An attractive entry door can make a great first impression and boost your home’s curb appeal, but sunlight, rain, and frost can damage and leave signs of wear on wood and iron doors.
Fortunately, Door Restore in Birmingham restores and maintains doors. “We only work on doors. They’re our specialty,” said owner Van Etheridge.
A former art major who loves working with his hands, Van formerly painted murals and did wall finishes while also restoring iron and wooden doors.
“When the economy crashed in 2008, I went to work selling pharmaceuticals while restoring iron doors on the weekends,” Van said. “When the pharmaceutical company was sold and laid off its sales team, I officially started Door Restore.”
The company is a family affair. Three years ago, Van began working with his son Griffin, who earned his business degree from The University of Alabama. A year later, he hired Griffin’s twin brother, Skyler, who also earned his business degree at UA.
“It’s fun watching them take what they learned and apply it to the real world, especially in all the facets of owning your own business,” Van said.
Door Restore offers customers a money-saving maintenance program that keeps doors looking their best.
“Wood doors weather quickly and need a new top coat every year or two, depending on exposure, sun and rain,” Etheridge said. “We provide maintenance once a year, including a topcoat to save customers money in the future. Iron doors have a special oil-rubbed bronze or other metal hues in them. We’re able to restore your door to the original finish.”
Door Restore now also sells and installs custom iron and steel doors. The National Association of REALTORS’ 2025 Remodeling Impact Report estimated that a new iron or steel front door recovers 100% of its cost at resale.
For details or a free quote, call 205-492-5866 or visit doorrestore.org.
