Wood Refinishing in Kirkwood
One of the oldest planned suburbs in the United States — Victorians with elaborate staircases, Craftsman homes with built-in cabinetry, original woodwork widely intact. Sue Wheeler is more likely to be on her third or fourth project for the same homeowner here than anywhere else.
Kirkwood is one of the oldest planned suburbs in the United States — incorporated in 1865 and built out steadily through the turn of the century and into the mid-20th century. The result is a neighborhood where original interior woodwork is widely intact: Victorians with elaborate staircases and millwork, Craftsman homes with built-in cabinetry, early-century colonials with solid-wood door and window surrounds.
Kirkwood residents tend to know what they have. The preservation culture here is strong — homes change hands carefully, and the woodwork that's survived 100 years often gets treated with the care it deserves.
Sue Wheeler has worked extensively in Kirkwood. It's one of the neighborhoods where she's most likely to be finishing a third or fourth project for the same homeowner.
What We Do Most Often in Kirkwood
Kirkwood projects span the full range of residential woodwork, with staircases and kitchen cabinets appearing most frequently.
Staircase refinishing
Kirkwood's oldest homes have the most elaborate staircases: carved newel posts, intricate turned spindles, continuous curved railings. Craftsman-era homes have cleaner lines but equally solid construction. In every case, the full scope — treads, risers, spindles, newel post, and railing — is done together.
Kitchen cabinet refinishing
Kirkwood has a large stock of pre-1960s cabinetry in solid wood that's worth restoring rather than replacing. We strip, repair, and refinish — preserving the construction quality that modern cabinetry can't replicate.
Door refinishing
Solid wood doors throughout Kirkwood's older homes are frequently original and worth maintaining. We remove, refinish in our shop, and reinstall.
Historic Status
Some Kirkwood structures are listed as contributing resources to the National Register of Historic Places. If your home is in a contributing area or individually listed, qualifying rehabilitation work may be eligible for historic tax credits. Confirm with the Missouri SHPO.
EPA note: Kirkwood's oldest housing stock predates 1978, and lead paint is common in original finish layers. EPA RRP regulations require a Certified Lead Removal for any work that disturbs lead paint. Sue Wheeler is EPA Certified — proper containment and documentation are included on every applicable project.
From a Kirkwood Client
"We have a grand staircase that came with our 1898 Victorian — it's the reason we bought the house. After decades of neglect it was dull and worn. Sue restored the entire thing: treads, spindles, the carved newel post, the railing. It looks exactly like what it is — an irreplaceable piece of original craftsmanship."
— Homeowner, Kirkwood
Get a Free Estimate for Your Kirkwood Home
Sue Wheeler answers every call personally: (314) 367-6054
She's worked in Kirkwood for over 36 years. She'll tell you what the wood needs and what it will cost to do it right.
Request a Free Estimate →EPA Certified Lead Removal. BBB A+ Accredited. Since 1989.
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