Metal restoration is priced per piece, not per square foot — a set of brass elevator doors, a bronze entry surround, a run of stainless railing. Every quote reflects the metal type, the depth of damage, the finish you want back, and whether the work happens on-site or in our shop. Photo quotes are usually same-day; there’s no standard rate card because no two pieces have lived the same life.
Rose Restoration restores architectural metal throughout Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Send photos or call (703) 327-7676.
How Metal Restoration Is Quoted
| Typical Scope | How It’s Priced | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elevator doors and cab interiors | Per panel / per cab | Most common commercial request; usually restored overnight, in place |
| Entry doors and door surrounds | Per opening | Brass, bronze, stainless; refinished on-site to avoid removal |
| Handrails and railings | Per run | Scratch removal, refinish, and protective coating |
| Kick plates, push bars, hardware | Per set | Often bundled with door or lobby work |
| Mailbox banks, directory frames, signage | Per unit | Lobby detail work that transforms first impressions |
| Light fixtures, statuary, decorative elements | Assessed individually | Shop or on-site depending on the piece |
These are ranges. Your surface is specific.
Send photos and we will price your actual square footage, condition, and access. Most estimates go out the same day.
What Drives the Price
1. The Metal Itself
Brass, bronze, copper, stainless steel, and aluminum each respond to different abrasives, chemistry, and technique. Solid metal can be cut back and refinished repeatedly; plated surfaces need a far more conservative approach — identifying which you have is the first thing we do.
2. Depth of Damage
Fingerprints and light oxidation buff out quickly. Deep scratches, dents, graffiti, and failed lacquer require progressively more stages of cutting and refinement before the final finish. The deeper the damage, the more stages — and the more time per piece.
3. The Finish You Want Back
Mirror polish, satin, brushed, oil-rubbed, or a maintained patina — each is a different process. Matching the original architectural finish on a landmark building takes more skill than making metal generically shiny, and it’s the difference you’re paying for.
4. On-Site vs. Shop, and Access
Most architectural metal is restored in place — elevator doors overnight so cars run by morning, entry doors one leaf at a time so the building never closes. Pieces that come to our shop trade convenience for a more controlled finish. Height and access (ladders, lifts) also factor in.
5. Protection After Restoration
A restored finish should be protected — lacquer, wax, or a maintenance program depending on the metal and traffic. We include our recommendation in every quote, because restoring the same doors every two years is nobody’s plan.
Why We Don’t Publish a Flat Rate
A per-square-foot number for metal would either overcharge easy work or underprice hard work — so we quote from photos instead, and we’re fast about it. Send a few pictures with your phone, tell us the building and rough dimensions, and you’ll typically have a real number the same day. No site visit needed for most metal quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does elevator door restoration cost?
Elevator doors are quoted per panel based on metal type, damage, and finish. Photo quotes are usually same-day, and the work itself typically happens overnight so cars are back in service by morning. Send photos of your doors for a firm number.
Is it cheaper to restore metal or replace it?
Restoration is almost always a fraction of replacement — and for older buildings, replacement often isn’t even possible: the manufacturer is gone, the profile is discontinued, or the piece is integral to the architecture. We restore the original metal in place.
Can you match a historic or original finish?
Yes — matching original finishes on landmark and historic buildings is a specialty. We test in an inconspicuous area first and match sheen, grain direction, and patina before touching the visible work.
Get an Exact Price
Send photos of the metal — doors, rails, panels, fixtures — and we’ll usually come back with a firm number the same day. Or call (703) 327-7676. See our commercial metal restoration and residential metal restoration services, and the full cost guide.
If you are weighing metal restoration against replacement, the first question is almost always cost. The short answer: restoring metal typically runs a fraction of replacement, because the original material stays in place and only the finish is renewed. This guide breaks down what drives the price across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia market.
What Drives Metal Restoration Cost
Pricing depends on the metal, the condition, the finish you want, and access. A single tarnished brass fixture is inexpensive; a corroded bronze monument or a full lobby of scratched stainless is a larger project. The biggest variables are surface area, the severity of corrosion or damage, and whether the work is on site or in our shop.
By Metal Type
- Brass: stripping old lacquer, polishing, and re-lacquering hardware, fixtures, and railings.
- Bronze: conserving statuary and architectural bronze, indoors or out.
- Stainless steel: scratch removal and re-graining for elevators, appliances, and railings.
- Architectural metal: railings, facades, and ornamental work, often mixed-metal.
Restoration vs Replacement
Replacing architectural metal means fabrication, removal, and installation, often at many times the cost of refinishing, and it discards original material that may be irreplaceable on historic buildings. For most fixtures, panels, and railings, restoration delivers a like-new finish for far less.
Get an Exact Number
Every piece is different, so we quote from photos rather than guessing on the phone. Learn more about our metal restoration across the DC metro, then send a few photos for a written estimate. Rose Restoration has refinished metal for homes, hotels, and landmark buildings since 1978.
