From Damaged to Dapper

This pine door in Covington's River Forest subdivision faced the perfect storm of damage - five years of western sun exposure had bleached and cracked the finish, while a large Labrador's daily scratching had gouged deep marks across the lower third.

The homeowner had initially planned to replace the door entirely, but our assessment revealed solid wood that could be completely restored to better-than-new condition. This complex restoration combined multiple specialized techniques to address both sun damage and pet damage simultaneously.

The process began with complete stripping using eco-friendly gel removers that penetrate deep into damaged finish without harming the underlying pine. Sun damage had created uneven color absorption across the door's surface, requiring careful sanding to achieve uniform wood tone.

The pet damage restoration involved filling dozens of claw marks with professional wood filler, then skillfully grain-matching each repair to blend invisibly with the surrounding pine. Color matching was particularly challenging due to the pine's natural color variation and the effects of sun exposure.

We custom-mixed a honey pine stain that would both restore the wood's original warmth and provide uniform color across previously damaged areas. The finishing system includes five coats of ultra-durable marine-grade spar urethane with maximum scratch resistance and UV protection.

The transformation is remarkable - what appeared to be a door beyond saving now serves as a beautiful, durable entrance that can withstand both Louisiana sun and pet activity.