4 Bay Area junkyards to explore for your next DIY project
From bright green bathtubs to vintage phone booths, there are so many one-of-a-kind vintage pieces just waiting for you in the Bay Area's hidden junkyards.
At Wood Thumb, we've been digging through these hidden gems for two decades. We've turned old wood from water towers into floating shelves, and given a second life to mirrors pulled off of grimy shower doors.
Take a look at four of our favorites below, you might just find something unique to make your place a little more special.
Building Resources
Tucked away in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood, this mecca of old doors, bathtubs, sheet metal and lamps is one of the city's best-kept secrets. Take your time checking out all the nooks and crannies, including large tubs of colored stones and glass. There's a wide selection of old wood, metal and tile to dig through. They'll even do basic lumber cuts for free. Visit Building Resources
2. Urban Ore
You could spend all day wandering through this Berkeley standby's sprawling warehouse and adjacent outdoor space. By far the largest spot on the list, don't miss their great selection of gently used bikes and creepy dolls right by the entrance. This is an amazing resource for pre-loved furniture, with rows and rows of couches, chairs and tables in good shape. Visit Urban Ore
3. The ReUse People
This unassuming Oakland warehouse is full of lost treasures fit for a weekend of puttering. Check out the huge selection of kitchen cabinets and appliances — there are even inspirational photos of kitchen remodels dreamed up with previously used materials. There's also plenty of lumber, bathroom fixtures and mirrors to sift through. The ReUse People store is right next to Habitat for Humanity's ReStore, which has its own warehouse of gently used stuff. Make a day of it! Visit The ReUse People
4. Heritage Salvage
Heritage Salvage in Petaluma is the ultimate source for gorgeous reclaimed wood in the bay. But they also have what they call the "boneyard" — a mini junkyard to explore for magical DIY inspiration. Full of outdoor lamps and fence boards, it's worth a peek! Don't miss their showroom of reclaimed wood. It'll get your creative juices flowing no matter what level of woodworker you are. Visit Heritage Salvage
And don't forget, Wood Thumb is here to teach and refresh you on all your DIY skills! Whether you just need a quick power tool refresher, or want to dive into a more complicated woodworking project, check out our selection of workshops. Thanks for reading and hope to see y'all in the wood shop.
