Door Refinishing · Frontenac, MO
Door Refinishing in Frontenac
Frontenac's established estates and Colonial homes carry solid-wood doors — mahogany entry panels, old-growth oak suites, and interior door sets that run throughout entire floors. Sue Wheeler refinishes them by hand, preserving the character of each door through a process that cannot be shortcut.
What makes Frontenac door refinishing different
Frontenac is an established affluent suburb with a housing stock that ranges from pre-war estates built in the 1920s and 1930s to post-war Colonial and custom construction from the 1950s through the 1980s. That range means the woodwork varies considerably from home to home — which is why Sue assesses each project individually rather than applying a standard approach across the neighborhood.
The older estate homes have the most significant entry doors: substantial paneled mahogany or old-growth oak with period hardware, often with sidelights and detailed surrounds. These are statement doors that define the character of the property. Refinishing them requires patience and precision — both in the stripping, which must be complete without damaging the profiles, and in the finish application, which must be even across the panel geometry.
The post-war Colonial homes in Frontenac have solid-wood construction throughout — quality that reflects the neighborhood's standards even in its more modest stock. Interior door suites in the better Frontenac homes run throughout the entire house, and refinishing them as a set is a natural project for a home being updated or prepared for sale.
Pre-war Frontenac homes are pre-1978 by definition, and many post-war homes are as well. Lead paint is the standard assumption for any home in the neighborhood built before 1978. Sue holds EPA RRP Certification and applies full protocol on every applicable project.
Door refinishing services for Frontenac homes
Estate mahogany entry doors
The paneled mahogany entry doors on Frontenac's pre-war estates are among the finest residential woodwork in the St. Louis area. They strip cleanly when handled properly, reveal a rich interlocked grain, and take finish beautifully. Sue removes the door from its frame, strips it completely in her shop, and returns it finished and rehung — preserving every original detail of the profile and hardware.
Old-growth oak entry doors
Frontenac's early Colonial homes were fitted with solid old-growth oak entry doors — dense, tight-grained wood that is no longer commercially available. Under layers of paint or weathered finish, these doors are typically in exceptional structural condition. Stripping and refinishing them is almost always the right choice over replacement with new-growth lumber.
Whole-house interior door suites
Interior door suites in Frontenac's better homes are worth refinishing as a set — the consistency of finish across every door in the house is part of what makes a home feel complete. Sue works through interior door projects in organized batches, removing and refinishing a group at a time so the house remains functional throughout. Stain color and sheen are matched across the entire suite.
Shop stripping and rehang process
Every door refinishing project follows the same process: the door is removed from its hinges, the opening is secured, and the door is brought to the shop for stripping. Shop stripping produces better results than working in place — better light, better positioning, and no risk of drips or dust entering living spaces. The door is returned and rehung once fully cured. The home is never left unsecured overnight.
EPA Certified Lead Removal — required in Frontenac's pre-1978 homes
Frontenac's pre-war estates and many of its post-war homes were built before the 1978 federal lead paint ban. Any firm disturbing painted surfaces in these homes must be EPA RRP Certified. Sue Wheeler holds that certification and has applied it to hundreds of projects across the St. Louis area over 36 years.
Full protocol on every applicable project: HEPA containment, wet stripping methods to prevent airborne dust, sealed disposal of all stripped material, and written documentation at completion. Clients in Frontenac's pre-war homes should expect this as a standard part of the process.
"Our 1938 home on Lindbergh has a paneled mahogany entry door with original hardware that we assumed was beyond saving. Sue stripped it, repaired a small area of surface checking, and finished it in a deep walnut tone. It looks the way it must have looked when the house was new. We have since had her do every interior door on the main floor."
Homeowner, Lindbergh Boulevard, Frontenac
Frequently asked questions
Do you refinish doors in Frontenac?
Yes. Sue Wheeler has refinished doors in Frontenac across a wide range of the neighborhood's housing stock — from pre-war estate entry doors in mahogany and old-growth oak to the solid-wood Colonial entries of the post-war homes. Frontenac's combination of estate and Colonial construction means the work varies considerably, and Sue assesses each project individually.
My Frontenac estate home has a mahogany entry door — what is involved in refinishing that?
Mahogany entry doors from Frontenac's pre-war estates are excellent refinishing candidates. The species takes a rich, deep finish and ages gracefully when properly maintained. Sue removes the door, strips it completely by hand in her shop — never a dip tank, which would damage the glue joints — applies appropriate stain, and finishes it for exterior exposure. The door is returned and rehung once fully cured.
Can you refinish all the interior doors in my Frontenac home at once?
Yes. Whole-house interior door refinishing is not uncommon in Frontenac — the better homes have solid-wood doors throughout, and refinishing them as a suite produces a consistent look across the home. Sue works through the home in a logical sequence, typically removing and refinishing doors in batches so the house remains functional throughout the project.
Ready to restore your Frontenac doors?
Free estimate. No obligation. Sue answers every call personally — (314) 367-6054.