycling facilities to the community – all that good stuff.
Sales raise almost as much as it costs us to stay open, but there’s always a gap between the total of the bills and the revenue. The Steel City Big Pour®, our annual fundraiser, raises enough to cover that gap. We also raise money from grants from time to time to help us make improvements or to fund special projects. Reuse on any kind of scale is expensive to do.
We have 33 employees; sometimes a few temporary workers often recruited from employment programs for those with barriers to employment; and a Goodwill job training program that works processing tile, flooring, and doors.
No, most items are donated to us as an environmental nonprofit. We do purchase some new retail inventory like Amazon Recycled Paint and organic gardening products for sale in the store, but we do not purchase materials from individuals.
There is only one Construction Junction! But there are many building material use stores throughout the USA. You can see a list at the Build Reuse organization website.
Shopping
When you visit
Sold Storage Policy
We can store all of your items from a single purchase for up to 7 days for a $5 fee. Storage fees are non-refundable. Items not picked up from storage within 7 days are returned to the sales floor. A store credit is issued to the customer less a 10% storage and handling fee.
Sorry, no pets allowed. Not even in carriers!
(Also, please do not leave dogs or other pets in a vehicle in our parking lot, ever. We love animals and we will raise concerns if we observe them left in an unattended vehicle.)
If you are accompanied by a service animal, please be aware that we do our best to make the shopping experience safe and accessible to all, be aware that our warehouse environment has potential hazards for unattended animals.
Nope. This is just a retail store, come shop with us any time we’re open! We do have loyalty program for frequent shoppers to earn special rewards.
Yes, we take Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. We also take cash.
(Sorry, no checks.)
Sorry, we do not offer delivery.
Can you hold an item for me?
We do not offer any holds or reserves. Only purchased items can be stored here at CJ via the above sold storage policy.
Can you let me know when you get something in stock?
Sorry, no. Due to the unpredictable nature of donated materials, it is just not feasible or us to maintain any kind request list.
No, we don’t offer installation service or provide recommendations. We think references from friends and things like Angie’s List are good resources for this kind of info.
All items are sold as-is. You may return an item for store credit only within 30 days of purchase, as long as the item is in the same condition as when you bought it. A copy of your receipt is required.
7 days a week, 8 hours a day!
We spend every hour we’re open receiving and processing donated materials. Make sure to check out some of the newest arrivals added each day to our shop page. This is only a small portion of the wide variety of items available for sale in the store, so there is a lot more to find if you come and visit.
If you see something you really like, buy it right away because we may never have another exactly like it again!
Yes, we do. Available in any amount, minimum of $5. CJ gift cards are non-refundable, non-expiring.
We can also mail them to US addresses.
We have some ratchet straps and bungee cords for sale at the register. We also have free twine available for smaller loads.
Construction Junction staff can assist you with load outs. However, for insurance reasons, we will not assist in loading or securing anything to the exterior of a vehicle or trailer.
Become a loyalty member and save!
Take a few moments the next time you’re in the store to set up an account.
You will accrue increased loyalty discount levels over the course of each calendar year.
When you’ve spent:
- $250 you will get 3% off every CJ purchase until you reach
- $1000, when you will get 5% off every CJ purchase until you reach
- $5000, when you will get 10% off every CJ purchase until you reach
- $10,000, when you will get 15% off every CJ purchase
*rewards reset each December 31st
A birthday bonus
As an extra thanks to our most loyal shoppers, we’ll give you 15% off when you shop with us on your birthday!
If you happen to have a birthday that coincides with a CJ closure, we will honor your birthday discount on the day immediately before or after.
This is only applicable for a day that the store is closed. Can’t be combined with any other discount. Some exceptions do apply.
Construction Junction offers a 10% military discount for all active duty military, retirees, veterans, military spouses and family members. A valid military ID is required.
Donating
Visit our How To Donate page for more info on what and how to donate materials to Construction Junction.
No, we do not accept any e-waste materials or paint, primer, polyurethane, etc.
Information about collection events for electronics, household chemicals and other hard to recycle items can be found on the Pennsylvania Resources Council website. Please visit our What We Accept page for more information regarding bringing materials to Construction Junction.
Yes, we have a free pickup service for eligible donations of items that can be sold in the store. Eligibility depends on a combination of the quality, quantity and type of material included in a donation, when the items are available for pickup, and the distance from CJ.
We don’t pick up air conditioners, lightbulbs or other material to be recycled.
No appointment necessary. Regular store hours do apply. Items must be brought to the designated drop off area only during those hours. Leaving materials anywhere on the premise outside of designated areas and times is considered dumping.
We ask that you plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to close in order to give staff time to assist with handling your donation and moving accepted items into the warehouse.
Yes, we will give you a tax receipt that can be used to write off the value of the usable material you donate when you itemize your return.
Sorry, no. We do not give material credit or reimbursement for donations, just a receipt for tax purposes.