Dolan's Lumber
A Bay Area Icon
By Karen Walrond
The phrase "Bay Area" often brings to mind several renowned landmarks. Some people immediately think of the Golden Gate Bridge. For others, "Bay Area" intrinsically means the San Francisco skyline, necessarily including its pyramid-shaped Transamerica Building. But for those architects, builders, designers and do-it-yourselfers who work with new building projects, remodels and restorations on a day-to-day basis, one Bay Area landmark instantly comes to mind: Dolan's Lumber, Windows & Doors.
The Dolan's name has been known in the Bay Area for over a century and the family business as you know it today, founded by Patrick Dolan, has been a preferred resource for building materials for more than 50 years. Hard work, dedication and an extended family of 140 employees located at five Dolan's locations in and around the Bay Area serve professionals with personalized service.
\nFinishing touches - the best remodels, restorations and new homes pay special attention to details that surround windows and doors. Dolan's Walnut Creek Super Showroom provides a complete idea center. (Photo by Bruce Schneider)
As you might expect, Dolan's has come a long way since that small lumberyard 100 years ago. Two of the locations - in Walnut Creek and Burlingame - are full-service showrooms. "Our niche is in custom homes, or the remodeling and restoration of existing homes," says Mike Valentine, Manager of the Walnut Creek location. "The showrooms are designed with an 'idea center' concept in mind. We've really gone out of our way to show that there are a lot more choices out there. We've gone head-over-heels to get some really unique designs - trapezoids, arches, radius tops, even unique woods in our showrooms, and our new Super Showroom in Walnut Creek says it all." The Super Showroom, which includes a classroom, also serves as a location for Valentine and his associates to provide consultative services to professionals and their clients.
"We provide the same preferential service to large and small firms alike, helping them get the full sense of all the new industry technologies and designs that help them get the full sense of what they want to do on a project," says Valentine. "We share some of the things we've done on previous projects, and are able to show clients some of these displays. It really helps architects and builders when they are able to show their clients how windows can make a statement, in contrast to what they may have seen in the draftsman's drawings."
The other three locations, in Concord, Benicia and Pinole, are comprehensive lumberyards with showroom displays and Ace Hardware dealerships. The list of products at these locations is impressive. These storefronts sell all products by Andersen Windows and Doors, Marvin Windows and Doors, Milgard Windows and other manufacturers. Products from Baldwin, Emtek, Schlage and Rocky Mountain are also featured. "Moldings, columns, decking materials, siding materials, you name it," continues Valentine. "We're full-range lumberyards. We can even provide all the building materials involved in stick framing for homes and commercial projects. We have a saying: We sell anything to build everything, and if we don't have it, we'll get it for you."
Everything that's new - Dolan's Walnut Creek Super Showroom features the best of name brand windows and doors with room enough to display large options that are not typical in other showrooms. (Photo by Bruce Schneider)
While their extensive product supply has certainly contributed to the company's success, Valentine attributes much of their longevity to Dolan's commitment to customer service - what Valentine refers to as the company's "personal touch."
"Each of our projects tends to be unique," says Valentine. "So when a builder or an architect or even a homeowner calls in, our company is really big on ensuring that whichever associate takes the call stays with the customer to make certain their project is taken care of from beginning to end."
Another example of this customer attention is evident in the company's door shop. Unlike many companies who sell pre-hung doors, Dolan's door shop custom-hangs doors to specification. "If a customer needs a fine detail changed on a door, it can be altered," explains Valentine. "Customers can show up with a personal set of hinges, and we'll make sure it gets on the door."
And finally, Dolan Lumber continues to raise the bar on their standards of customer service. "For example, we're involved with the American Institute of Architects, providing a classroom structure for architects to come in and get certified with specific vendors," he says. "We enjoy working closely with architects to increase the possibilities for the final outcome of the building project."
It's no wonder, then, that Dolan Lumber has become one of the icons of the Bay Area: the company's commitment to excellence over the past century has clearly made it so. By continuing this tradition of unmatched customer service and unparalleled availability of numerous product lines, the company will more than likely ensure the Dolan's Lumber name remains a fixture in the minds of Bay Area residents for years to come.
Visit Dolan's Lumber, Windows & Doors' Super Showroom at 2750 Camino Diablo, Walnut Creek 94597, or go to their website at dolanlumber.com . For more information, contact Mike Valentine at (925) 927-4662 or e-mail mikev@dolanlumber.com. They also have locations in Burlingame, Concord, Benicia and Pinole.
December 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue