Wood Refinishing in Benton Park
1870s–1900s Victorian row houses and Folk Victorian homes — original woodwork under layers of paint.
Benton Park is one of the oldest neighborhoods in St. Louis City. Settled between the 1870s and 1900s, its streets are lined with Italianate, Folk Victorian, and Queen Anne row houses — dense brick construction on narrow lots, with streetscapes that remain remarkably intact. The woodwork inside these homes was built to last: old-growth fir and oak in the doors, staircases, and built-ins, tight-grained and durable in a way that new-cut lumber simply is not.
Many of these homes have had three to five owners since they were built. Each one left something behind — a coat of paint over a door, a layer of stain on the staircase, decades of buildup on original pocket doors that were painted shut and forgotten. First-time historic homeowners in Benton Park are often the ones who finally ask what's underneath — and the answer is usually worth uncovering.
Sue Wheeler has been working in Benton Park for years. She knows these houses: the elaborate Victorian front doors, the turned-spindle staircases, the interior pocket doors that were standard in this era. She knows what the wood looks like under the paint, and she knows how to bring it back without damaging it.
What We Do Most Often in Benton Park
Benton Park homes were built with original woodwork as a central feature. Front doors with decorative molding, turned-spindle staircases, interior pocket doors between parlors — these pieces are still there in most homes, waiting under paint that should have come off a long time ago.
Front door refinishing
Benton Park's Victorian front doors are among the most distinctive features of the neighborhood — paneled, often with original hardware and decorative molding profiles that can't be replicated. Most have been painted over multiple times. Sue hand-strips each door, repairs any damage, and refinishes to restore the original wood rather than cover it again.
Staircase refinishing
The turned-spindle staircases in these homes require hand work. Dipping destroys the glue joints in spindles and raises the grain across treads. Sue strips and refinishes treads, risers, spindles, newel posts, and railings by hand — all components matched to the same finish so the staircase reads as one piece again.
Interior pocket door refinishing
Pocket doors between the front parlor and back parlor were standard in Benton Park's Victorian floor plans. Many were painted shut at some point and haven't moved in decades. Sue removes them, hand-strips and refinishes in the shop, then reinstalls — hardware intact, wood restored, doors operational again.
Every job starts with a free in-person estimate. Sue looks at the wood directly, identifies what's under the current finish, notes any lead paint considerations, and gives you a straight answer on what it will take.
Historic District & EPA Requirements
Benton Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sue's hand-strip method is compliant with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation — the preservation standard that applies to National Register properties. Chemical dip-stripping is not compliant with those standards and can compromise the structural integrity of historic woodwork.
If you're planning a broader restoration project, working with a contractor whose methods meet preservation standards matters. Sue's process does.
EPA note: Virtually every home in Benton Park predates 1978 — most predate 1920. EPA RRP regulations require a Certified Lead Removal for any refinishing work that disturbs lead paint. Sue Wheeler is EPA Certified. Her process includes proper containment, HEPA vacuuming, and documentation — protecting your family and keeping your project compliant.
From a Benton Park Client
"[Testimonial about Benton Park project — front door, staircase, or full house woodwork]"
— Homeowner, Benton Park
Get a Free Estimate for Your Benton Park Home
Sue Wheeler answers every call personally: (314) 367-6054
She'll come to your home, look at the wood in person, and tell you exactly what's under the current finish — and what it will cost to do it right. No upselling, no guesswork.
Request a Free Estimate →EPA Certified Lead Removal. Est. 1989. St. Louis Magazine — “Perfect Finish.”
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