Today we’d like to introduce you to Lance Daniel Aulffo.
Hi Lance Daniel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a fourth generation Master refinisher specializing in furniture grade Grand entryway refinishing an antique door restoration. My great-grandfather started finishing and refinishing wood in 1907 Chieti,Italy. I am Hilton Head and Savannah’s only Craftsman solely dedicated to furniture grade front door refinishing. In 1987 the school bus would drop me off at my family’s shop where I started to learn my craft by refinishing furniture, doors and Cabinetry. In the Summers I would go full-time on job sites for large projects such as a estate refinishing and church restoration. In 1992 after graduating high school I went full time working in the family business. Shortly after in 1994 I launched my own business. I’ve had a unique opportunity to build my skill set by restoring entryways as far back as the 1700s, adapting to climate change, new products and seamlessly marrying wood refinishing with decorative painting. Decorative painting comes in very handy when a entryways existing finish has been removed and undesirable color variations are discovered in the various pieces of wood used to construct the entryway. We’ve all heard the old saying about inconsistencies being…” the beauty of the wood” this statement Rings true seldomly. This saying was made Popular by lower level finishers who did not possess the knowledge of how to manipulate and change colors of individual boards used to create entryways, furniture, etc. Over the years I have developed and mastered a unique 17 phase, non- abrasive,multi-step procedure that is unmatched furniture grade quality finish with unparalleled Beauty and longevity. My process works well with any wood species, doorstyle, size, veneer or solid wood I will personally transform your door from any weather/sun beating condition to a furniture grade showroom quality entryway. Most of my work is performed in the Lowcountry. I am available for travel for larger projects such as historic churches, Estates and country clubs. No one does more… for your front door!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge was adjusting to the climate of the Low Country. The products I used in New Jersey did not hold up as well as I would like. I had to change all my products and adjust some techniques to fare the harsh subtropical weather of the Hilton Head area.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I guess the biggest thing that sets me apart from others in my trade is the ability to uniform all the different colored Woods that are used to create an entryway. Most people say oh that’s just the wood that’s your door. There is nothing that can be done. Of course that’s easy to say. It took me years to perfect the art of unifying the color of doors. Sometimes when you strip a door that’s 200 years old not only are you dealing with boards that have aged differently and change colors but sometimes the different sections of the entryway are different Woods. I’ve worked on doors where the frame would be White Oak and the door would be a red mahogany. To try and make everything look like the same wood that’s where the real Artistry comes in.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m a fan of the app next door. It is unbelievable the work referrals I get from it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://DoorRefinish.com
