Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Source for Building Materials in Northeastern Michigan
Since 1958, Bernard Building Center has been building trusting relationships with builders, homeowners, and the community. Our foundation is rooted in exceptional customer service, quality products, and the largest inventory in Northeastern Michigan. As the largest independent lumber dealer in the region, we pride ourselves on offering top national brands alongside locally made products to meet diverse project needs. Our family-owned business has grown across four generations, combining innovation and integrity to serve both residential and commercial clients. With experienced staff and a commitment to personalized service, we provide solutions from project planning to delivery, ensuring every customer receives tailored support.Our online ordering system with curbside pickup and statewide delivery options reflects our dedication to convenience and accessibility. Recognized for our expertise in cabinetry, decking, flooring, and paint, we utilize industry-leading design software and tools to bring visions to life. Through decades of service, weve maintained a reputation for reliability, competitive pricing, and community engagement. Our mission remains to deliver high-quality products and services that empower customers to complete projects successfully while fostering lasting relationships built on trust and excellence.
Services
Online Ordering
Curbside Pickup
Delivery Services
Deck Design
Cabinetry Design
Estimating Services
Flooring Solutions
Paint Department
Details
- Year established: 1958
Highlights and features
- We have over 65 years of experience serving Northeastern Michigan's building needs.
- Our team provides personalized service with deep local market knowledge.
- We offer the largest inventory of building supplies in the region.
- Our online ordering system with curbside pickup ensures convenient shopping.
- We combine family-owned tradition with modern design and estimating technology.
What people say
Best in the business
Great customer service
Helpful and knowledgeable staff
Fantastic People
Great local place
Services
Online Ordering
Our online store allows customers to order building materials with convenient in-store or curbside pickup options. This service provides 24/7 access to our inventory, enabling efficient project planning and material selection from any location. Customers benefit from streamlined shopping experiences while maintaining access to expert guidance through our physical locations.
Deck Design
We offer comprehensive deck design services using specialized software and expert consultation. Our team helps customers plan outdoor living spaces with top national brands like Timbertech decking systems. From initial concept to material selection, we ensure projects meet both aesthetic preferences and structural requirements while utilizing premium treated lumber options.
Cabinetry Design
Our cabinetry design service features Prokitchen software for realistic 3D renderings of kitchen and bath spaces. With extensive showroom displays and both national brands and local craftsmanship options, we help customers create customized storage solutions that match their style and budget through professional in-home measurements and consultations.
Estimating Services
We provide detailed project estimates with structural analysis and code compliance checks to ensure cost-effective construction. Our experienced sales team transforms client ideas into actionable plans while identifying potential savings through product alternatives and performance optimization strategies for residential and commercial projects.
Paint Department
Our paint experts offer color matching technology and extensive product selections from leading manufacturers like Sherwin-Williams. With computerized color systems storing customer preferences and knowledgeable staff providing application guidance, we ensure proper paint selection for both interior and exterior projects across residential and commercial applications.
People
Bernard Family
Owners
Four generations of the Bernard family have led the business since its 1958 founding as a small window shop. Through strategic expansion and commitment to core values, they've grown it into the largest independent lumber dealer in Northeastern Michigan while maintaining family-owned principles.
Charles
Sales Associate
Experienced team member known for exceptional customer service in deck construction projects. Provides expert product recommendations and ensures customers have all necessary materials for successful DIY projects through personalized assistance and follow-up.
Tami
Paint Department Manager
Seasoned paint expert with extensive experience helping customers select appropriate finishes. Recognized for going beyond standard service to solve complex color matching challenges through creative problem-solving and product knowledge in both residential and commercial applications.
Linda
Customer Service Representative
Dedicated staff member at the Hillman location praised for friendly and efficient service. Assists customers with product selection and special orders while maintaining a welcoming environment that reflects the company's commitment to personalized service standards.
Ricky
Delivery Specialist
Reliable team member known for exceptional service beyond regular hours. Demonstrates the company's commitment to customer satisfaction through flexible delivery solutions and proactive problem resolution for oversized or time-sensitive material requirements.
Questions
Do you offer online ordering options?
Yes, we provide online ordering with in-store or curbside pickup options at all locations. Our digital platform maintains real-time inventory visibility for convenient shopping.
What delivery services are available?
We offer statewide delivery within Michigan with same-day or next-day availability. Our large delivery fleet operates six days weekly, with fuel surcharges and fees applying based on distance and order size.
Can you help with deck design projects?
Our deck design service includes planning software, material selection from top brands, and expert consultation. We assist with projects from initial concept through material procurement and special ordering requirements.
Do you have paint matching capabilities?
Yes, our paint department features computerized color matching systems that scan samples to create custom paint mixes. We also store color selections for future reference across all our store locations.
Are there special services for contractors?
We provide detailed estimating services, blueprint copy services, and bulk material ordering options specifically for contractors. Our experienced project sales staff offers structural analysis and code compliance checks for commercial projects.
What makes you different from big-box stores?
We combine personalized service with specialized expertise, offering both national brands and locally made products. Our staff provides tailored project assistance, with many team members having decades of experience in the building industry.
Reviews (6)
Alex Lang
Apr 23, 2021
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Everyone here was spectacular. Had pretty much everything I needed. No bulk pricing on insulation but that happens. It appears the owners prefer to hunt outside of Michigan for their trophies which are mounted along the walls.
John Sawasky
Jan 29, 2021
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Had a customer request a smooth surface vinyl siding, after multiple days of calling literally all over the state... called Benards, they took the time to actually look for what I needed, got a call back within an hour saying they found what I was looking for! These guys will get my business for now on!!!! Thanks again
Paula McLeod
Oct 14, 2020
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I needed 3 modern base mouldings. The 16 long mouldings would not fit in my vehicle. They were just too long. It was the end of the day and I needed them for the next day. Delivery would have taken till after the weekend. Ricky stepped up and delivered them after his shift ended! I cant thank Ricky and Bernards enough!
Trisha E.
Aug 16, 2020
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This is my favorite hardware ever. We have a vacation home nearby and discovered them when we were renovating. Now we come here for stuff for our house and just transport it. It is so worth transporting it because they have stuff in stock that other places need to special order. Always friendly and helpful. Just we had one near our regular home.
Karen G.
Aug 22, 2018
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Purchased cottage full of windows in 2004. One cracked .. no big deal .. or so we thought. Tim told us to bring in pics (especially of identifying sticker) to proceed to order replacement. Co has since been sold .. new co wants nothing to do w/ it, old co only honors warranty issues. As Tim said it's "not my fault the co was sold" and in the mean time were SOL. All business goes to Memards now ... more knowledgeable staff, greater selection, lower prices and no BS.
Sara Griffith
Aug 13, 2018
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Do NOT get trusses thru bernards. We are building a house and getting all our materials thru them. They deal with Mid Michigan Truss and our experience with them has been horrible. When we went to set trusses some were too long and others were too short. The truss company admitted fault and wanted us to put together a bill of our extra time and materials. It was 3100 and they are offering us only 1500. When we asked bernards for a little assistance with dealing with them they said they didn't want to get in the middle of it. It wasn't a problem when they choose the truss company for us and we paid
