Wood Restoration

Each Type of Wood has its Unique Natural Beauty and Charactrer.

Wood in Architecture

Wood has a long and rich history of being used in architecture, dating back thousands of years to ancient civilizations. Its versatility, warmth, and visual appeal have made it a timeless material for enhancing the beauty of buildings throughout history.

Versatility of Wood

There’s nothing more inviting than a well-maintained natural wood environment. Wood is one of the most popular interior surfaces today, from entrances and lobbies to hallways, elevator interiors, and conference rooms. It can be shaped, carved, and finished in various ways, allowing for many design possibilities. It is also used for structural elements, such as exposed beams and columns, and decorative elements, such as paneling, trim, and furniture.

Wood Deterioration

Wood, as with other structural and decorative materials like metals, comes in various hardnesses and finishes, each with its ability to withstand, with varying degrees, deterioration over time. However, they are not entirely exempt from this. Exterior wood suffers from the direct effects of weather, be it rain, snow, environmental pollution, excessive humidity, or ultraviolet damage from the sun. Interior wood suffers wear and tear (nicks and scratches) from people, simple neglect, and environmental effects, like drying out and cracking from heating and air conditioning systems.

Wood Care

There will come a time when the original splendor and the visual impact of the item will have withered away, and the intended appeal lost. The advances in wood treatments in reviving and maintaining these once admired surfaces and objects are now at hand when expertly carried out by trained and experienced professional craft workers. From jet-black ebony in the boardroom and English walnut on the bar to red oak hardwood detail – Stuart Dean’s experienced artisans expertly restore and maintain wood, preventing costly replacement.

Our Process for Refinishing and Restoration

We begin our woodwork restoration process with a complete inspection and condition assessment. Assessing the type and degree of damage to wood is integral to determining the best course of action to treat the material.

Items receive special care depending on age and service location. For example, antique woods demand different treatment than modern woods, and heavy traffic areas — such as those found in elevators and staircases — demand more aggressive preventative treatments than wood finishes in an isolated hallway or on a lobby wall.

We repair areas by replacing damaged and missing veneer with the same wood species. Minor scratches and nicks are hot-knife-filled and grained to blend with the surrounding area. We use time-proven techniques to clean and treat the wood finish and to protect against future wear and tear. At project completion, Stuart Dean’s technicians carefully inspect the job as a final quality check.  The type of treatment required depends on the severity of the damage or the client’s wishes.

Typical Treatments and Processes

Cleaning: Dirt, dust and other contaminants are removed from the wood surface.

Stripping: Old finishes, paints or sealants are removed to expose the bare wood.

Touch-up: Shallow nicks or scratches are filled with a compatible filler, and, where appropriate, a light application of color* and a protective clearcoat finish are applied.

Recondition: The areas surrounding architectural joints are touched up to tone the surfaces, and a compatible topcoat is applied when required.

Refinish: Surfaces with extreme damage are filled or repaired, and a new or matching color* and a compatible clearcoat applied.

Restoration: A new substrate surface is created using mechanical and chemical means and a new finish system is then applied.

*Stuart Dean’s craft workers are trained in color matching and mixing custom matches to existing wood surfaces.

Wood Restoration – The Stuart Dean Way!

As one of the country’s oldest and most experienced restoration and maintenance companies, Stuart Dean has mastered protective treatments to restore and extend the life of wood surfaces.

Whether on the outside or the inside, Stuart Dean restores, refinishes, and protects wood in virtually every environment. From old growth to veneer, our craft workers bring a unique understanding and sensibility to wood care. Our proprietary methods have continued to stand the test of time by saving money, avoiding replacement, and preserving heritage across generations.