W H Y I T M A K E S S E N S E . . . For most 1860’s - 1940's private housing, the woodwork elements are quite often fine hardwoods like oak, walnut, maple, cherry, mahogany; sometimes lesser hardwoods like birch or poplar, and also softwood like pine or fir. Often there are distinctive varieties of these woods ie. tiger oak, birds eye maple, fiddle back cherry, flame or ribbon mahogany, and burl walnut. Even the softwoods can be a heart pine or a figured doug fir.

What they all most certainly have in common is that these woods came from old growth forests, and have developed intriguing patinas as they have aged. They have a look and a character - a depth - that you simply do not get with wood from younger cultivated forests.

Now, that in itself is an important reason to keep and give new life to these architectural antiques. These woods serve as a touchstone to our history and help demonstrate how our culture has developed and grown. Knowing how these woods were use in different time periods, and how they integrated to different styles can be a ground marker to the ever changing lifestyles we all lead.

Yet, perhaps an equally important reason to consider "recycling" your original woodwork, is that it is one of the foremost GREEN activities you can participate in. By keeping, and restoring, your original woodwork, you decrease the need to decimate forests for new wood; plus you also eliminate a burden on the waste stream that would otherwise end up in dumps and landfills, or need to be processed.

So it's a win-win on both counts.

P R E PA R AT I O N F O R D O O R S

We utilize a cold-solvent flow over stripping system, which is a much less harsh method than hot tanking. We do not use heat or caustics in our process. And we employ a certified hazmat hauler to properly dispose of any hazardous waste, which is always contained, manifested and documented.

After we strip your woodwork with paint remover, we will scuff sand it, and scrub it with solvents. We do not, however, do any prep work or repair. Depending on the condition of your woodwork, you may have extensive or minimal prep work necessary.

Accordingly, we cannot be responsible for the existing condition of the wood. If there are discolorations, gouges, splits, separations, pieces missing, burn marks, loose veneers, broken louvers, or any other condition common to old house woodwork, it should be dealt with by whomever does the prep work.

We do offer complete restoration services which include stripping, repair, prep, staining and finishing.. Restoration services are priced on an individual basis.

O U R P R O C E S S

If  a  door  has  a  built-­‐in  mirror,  we  will  need  to  remove  it  in  order  to  strip  the  door.  We  then  re-­‐install  a9er  stripping    There  is  an  addi<onal  charge  for  this.  

You  can  number  or  code  your  doors,  shu@ers  and  moldings.  We  will  transfer  your  code  to  numbered  metal  tags  which  are  not  affected  by  the  stripping  process.  This  will  allow  us  to  return  your  items  to  you  with  your  coding  in  place.  

B E N E F I T S

C U R B S I D E P I C K U P

Here are some of the advantages our cold solvent paint stripping method has over the lye based, hot tank "dip and strip" method used by others:

• Minimal raising of the wood grain, producing a surface which requires less sanding and preparation.

• Less likely to dissolve or damage glue joints integral to the work.

• Will not soften or "pulp" wood fibers. Lye damaged wood fiber is more porous and requires more coats to cover.

• Less likely to stain. Lye damaged wood fiber absorbs chemicals deep into the surface and these chemicals can be released after the finish is applied.

• Less likely to fail. Lye stripper requires aggressive neutralizers to arrest the action of the chemical. These can alter the ph of the surface, causing loss of adhesion of the finish coat.

We make FREE sidewalk pick ups and deliveries in NYC, but you will be responsible for bringing your items out to the curbside.

We ask that you take off any door knobs, protruding hooks or stops. You can leave the hinges and back plates on, if you like.

We will give you a one hour window of when we expect to be at your place for pick up. We also will call you when we are 20-30 minutes away.

O T H E R I N - S H O P S E R V I C E S Over the years we have stripped a wide range of portable wood and metal objects, for architectural and non-architectural clients alike:

•  Hundreds of wooden clothes hangers for a high end fashion studio. These premium hangers were cheaper to strip and refinish than to reproduce. •  Handgrips for historic firearms for a remanufacturer. •  Thousands of metal coin trays for a vending company. •  Metal heating grills, grates and enclosures. •  Scores of bicycle frames for restoration specialist. •  Marine parts, wood and metal, for boat owners. •  All the tables in the old Russian Tea Room. •  Historic grandstand seats salvaged from Yankee Stadium. •  Hundreds of church pews from a number of churches. •  Hundreds of chairs from the Brooklyn College library, plus two dozen tables, each 13 feet long and weighing 350 pounds each. •  Many single unit railings, that is, assembled rails and balusters, sections up to 15 feet in length.

Contact our affiliate company, East End Wood Strippers, the architectural wood refinishing and restoration contractor that you can bring into your home or business with confidence.

Visit their page at http://www.eastendwoodstrippers.com

C a n ’ t M o v e y o u r W o o d w o r k ? G e t i t S t r i p p e d O N - S i t e !