Wood Restoration & Refinishing in Portland
From original doors and handrails to built-ins, stairs, and treasured furniture, Portlandia Remodeling & Home Maintenance brings worn and weathered wood back to life. We specialize in historic wood restoration and refinishing across Portland — stripping old paint and finishes, then hand-sanding, staining, and sealing to reveal the grain and craftsmanship hidden beneath decades of wear.
We focus on the pieces that give a home its character — doors, railings, steps, trim, built-ins, and furniture — restoring old-growth wood rather than replacing it.
Free estimates — call (971) 400-1509 or request a quote below.
What We Restore & Refinish
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Entry doors, pocket doors, and interior doors restored to their original character. We strip failing paint and finish, repair damaged areas, retain original hardware where possible, and refinish for lasting protection.
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Worn treads, risers, and handrails sanded, stained, and sealed to restore both their beauty and their grip — a great way to refresh a staircase without replacing it.
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We strip old finishes from original Douglas fir trim, baseboards, and window casings, then sand, stain, and seal them to highlight the tight grain of old-growth wood while preserving period-correct detail.
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Buffets, bookcases, breakfast nooks, and cabinetry brought back to a furniture-quality finish. We carefully preserve details like leaded glass and original joinery while refinishing the wood beneath layers of old paint.
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Tables, dressers, and heirloom pieces refinished to a furniture-quality finish. We strip old coatings, make needed repairs, and hand-finish to bring back the natural depth of the wood.
Our Sand, Stain & Seal Process
1. Assessment & consultation
We evaluate the wood's condition, talk through your goals, and recommend the right approach — restore, refinish, or selectively repair.
2. Stripping & hand-sanding
Old paint and failing finishes are carefully removed, and the wood is meticulously hand-sanded to reveal the grain beneath.
3. Repairs & wood matching
Damaged areas are repaired and, where needed, blended with period-correct wood that matches the original.
4. Sealing & protection
A durable sealed finish locks in the look and protects the wood for years of everyday use.
4. Staining
We apply a custom-matched stain that enhances the natural character and grain of the wood.
Recent Restoration Projects
Historic Douglas Fir Trim Restoration
These century-old Douglas fir casing boards were carefully restored to preserve the character and craftsmanship of a historic Portland home. Layers of old finish were removed through meticulous sanding, revealing the tight grain and rich natural beauty of the original old-growth wood. The trim was then professionally stained and sealed to enhance the dramatic grain patterns while providing long-lasting protection. This restoration project showcases our expertise in historic home restoration, Douglas fir refinishing, wood trim restoration, period-correct woodworking, stain and finish work, and preservation of original architectural details throughout Portland's historic neighborhoods.
Historic Pocket Door Restoration – Northwest Portland
This century-old pocket door in a historic Northwest Portland home was carefully restored to preserve its original craftsmanship and architectural character. Multiple layers of old paint were stripped away, exposing the beautiful old-growth wood hidden beneath. The door was meticulously sanded, stained, and sealed to highlight the dramatic grain patterns while providing long-term protection and durability. This project showcases our expertise in historic home restoration, pocket door refinishing, paint removal, wood door restoration, period-correct woodworking, stain and finish work, and preservation of original architectural details throughout Portland's historic neighborhoods.
Historic Entry Door Restoration – Sellwood, Portland
This badly weathered century-old entry door in a historic Sellwood home was carefully restored to preserve its original craftsmanship and architectural character. Layers of failing paint and finish were stripped away, damaged areas were repaired, and the old-growth wood was meticulously sanded to reveal the beautiful grain hidden beneath. The door was then custom stained and sealed to provide long-lasting protection while highlighting the rich natural character of the original wood. Original hardware was retained and restored whenever possible to maintain the home's historic integrity. This project showcases our expertise in historic home restoration, entry door refinishing, wood door restoration, paint removal, old-growth Douglas fir restoration, stain and finish work, and preservation of original architectural details throughout Portland's historic neighborhoods.
Historic Flooring Restoration – Hawthorne Neighborhood, Portland
When converting an adjacent mudroom into finished living space, our client wanted the new flooring to blend seamlessly with the century-old kitchen floor in this historic Hawthorne home. We sourced reclaimed Douglas fir tongue-and-groove flooring and carefully integrated it with the original wood, matching the width, grain pattern, character marks, and overall appearance of the existing floor. After installation, the reclaimed flooring was sanded, stained, and finished to create a natural transition between old and new, preserving the home's historic charm while expanding its usable living space. This project highlights our expertise in historic home restoration, reclaimed Douglas fir flooring, tongue-and-groove floor installation, wood floor matching, old-growth lumber restoration, custom carpentry, and period-correct renovations throughout Portland's historic neighborhoods.
Built-In Buffet Restoration – Eastmoreland Neighborhood, Portland
This 1920s built-in buffet in Portland’s historic Eastmoreland neighborhood was carefully restored to highlight the original craftsmanship and character of the home. Multiple layers of paint were stripped away, exposing the beautiful old-growth wood beneath. The cabinet was then meticulously sanded, stained, and sealed, while preserving the original leaded glass doors and period details. The finished piece now serves as a striking focal point, blending historic charm with a rich, furniture-quality finish. This project showcases our expertise in historic home restoration, built-in cabinet restoration, wood refinishing, paint removal, staining and sealing, leaded glass cabinet restoration, and custom woodworking in Portland, Oregon.
Why Portland Homeowners Trust Their Historic Wood to Us
As the owner of a 1911 Portland Four-Square, I understand the unique challenges of older homes firsthand. Many Portland homes were built between 1900 and 1950, long before modern materials — their original doors, trim, stairs, and built-ins deserve restoration, not replacement. That's the work we love most.
Specialists in historic Portland homes and old-growth wood
Hands-on craftsmanship on doors, railings, stairs, built-ins, trim, and furniture
Honest communication and free, no-pressure estimates
Licensed & insured — Oregon CCB# 219486
Serving Portland & the Surrounding Metro
We provide wood restoration and refinishing throughout the Portland metro area, including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Milwaukie, and Oregon City. If you have original woodwork worth saving, we'd love to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Doors, handrails, stairs and steps, trim and casings, built-ins and cabinetry, and furniture. If it's wood and it has good bones, we can likely bring it back to life.
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We focus on refinishing doors, railings, stairs, trim, built-ins, and furniture rather than sanding large floor areas. If you need whole-floor refinishing, we're glad to point you toward a trusted specialist.
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Yes. We source reclaimed and period-correct Douglas fir and match width, grain, and character so restored or extended areas blend seamlessly with your original wood.
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In most historic homes, the original old-growth wood is higher quality than anything you can buy today and is well worth restoring. We'll give you an honest assessment of what can be saved.
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Yes. Stripping layers of old paint and finish to reveal the wood beneath is a core part of our restoration work.
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It varies by scope — a single door differs from a full staircase or a built-in. We'll give you a clear timeline with your estimate.
Ready to Restore Your Home?
Tell us about your doors, railings, stairs, built-ins, or furniture and we'll help bring them back to life. Free estimates throughout the Portland metro.
Call (971) 400-1509 or fill out the form.