Wood Refinishing in Maplewood
Craftsman bungalows and Foursquares from the 1910s through 1940s — original staircases under carpet, original kitchen cabinetry worth saving. Sue Wheeler has worked throughout Maplewood for decades.
Maplewood is a compact, walkable suburb built out primarily in the 1910s through 1940s — Craftsman bungalows, American Foursquares, and Colonial Revivals on tight lots with generous front porches. The housing stock here is well-maintained and owner-occupied, and a significant portion of it has original interior woodwork still in place.
Maplewood also has an active real estate market. Investors and new homeowners are regularly buying older homes, discovering original woodwork under layers of paint, and deciding whether to restore it or cover it again. The answer, almost always, is to restore it — it's one of the things that makes the house worth buying.
Sue Wheeler has worked throughout Maplewood for decades.
What We Do Most Often in Maplewood
Maplewood projects tend to center on kitchen cabinets and staircases — reflecting both the era of the housing stock and the investment decisions new owners are making.
Staircase refinishing
Craftsman-era staircases in Maplewood bungalows are typically straight-run, clean-lined, and built with fir or oak treads and simple turned spindles. When new owners discover original hardwood under carpet or paint, a staircase restoration is usually the first significant project. We strip the finish by hand, repair any damage to treads, and refinish the full staircase — treads, risers, spindles, newel post, and railing — together.
Kitchen cabinet refinishing
Maplewood bungalows often have original kitchen cabinetry from the 1920s through 1940s. These aren't frameless European boxes — they're solid wood with recessed panel doors and hardware that's worth keeping. We strip and refinish rather than paint over, preserving both the grain and the patina that makes them look like they belong in the house.
Door refinishing
Original interior and exterior doors in Maplewood homes are frequently solid wood and worth saving. We remove, strip, and refinish in our shop.
Historic Status
Parts of Maplewood have structures listed as contributing resources to the National Register of Historic Places. If your home is in a contributing district or individually listed, some rehabilitation work may qualify for historic tax credits. Check with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office or a preservation tax credit consultant to confirm your property's status.
EPA note: Most Maplewood housing stock predates 1978. EPA RRP regulations apply to refinishing work on pre-1978 homes. Sue Wheeler is EPA Certified — containment, HEPA vacuuming, and documentation are included on every applicable project.
From a Maplewood Client
"We bought a 1928 bungalow and the staircase had carpet nailed all the way down. We pulled it up and found original oak treads in great shape. Sue stripped and refinished the entire staircase — treads, spindles, the newel post — and it's the first thing everyone notices when they walk in."
— Homeowner, Maplewood
Get a Free Estimate for Your Maplewood Home
Sue Wheeler answers every call personally: (314) 367-6054
She'll assess your staircase, your cabinets, your doors — and tell you what's there and what it will take.
Request a Free Estimate →EPA Certified Lead Removal. Est. 1989. St. Louis Magazine — "Perfect Finish."
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