If you have a rainy day, and you are visiting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania one fascinating spot is called Construction Junction. This interesting spot is located on the outskirts of Wilkinsburg. This is a unique non-profit, warehouse-sized store that offers discounted building materials and architectural salvage.
Once inside, visitors quickly discover just how expansive the space really is. Even if you have or don’t have a creative vision, if you are working on a budget, this is the place to go. The inventory is donation-based, so you likely won’t find many cabinets or appliances (but they do have a large lineup of secondhand toilets!) Items that customers can resell for a lot of money are things you likely won’t find much of at the store, but you will find an extensive, one-of-a-kind selection of novelty construction items. Their vast collection includes doors, tables, chairs, large slabs of barnwood, and other hardwoods, as well as some rare chandeliers. The extensive list of items they have include furniture, windows, street goods and fencing, doors, countertops, windows, tile, plumbing items, lighting, unique items called “uniquities,” specialty furniture and “rare finds,” kitchen cabinets (although they do not have many of these), kitchen sets (again the quantity is limited), “urban” lumber, hardware, garden, and paint.
In addition to housing an extensive inventory, Construction Junction takes sustainability a step further by operating its own on-site woodshop. In the shop, the store produces “unique salvaged items from salvaged materials. They are priced according to the time and labor put into the products” (Construction Junction, n.d.). All items sold at the store are “as is” and evaluated individually; this is how pricing is communicated to customers. Their store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; on Sunday, the store opens at 10:00. The store only receives donations on Tuesday through Saturday between the hours of 9:00 AM and close of business.
Ultimately, visiting Construction Junction is about more than just grabbing a deal; it is a practical exercise in biblical stewardship. In Matthew 25:21, Jesus encourages faithful servanthood by stating:
"...Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things."
The takeaway largely has to do with stewardship of our knowledge of Christ and sharing Him with others but there is a layer to this statement we can apply to all of the things that God has entrusted us with including our finances and our homes we live in (and that He has provided for us). True stewardship is more than just our hearts and minds, it also applies to our wallets and how we manage our resources when we plan and build a construction project.
On the topic of biblical resourcefulness, Scripture also emphasizes the importance of planning before any project begins. This is found in Luke 14:28–30, which says:
"For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.'"
Obviously, Jesus used this parable to illustrate the importance of total commitment to follow Him, but, like the amazing teacher that He is, there is ample practical principles remaining in the comment: wise builders plan ahead. Wise builders don’t run out of resources mid-project because they budget for the work they are doing. Shopping at a place like Construction Junction directly aligns with that mindset, by allowing you to use your resources wisely.
When practicing biblical stewardship and operating on a budget, this can leave room for a few key splurges. On HGTV’s Home Town, they call this using the “contingency fund” which is money set aside specifically to get what you truly want. The kitchen is one area where you definitely shouldn’t cut corners; since you spend so much time there, a thoughtful remodel is worth every penny. Beyond the big upgrades, elevate your kitchen with high-quality dinnerware from Noble, to bring extra elegance to your space. [Click here to get an exclusive discount on your next order!]
Whether you are making some fine detail changes or taking on a larger home improvement project like breaking ground for a large Warehouse space, visiting Construction Junction is more than just a fun weekend place to visit or a rainy-day spot. C.J. is a site where you can use stewardship principles in real time and space. When you find an awesome reclaimed material to incorporate in your home or other building space, it honors Jesus because we are implementing biblical wisdom to be a careful manager of our finances and resources. Careful planning and resourceful choices honor God because we are incorporating into our commitment to follow Him even in the everyday details of how we build.
Reference:
Construction Junction. (n.d.). Pamphlet with guidelines and policies to make your visit safer and more successful [Pamphlet].
