Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I choose restoration over replacing my existing cabinets?

If your cabinets are still structurally sound, there really isn’t any reason to replace them—certainly not a financially sound one, when replacing cabinets can cost upwards of $30,000 and tie up your kitchen for up to a month. Restoration is a perfect and easy choice for bringing life and luster back to your worn and tired cabinets, with limited downtime and at a price of generally less than $2000.

Is refinishing just another name for restoration?

No, refinishing is a separate process which requires stripping off the old finish right down to bare wood. Dramatic color changes can then be made because the raw wood is like a clean slate inviting the shade you’ve always wanted. We custom design our colors with your input so we can be sure to match to your ideal color. A somewhat more extensive process, refinishing can truly revitalize or even transform the look and feel of an entire room.

How much of a mess will restoring our cabinets involve?

You will be pleasantly surprised that part of the job is leaving your home just as we found it—except for the revitalized beauty of your wood cabinets or floors. We take our time to carefully mask off the ‘work’ area of your home and thoroughly clean up after the project is completed. With our floor sanding process we use a special dust-containment system which vacuums out 98% of the dust released.

I like to do things the Green way, when possible. How “eco-friendly” are you?

For one thing, because we restore or refinish your interior wood rather than replace it, our philosophy is one of reuse—which both saves trees and keeps us from contributing to the landfill. As a Green-certified company, we care about our impact on the environment and select our practices and products to make that impact as little as possible. Towards that end, we recycle 80% of our waste, and use all waterborne products—no harsh chemicals or bad smells for your home or beyond.

How much can I save by restoring my cabinets instead of refacing or replacing them?

You can save literally thousands of dollars when you choose to re-beautify your existing wood. Replacing your cabinets is a $30,000-plus project—and refacing will cost anywhere between $8,000 and 12,000. Restoration generally costs under $2000, a bargain any way you look at it.

If I restore my wood floors, rather than refinish them, will the finish be as hard?

Yes. We use the same heavy-duty, long-lasting UV-protected waterborne polyurethane finish for both restoring and refinishing your wood floors.

How soon can I walk on my floors after they’ve been restored or refinished?

You’ll be walking on your floors within 3 to 4 hours after the final coat of finish has been applied, though you should allow only stocking feet for the first 72 hours of ‘cure’ time.

How much time will these projects take? I’m thinking about my kitchen cabinets

Most cabinet-restoration projects are completed in 1 to 2 days, depending on the size of the job. To have your wood refinished with a new color can take from 3 to 5 days, again depending on the individual job. Contrast these with the entire month that cabinet replacement entails—and, yes, that’s one month without the use of your kitchen—or the 2 to 3 weeks it takes to reface.

I’ve had some below-quality work done in my home before; can trust you?

The Wood Doctor has 25 years’ experience restoring wood to its original warmth and beauty. We are licensed and bonded as well as Green-certified, and are highly rated on both Service Magic and Angie’s List. We have an old-fashioned craftsman’s philosophy of really caring about—and taking pride in—the work we do. Please take a moment to read through our customer testimonials.

Will I have to move out of my home while the floors are being sanded and refinished?

No. Because we use new-technology water-borne finishes, there are no strong or toxic odors. These products are better for the environment while saving you the time, money, and inconvenience of having to leave your home.