Yates Woodwork FAQ

Q) Do you install projects?

A) We offer installation services when doing so provides a good value to the client, typically for smaller installations relatively close to our shop in Salem. For larger scopes of installation work, we can recommend a number of licensed installers in the Willamette Valley, or can coordinate with your installer of choice.

Q) What is your service area?

A) We ordinarily do site visits in the Willamette Valley, from Portland to Eugene, and out to the Oregon Coast. Currently our installation services are limited to the state of Oregon.

We will ship doors, sash, and other millwork nationwide. This is best suited to projects where we can work from measurements, profiles, or shop drawings sent to us.

Q) Do you do lead paint removal or abatement?

A) We will do minor lead paint removal in order to remove millwork components for repair or replacement. We are Lead Based Paint Renovator (LBPR) licensed in Oregon to do this work and bid on repairs to pre-1978 housing.

For more extensive lead paint stripping or abatement, we can recommend other shops that specialize in this.

Q) Do you do paint work?

A) We do not. We provide millwork either sanded, unfinished, or with the options detailed below.

Q) Do you offer other finish work?

A)Yates Woodwork offers limited finish options in house. Currently, these include:

Oil finishes:

-Linseed oil. Recommended as a primer on all exterior work. Compatible with exterior latex paints if primed with a suitable oil-based primer.

-Tung oil. Best where minimal color change is a priority.

-Oil/varnish blends. A good repairable option for interior surfaces that gives a bit more water resistance.

Shellac finishes:

-Various colors available, ranging from blonde to deeper amber, orange, reddish, and purplish tones. Shellac can shift wood color subtly, and works great on woods that take pigment stains unevenly.

-Shellac was commonly used from the early 19th century up till the 1920s, when nitrocellulose lacquers became more common, so it is an excellent choice for historic work.

-Shellac has only moderate resistance to moisture, so it is best topcoated with a more durable finish when used in kitchens or bathrooms.

All of these finishes allow spot repairs and recoating without sanding or stripping. They have stood the test of time, are relatively user-friendly, and will be available for the foreseeable future.