Frequently Asked Questions

We operate two Berkeley locations. Our Lumberyard and Hardware store at 642 Hearst Avenue carries structural lumber, framing materials, engineered wood products, decking, fasteners, construction hardware, and jobsite supplies. Our Windows and Doors showroom at 1831 Second Street is where you can see windows, exterior and interior doors, and custom-order options in person, with staff who understand California Title 24 compliance. Both locations serve contractors, builders, architects, and serious homeowners across the Bay Area.

We stock a range of decking options suited to Bay Area conditions and project requirements. Our composite decking selection includes TimberTech and Trex — two of the most respected names in the category. We also carry MOSO bamboo decking for customers interested in a high-performance, sustainable alternative, Thermory thermally modified wood for projects where natural wood performance matters, and redwood decking boards for traditional California applications. Each material has different performance characteristics in the Bay Area's marine layer and coastal moisture environment, and our staff can walk you through the practical trade-offs.

This is one of the most practical questions we get, and the honest answer is that it depends on the specific exposure. Composite decking like TimberTech and Trex resists moisture well and won't rot, warp, or splinter — which makes it a reliable choice for high-moisture environments. MOSO bamboo and Thermory thermally modified wood both have strong moisture-resistance profiles as well. Redwood is a time-tested regional choice but requires more ongoing maintenance in high-moisture settings. If you're building on a south-facing deck with heat concerns, composite heat retention is worth discussing — our team can get specific based on your project location and orientation.

Yes — our windows and doors team at the Second Street showroom is well-versed in California's 2025 Title 24 residential fenestration standards for Climate Zone 3, which covers Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. The current requirement for Climate Zone 3 is a U-Factor of 0.27 or lower, with no Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) requirement for this climate zone, and residential fenestration area limited to 20% of conditioned floor area. We can help you identify products that meet these requirements and discuss the compliance implications for your specific project during a showroom visit.

WUI compliance is a real concern for builders and contractors working in Oakland and Berkeley hillside zones, and our staff understands the material requirements that apply. WUI-rated materials — including specific siding, decking, and framing products — are part of what we can source and specify at the lumberyard. If you're working in a designated fire zone and need help confirming which materials meet the applicable chapter requirements, bring your project details and we'll work through the options with you. We don't make compliance determinations — that's your contractor and building department's role — but we know the products and can help you specify correctly from the start.

Yes — engineered wood products are a meaningful part of our lumberyard inventory. These include LVL (laminated veneer lumber), I-joists, and other engineered framing members that offer dimensional consistency, span capability, and structural performance advantages over conventional sawn lumber in many applications. Contractors working on Bay Area projects where long spans, floor systems, or header specifications matter will find our staff knowledgeable about specifying and sourcing these products.

Installation is not a service we provide — our focus is on supplying high-quality materials and giving you the expert guidance to specify and purchase correctly. For installation, you'll work with your contractor, builder, or a qualified trade professional. Many Bay Area contractors use us as their primary material source precisely because they trust our product knowledge and quality standards — so if you need a referral to a good installer, it's worth asking at the counter.

Truitt & White has been serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1946 — nearly 80 years of continuous operation as a family-owned business. That longevity isn't just a number: it reflects accumulated knowledge about Bay Area building conditions, code evolution, material performance over time, and what contractors actually need on a real jobsite versus what looks good in a catalog. When you ask our staff a question, you're getting the benefit of decades of local project experience, not a generic answer from a national training script.

Yes — custom window and door orders are part of what our Second Street showroom handles. If you have a project with non-standard openings, specific performance requirements, or a design that doesn't fit off-the-shelf products, our windows and doors staff can help you work through the options and lead times. The showroom gives you a chance to see products in person and discuss the project with someone who understands both the product and the local code requirements. Call the Windows and Doors showroom at 510-649-4400 to start that conversation.

Our primary market is Berkeley and the East Bay — including Oakland, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, and Alameda — but we regularly supply projects in San Francisco, Marin County, and the broader Bay Area. If you're managing a project outside our immediate area and want to confirm lead times or delivery logistics, call the lumberyard at 510-841-0511 and we'll work through the specifics with you.

Yes — we carry redwood, which has been a Bay Area building staple for generations and continues to be a strong choice for decking, fencing, and exterior applications. We can discuss the sourcing and grade specifics for any redwood products we carry when you visit the lumberyard at 642 Hearst Avenue. If sustainability certification is a project requirement, mention that upfront so we can direct you to the right options.

Absolutely — serious homeowners are a valued part of our customer base. Whether you're planning a deck replacement, a window upgrade, or a framing project on your Berkeley or Oakland home, our staff can help you understand what materials you need and how to buy them correctly for the application. We don't talk down to homeowners, and we won't oversell you on products you don't need. If you're undertaking something significant and want expert guidance before you buy, coming into the lumberyard or showroom in person is the right move.

We carry contractor-grade structural lumber across the grades commonly required for residential and light commercial framing — including dimensional lumber in the grades your plans or engineer will typically specify. If you're looking for appearance-grade lumber for exposed applications, that's a different conversation and we can talk through what's available and appropriate. Bring your plans or framing schedule if you have one, and our staff will help you match the right material to the right application.

MOSO is a densified bamboo decking product engineered for exterior use — it's extremely hard, dimensionally stable, and has a more natural wood look and feel than standard composite decking. Unlike composites made from wood fiber and plastic, MOSO is a rapidly renewable material that performs well in moisture-exposed settings when properly installed. It sits between high-end composite and natural wood in terms of maintenance needs and aesthetics. Our staff can walk you through the comparison based on your specific project conditions, particularly if you're weighing heat retention and surface feel alongside durability.

Thermory is a thermally modified wood product — natural wood that has been treated with heat and steam to alter its cellular structure, significantly improving moisture resistance, dimensional stability, and resistance to rot and decay without chemical preservatives. It's a strong option for exterior decking, cladding, and other applications where you want natural wood aesthetics with meaningfully better performance than untreated wood. It performs particularly well in the Bay Area's variable humidity conditions. Ask our lumberyard staff about current availability and the specific species options we carry.

Yes — the lumberyard and hardware store at 642 Hearst Avenue carries fasteners, construction hardware, and jobsite supplies alongside our lumber and building materials. Contractors managing active Bay Area job sites will find a range of contractor-grade hardware and supplies available without having to make a separate trip to a big-box store. If you have a specific item or specification in mind, call ahead at 510-841-0511 to confirm availability.

Yes — architects and design professionals use Truitt & White as a specification resource for Bay Area projects, particularly for windows and doors subject to Title 24 compliance and for decking and exterior materials in challenging coastal or WUI fire-zone environments. Our staff at both locations can discuss product performance data, available finishes and dimensions, and lead times for custom or special-order items. We're a practical resource for the specification process — not just for procurement.

The difference is product depth and staff knowledge. We carry materials that aren't available at the big boxes — specialty decking products, engineered wood, energy-efficient windows with Title 24-specific specs, and contractor-grade materials that a general home center doesn't stock. More importantly, our staff understands Bay Area building conditions, local code requirements, and project realities in a way that a rotating sales floor can't match. When you need a question answered correctly the first time — not after a costly material mistake — that local expertise matters.

For the Windows and Doors showroom, bring your rough opening dimensions, any architectural drawings or energy calculations, and a list of the performance requirements your project specifies — including U-Factor targets if you're in a Title 24 compliance situation. For the lumberyard, a framing plan, cut list, or material takeoff helps us get you quoted accurately and quickly. If you're early in the planning process and don't have those documents yet, come in anyway — our staff can help you figure out what questions you need to answer before you can buy.

The Lumberyard and Hardware store at 642 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley can be reached at 510-841-0511. The Windows and Doors showroom at 1831 Second Street, Berkeley can be reached at 510-649-4400. You can also visit truittandwhite.com for more information. Both locations are staffed by people who know the products and know Bay Area building — walk-ins are welcome at both.