You know that feeling when you walk into a massive home improvement warehouse and immediately feel like a tiny, insignificant ant in a maze of orange or blue racking? Most of us just accept it as the tax for DIY life. But for anyone living near Curtis Lumber Ballston Spa NY 12020, there’s a completely different vibe available.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird to think about how long this place has been around. We’re talking 1890. That’s not a typo. While most modern retail chains struggle to survive a decade without a rebrand or a bankruptcy filing, Curtis has been anchored on Route 67 for generations.
The Real Deal on the Ballston Spa Hub
If you’re driving down State Route 67, you can’t miss it. It’s massive. But it’s not just a "store." It’s effectively the nerve center for their entire 23-location operation across New York and Vermont.
The address is 885 State Route 67, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
Most people don't realize that the "Ballston Spa" location is actually a 130,000-square-foot beast. It’s their flagship. You’ve got the retail side, the massive lumber yard, and a kitchen and bath showroom that makes those little display vignettes at Home Depot look like dollhouses.
What Actually Happens at Curtis Lumber Ballston Spa NY 12020?
If you're just looking for a box of screws, sure, you can get those here. But that's like going to a 5-star steakhouse and ordering a glass of water. The real value of Curtis Lumber Ballston Spa NY 12020 is the specialized stuff.
They have departments that actually have "experts" in them. Not just "the guy who was assigned to the aisle today," but people who know the difference between pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine and a composite deck board like Trex Transcend.
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- The Kitchen & Bath Showroom: This is basically a design playground. They use 20/20 software to render your actual room so you don't end up with cabinets that don't fit or a sink that looks like a mistake.
- The Deck Center: They have professional designers who will literally help you plan the layout and then give you the plans you need to get a building permit.
- Contractor Sales: If you're a pro, you probably already know Ian Young or the crew there. They handle material takeoffs and estimating, which saves a ton of time on the job site.
- Drive-Thru Lumber Yard: This is a game changer. You drive in, they load you up, you drive out. No dragging a heavy cart through three sets of sliding glass doors while trying not to hit a toddler.
The Story Behind the Name
Back in 1827, a guy named Captain Isaac Henry Curtiss built a sawmill on Charlton Road. Fast forward to 1890, and Elmer A. Curtis bought the business. Here’s a fun piece of trivia: Elmer supposedly dropped the second "s" from the family name because he thought writing it was a "waste of time."
Efficiency. You gotta love it.
The business survived a massive fire in 1910, a dam failure in 1958, and another mill fire in 1982. It’s stayed in the family the whole time. Currently, Jay Curtis is at the helm, and his kids are involved too. In an era where private equity firms buy up local businesses and gut them, it’s sort of refreshing to see a family-owned operation actually growing. They just acquired Jay-K Independent Lumber in early 2025, bringing them up to 23 locations.
Why Do People Drive Past Lowes to Go Here?
It’s about the delivery and the depth.
Most big box stores have a couple of flatbeds. Curtis Lumber Ballston Spa NY 12020 has a fleet that looks like a small army. We’re talking boom trucks with 54-foot reaches, Tailgate Mounted Forklift (TMF) trucks, and even 48-foot curtain-side trailers. If you need a roof's worth of shingles delivered onto the actual roof, they can do that.
Then there’s the community stuff.
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They started something called "Petapalooza" back in 2010. It’s this massive pet adoption day that has helped thousands of animals find homes. It has nothing to do with selling 2x4s, but it’s why the locals are so loyal.
They are also obsessed with the "trades gap." Doug Ford, their VP of sales, has been vocal about how we don't have enough builders. So, they started a Workforce Development Coalition. They go into schools—starting as young as 2nd grade—and teach kids how to build toolboxes. It’s smart. If nobody knows how to build a house, nobody needs to buy lumber.
Knowing the Clock: When to Show Up
The hours at the Ballston Spa location are pretty standard for a place that serves contractors, which means they open early. Like, "first light" early.
- Monday – Thursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Late night for the weekend warriors)
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
If you’re going for a specialized design consultation, like a kitchen or a deck, call (518) 885-5311 first. Don't just show up on a Saturday morning and expect a designer to be free; those slots fill up fast because everyone in Saratoga County seemingly decided to remodel at the same time.
Navigating the 12020 Experience
The store is more than just hardware. They have a Benjamin Moore paint center where they do actual paint matching—not just "close enough" but real digital matching. They do key copying, rekeying for locks, and even propane refills up to 100 lbs.
Is it perfect? No. It can be intimidating for a first-timer. The lumber yard is a busy place with forklifts moving quickly. If you've never been, just pull up to the gate, tell them what you need, and they'll point you to the right bay.
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The pricing is competitive, but don't expect "clearance bin" prices on everything. You're paying for quality. If you buy a "Contractor Grade" tool here, it’s actually going to last longer than a season.
Actionable Tips for Your First Visit
If you’re planning a project at Curtis Lumber Ballston Spa NY 12020, don't just wing it.
First, use their online account access. You can check inventory and pricing before you even leave your house. This is huge because nothing sucks more than driving to Ballston Spa for a specific trim profile only to find out they’re out of stock.
Second, utilize the material takeoff service if you’re doing a big project like a shed or a garage. Bring in your sketches. They will give you a list of every single piece of wood, every nail, and every shingle you need. It prevents that "third trip to the store" that kills every Saturday afternoon.
Finally, check the "Project Centers" on their website. They have checklists for decks, siding, and roofing that are actually useful and not just marketing fluff. They list the common mistakes people make in the 12020 area (like not accounting for the frost line when digging deck footings).
This isn't just a place to buy stuff. It's a resource that has outlived almost every other business in the county for a reason. Whether you're a DIYer or a pro, it's the gold standard for a reason.