Remodeling–for way less with Building 9
By Beth Newcomb
“We’re Ohio’s largest discount building materials warehouse,” Shane Haumesser, vice president of Building 9, proclaims.
“Our niche is the purchase of liquidations, buybacks and closeout building products for pennies on the dollar. We feature things like windows, doors, cabinets, vanities, lighting, faucets, shower enclosures, tile, carpet squares, countertops, sinks, wood flooring, vinyl flooring, composite decking and much, much more—for way less than you’ll find anyplace else.”
Shane admits that he and partner Brennan Dunn, who is president of the operation, just might be sitting on the DIYer’s best-kept secret.
“Our biggest challenge is helping people understand that we aren’t a contractor’s-only supply house,” Shane says. “Our primary customer is the do-it-yourselfer who wants quality materials but doesn’t want to spend a lot.”
Certainly contractors flock to Building 9 for the unprecedented savings, that often amounts to hundreds and even thousands of dollars, but people on a budget have a home here, too.
“Our merchandise is all quality. There are no ‘B’ grades. We have connections to some crazy deals, and you get to pay a fraction of what you’d pay at a home improvement store,” he remarks.
“Our cabinetry comes from Aristokraft and Schrock, and it’s all top-of-the-line. These aren’t scratch-and-dent pieces. When we have the opportunity to buy by the semi-truckload, that’s what we do. But we also sell a huge volume of cabinets and enjoy a generous manufacturer’s discount that’s passed on to our customers.”
Shane describes one cabinet buy that resulted in him and Brennan having to rent additional warehouse space.
“One time we grabbed 110 semi-truckloads of cabinets for a song, and some of these are still available,” he revealed.
Homeowners designing a new kitchen space on a budget are thrilled with the selection.
“We install three to four kitchens a day and have all of the latest styles and finishes,” Shane remarks. “There is no such thing as having to sacrifice on color, door style or quality.”
Building 9 has several cabinet configurations, complete with flooring and countertops, available for consideration in the kitchen department. You can even have one of the team members create your design plan at no charge.
Simply bring in your measurements and they’ll do the rest. Once your design is complete, you can choose from high-quality granite priced to include cutting, fabrication and installation. You’ll also find a selection of closeout laminate countertops in the warehouse for under $100.
Some items, like flooring, cabinets, granite and quartz, are available all of the time. Others are one-time buys that are gone once they’re gone.
For example, during my visit there is a selection of closeout laundry tubs available. Those are in limited supply. The selection of tile flooring is also limited, but there is a generous supply of carpet squares for basements and rec areas as well as luxury vinyl tile in all shapes and colors.
“Our selection really just depends on the day,” Shane reveals. “If you see something you want, you have to grab it because it may not be here tomorrow.”
Because it’s set up like a contractor’s paradise, a visit to Building 9 might seem intimidating. It shouldn’t, Shane assures.
“We’re here to help you every step of the way,” he says.
“If you want to browse our selection, you’re free to go into the warehouse or the main showroom and take all of the time you need. If you want tips on installation, we’re happy to provide them. If you need a referral to a qualified, vetted installer, we’ll give you that, too. Our staff is comprised of seasoned remodelers and our goal is to have everyone who shops here feel comfortable. We welcome your questions.”
Don’t be discouraged if what you see on the floor doesn’t look like enough for your project. Chances are good it’s just a sample of what’s available. Shane motions to the pile of cultured stone in the front of the showroom as an example, then shows me the several pallets full of it after we walk through the brown and glass doors into the enormous warehouse space.
It’s there that I also spot a huge assortment of pre-hung solid wood doors, as well as several stunning front entry door sets, a huge assortment of exceptional vinyl replacement windows, lighting and more carpet squares, which prompted me to ask Shane how I was going to get all of the home improvement eye candy I was coveting home.
“We don’t offer delivery, but we do rent U-Hauls,” he smiles. “We’re an authorized dealer.”
Building 9 is located at 546 Medina Road (Route 18), in Medina, one mile past the Summit County line. Look for the bright yellow sign at the road. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Sunday. The phone number is 330-253-1013 and the web address is Building9.biz.