Question 1

How do I get started with my door refinishing project?

Accepted Answer

Easy, text or call us with a few photos of your door (front, back, and any problem areas). We'll give you a ballpark estimate same-day, with no pressure and no hard sell. If it's a complex project, we'll schedule a quick in-person assessment. That's it.

Question 2

How long does front door refinishing take?

Accepted Answer

Most projects are completed within 2–3 days. We remove your door, do the work in our controlled workspace, let each coat cure properly, and rehang it. Louisiana humidity can add 12–24 hours to cure time in summer, which we plan for up front.

Question 3

Will I be without a front door while you work?

Accepted Answer

No. We install a secure, weather-sealed temporary door before we ever take yours off. Your home stays locked, safe, and protected from weather the entire time.

Question 4

How does pricing work? Do you offer free quotes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, every quote is free and there's zero pressure to book. Price depends on door size, wood type, condition, and whether you want stain-and-varnish or paint. Text us a photo and we'll get you a clear number fast. No mystery pricing, no bait-and-switch.

Question 5

Do you remove the door or refinish it on the hinges?

Accepted Answer

We always remove the door. Refinishing on the hinges is a shortcut that guarantees drips, missed spots, and a finish that fails early. We take it off, work on it under controlled conditions, and rehang it perfectly. This is non-negotiable for us.

Question 6

Do you use chemical strippers on doors?

Accepted Answer

No. We hand sand every door from start to finish. Chemical strippers are fast, but they soak into the wood grain, neutralize unevenly, and can react badly with new stain and varnish down the line. Hand sanding takes longer, but it's how you get a finish that actually lasts through Louisiana weather.

Question 7

What kind of finish do you put on doors?

Accepted Answer

Marine-grade Spar varnish. It's originally designed for boats, which makes it perfect for Louisiana sun, humidity, salt air, and storms. It contains UV inhibitors and flexible resins that expand and contract with the wood. Regular house polyurethane isn't built for our climate, marine-grade is.

Question 8

Do you clean up after the job is done?

Accepted Answer

Always. Drop cloths, shoe covers, careful ladder placement, swept walkways, hauled-away debris. We treat your entryway like it's our own front porch. You'll see us before you see any trace we were there.

Question 9

What kinds of wood doors can you refinish?

Accepted Answer

Solid wood doors of almost every species, mahogany, oak, cypress, pine, cedar, walnut, and more. If it's real wood and not rotted structurally, we can bring it back. We'll assess the wood condition during the quote so you know exactly what we're working with.

Question 10

Can you fix pet scratches and dog damage?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pet damage is one of our specialties. Dog claw scratches, chew marks, gouges, cat damage. We fill, hand sand, color-match, and refinish so you can't tell there was ever damage. See our [Pet Scratch Removal](/services/pet-scratch-removal) page for before/after photos.

Question 11

Can you match my existing stain color?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Custom stain matching is a core part of our work. We mix, test on inconspicuous areas, and blend until your front door matches your shutters, garage door, or interior trim. We don't start the final coat until you approve the test sample.

Question 12

Do you also refinish shutters, porch posts, and exterior trim?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We refinish wood and composite shutters, porch posts, beams, railings, wood garage doors, fences, gates, and exterior trim. See our full list on the [Services](/services) page, most homeowners bundle door work with at least one other piece to get a fully refreshed entryway.

Question 13

Can you fix sun damage, fading, and UV bleaching?

Accepted Answer

Yes, UV-damaged wood is our bread and butter. We hand sand through the damaged layer to reach healthy wood, restore the original color with custom stain, and seal it with marine-grade Spar varnish that has UV inhibitors to prevent it from happening again.

Question 14

Do you refinish wood mailboxes too?

Accepted Answer

Yes, [wood mailbox refinishing](/services/wood-mailbox-refinishing) is a core service. Most mailbox projects are done in 1–2 days: complete disassembly, post stability check, hand sanded to bare wood, custom stain, and the same marine-grade varnish system we use on front doors. Annual maintenance available to keep the finish fresh for years. Small project, huge curb-appeal impact.

Question 15

Can you match my mailbox stain to my front door or shutters?

Accepted Answer

Yes, that's one of the most common reasons homeowners add a mailbox to a door or shutter project. We custom-mix and test the stain so the mailbox, door, and shutters all read as one cohesive entryway. Done in coordinated visits, the color match is perfect and it's an easy add-on to any existing refinishing project.

Question 16

What is marine-grade varnish and why do you use it?

Accepted Answer

Marine-grade varnish (also called Spar varnish) was engineered for wooden boats, which get beaten up by sun, saltwater, heat, and humidity all day long. That's also a pretty accurate description of Louisiana weather. It has UV blockers, flexes with wood movement, and stays elastic instead of cracking. It's significantly more durable than standard polyurethane, and it's the only finish we use on exterior wood.

Question 17

How long does your finish last?

Accepted Answer

Most doors refinished with our marine-grade process hold up for 7 or more years before needing a full refinish. With our Annual Varnish Maintenance touch-up program, we've extended that to 12–15 years on some doors. Louisiana weather is brutal, but the right finish plus light yearly maintenance changes the math completely.

Question 18

Should I stain & varnish my door or paint it?

Accepted Answer

Both are great with the right prep. It's a style call. Stain-and-varnish shows off the natural wood grain, ages beautifully, and suits traditional Louisiana homes. Paint gives you unlimited color options and hides imperfections in older doors. Both get our marine-grade protection on the clear coat. We'll walk through your options during the quote.

Question 19

Do you replace or repair door hardware?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We tighten hinges, adjust sag, swap out tired handles, replace weatherstripping, and source matching hardware during the refinishing project. See our [Hardware & Hinge Service](/services/hardware-service) page for details. It's a great add-on. The door is already off, so the work is easy and clean.

Question 20

How does Louisiana humidity affect door refinishing?

Accepted Answer

High humidity slows cure time, so we build that into every project. In peak summer we add 12–24 hours between coats to let each one fully harden. That's why we work on your door off-site in a controlled space instead of rushing it on the hinges, humidity shortcuts cause finish failures nobody sees until 6 months later.

Question 21

Do you work during hurricane season?

Accepted Answer

Yes, June through November is our normal season. We monitor weather closely, and if a named storm is approaching we'll reschedule to protect your home and our crew. We've been through plenty of hurricane seasons on the Northshore and we know how to work around the forecasts.

Question 22

Can you prep my door for hurricane season?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we recommend it. A fresh coat of marine-grade varnish, hardware tightening, and weatherstripping replacement in March–May gives your door maximum protection before the first storm rolls in. A well-sealed door handles wind-driven rain way better than a tired one.

Question 23

What areas on the Northshore do you serve?

Accepted Answer

Our core service area is Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Folsom, and Pearl River, all of St. Tammany Parish. We're born-and-raised locals and this is our territory. If you're on the Northshore, we're your people.

Question 24

Do you serve Slidell, Madisonville, and areas outside Mandeville?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We cover Slidell and all of St. Tammany Parish regularly, and we travel to select areas of Tangipahoa Parish for larger projects. If you're not sure whether we serve your area, just call or text us. We'll tell you straight.

Question 25

Why should I choose Churchkey over other refinishers?

Accepted Answer

Three reasons. First, we use marine-grade Spar varnish on every exterior job, not cheap polyurethane that fails in two Louisiana summers. Second, we're owner-operated: the guys who quote the job are the same guys who do the work. No lead-gen middlemen, no day-rate subcontractors. Third, we hand sand every door, no chemical strippers, no shortcuts. That's how you get a finish that actually lasts.

Question 26

Is refinishing better than replacing my front door?

Accepted Answer

In almost every case, yes. Refinishing costs a fraction of replacement, preserves the character and craftsmanship of your original door, and old-growth wood doors are often higher quality than what's sold today. Unless your door is rotted through or structurally failing, refinishing is the smart move.

Question 27

Why is your business called Churchkey?

Accepted Answer

We love vintage, hand-crafted things, especially old bottle openers. In the early 1900s bottle openers were called churchkeys because they looked like the big iron skeleton keys used to unlock old church doors. We thought it fit: restoration is patient work, good tools matter, and the craft speaks for itself.

DOOR REFINISHING FAQIN MANDEVILLE, LA.

27 Questions. 27 Real Answers.

Ask Us Directly.

DOOR REFINISHING FAQIN MANDEVILLE, LA.

27 Questions. 27 Real Answers.

How do I get started with my door refinishing project?Getting Started

How long does front door refinishing take?Getting Started

Will I be without a front door while you work?Getting Started

How does pricing work? Do you offer free quotes?Getting Started

Do you remove the door or refinish it on the hinges?Our Process

Do you use chemical strippers on doors?Our Process

What kind of finish do you put on doors?Our Process

Do you clean up after the job is done?Our Process

What kinds of wood doors can you refinish?Services

Can you fix pet scratches and dog damage?Services

Can you match my existing stain color?Services

Do you also refinish shutters, porch posts, and exterior trim?Services

Can you fix sun damage, fading, and UV bleaching?Services

Do you refinish wood mailboxes too?Services

Can you match my mailbox stain to my front door or shutters?Services

What is marine-grade varnish and why do you use it?Materials & Durability

How long does your finish last?Materials & Durability

Should I stain & varnish my door or paint it?Materials & Durability

Do you replace or repair door hardware?Materials & Durability

How does Louisiana humidity affect door refinishing?Louisiana Weather

Do you work during hurricane season?Louisiana Weather

Can you prep my door for hurricane season?Louisiana Weather

What areas on the Northshore do you serve?Service Areas

Do you serve Slidell, Madisonville, and areas outside Mandeville?Service Areas

Why should I choose Churchkey over other refinishers?About Churchkey

Is refinishing better than replacing my front door?About Churchkey

Why is your business called Churchkey?About Churchkey

Ask Us Directly.