About Us

Why Choose Northern Building Supply?

Many employees of Northern Building Supply came to work with experience from other building material dealers. Our reputation for treating people fairly and an extensive profit sharing plan attracted most of them.

Expertise, backed by integrity

We’ve earned the loyalty of our customers because we stand behind our promises and treat people fairly.

Quality you can count on

We’re selective about our suppliers. We deal with only the top mills and distributors. So you can always count on the quality we deliver.

Yes, you can get that here

With two full-service stores in the area, we’ve got you covered for whatever your project demands.

Better employees. Better answers.

We’ve hand-selected our employees to be friendly, knowledgeable and completely committed to you and your project.

A Heritage Of Trust.
A Legacy Of Expertise And Quality.

“Compromise” is not a word heard around here. Since our doors first opened—first in 1904 as Brown Lumber and 1946 as Northern Lumber Company— we’ve been stubborn about quality. So whether you’re a contractor breaking ground on a spec home or a determined “weekend warrior” building a new deck, we have everything you need— proven expertise, the finest materials, and our personal commitment—to help you build with a confidence and quality that will last for years to come. You have a job to do. We’ll help you do it right. We always have. We always will.

Quality People Behind Quality Products.

We’ve never been the rinse-and-repeat box store – nor do we want to be. We’ve built a different kind of company with knowledgeable folks that our customers are delighted to work with. We’ve established strong relationships in the community, and hand-selected both our employees and our suppliers. Contractors, remodelers, and do-it-yourselfers that you know trust the quality, and the people found only at Northern Building Supply.

BUILDING COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

Our doors first opened as Brown Lumber back in 1904. Back then Traverse City and Suttons Bay were little more than small marks on a map. Many things have changed since then. But one thing remains constant…our commitment to quality and service. You see it in the materials we sell and the abiding partnerships we’ve formed with builders, homeowners, local businesses and communities across the north. When you work with us, you have everything you need— proven expertise, the finest materials, and our personal commitment—to build with quality that will last for years to come.

Community Involvement

We are proud to be part of the communities that we serve. Some of our involvement includes: