Our History

1871

The Detering Company owes much to its humble beginnings. In 1871, Herman Eberhardt (H.E.) Detering immigrated to the United States from Germany. In pursuit of the American dream, H.E. Detering opened a general store on Washington Avenue in the 1880’s, as well as a concrete tile company and a broom factory. The Detering Family worked at the original site on Washington Avenue until 2014.

Black and white photo of the Houston Broom Factory storefront with vintage cars parked in front.

1926

Following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of his father, Carl Detering opened The Detering Company in 1926, and was joined shortly thereafter by his brother Herman. In its earliest days, The Detering Company was a brick company that very literally helped to build the city. The brothers made daily trips to the Port of Houston to buy bricks from the ballasts of ships and sell them to others to help pave the roads of Houston. After World War II, The Detering Company continued selling essential construction supplies to builders, contributing heavily to one of Houston’s greatest construction eras.

Black and white photo of a building with a sign that reads 'The Detering Company, Electrical Appliances.' Two vintage cars parked in front of the building.

1986

Carl Detering, the founder of The Detering Company, proudly passed the baton to his son, Carl Detering, Jr., who took over the role of president of the company.

Honoring the legacy of his father and grandfather, Carl Detering, Jr. worked hard to grow the family business supplying Houston with the highest quality building materials available.

An older man and a younger man standing side by side, both dressed in formal attire, in front of a red and brown background.
Exterior view of a building with the sign 'The Dering Co.' on a brick wall, surrounded by a well-manicured lawn, a tree, and concrete sidewalk.

2015

In March 2015, The Detering Company closed the doors on its Washington Avenue location. With the company’s remarkable growth and expansion came the need to relocate.

2018

Acquired Weatherford Door & Window, Now Detering Bryan-College Station

The Detering Company expanded its reach with the acquisition of Weatherford Door & Window in Bryan, Texas. Now operating as The Detering Company Bryan–College Station, this location offers millwork, doors, and windows to serve builders and remodelers in the area.

A wall decorated with framed photographs, documents, and awards, including portraits of men in military uniform, family photos, and a mirror reflecting part of the room.

2023

Expanded into Lumber with New Facility on Collingsworth

Realizing our customers needed a trustworthy and reliable lumber supplier, The Detering Company opened a dedicated lumber facility in Houston on Collingsworth Street, expanding our capabilities and streamlining distribution.

A man in a black shirt and brown pants is smiling while working inside a lumber warehouse, holding a measuring tape next to stacked wooden planks.

Today

The Detering Company is a third generation family-owned and operated business. This latest chapter in Detering’s history will allow the company to continue building on the tradition of providing high quality craftsmanship and superior service to its customers.

Three people standing behind a large wooden table in a woodworking shop, with wooden frames and planks in the background.