Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Moss.
Hi Kelsey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2019 I bought my first home. It was a 1925 home with all the original windows and doors. It had been a rental for many years so everything was covered in 20 layers of paint and most of the windows were painted shut. My wife really wanted the original wood work in the home to shine so I was tasked with removing all the paint and getting everything to function again. I have always been a woodworker so this was right up my alley. After fixing up my own home we moved to STL. Here I found another company that did restoration work to work for. I wanted to see if I had done it “right”. It turns out I had done it right. After working for that company for about 6 months I wanted to continue to level up my craft and I had always wanted to start my own business, so my wife encouraged me to take the leap and start Moss Restoration. We began the hunt for the perfect location and once we found it we officially launched.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
All of the best entrepreneurs I know say their success is a lot of hard work and some luck. I would say the same. I work hard to make this company run smoothly. I hope from our clients perspective and our employees perspective it runs smoothly, behind the scenes I am working hard to make it that way. But there have been bumps. A lot of people start business because they love a thing, they love to cook so they open a restaurant, they love to build so they open a restoration shop, but there are so many other factors you become in charge of: logistics, communication, laws, HR, etc. It can be a lot and it only gets more as you grow. Our biggest bumps are finding staff in a very specialized trade is hard. So we have adapted to not trying to find people with the restoration skills but people who are a good fit and want to learn a new trade. We do a lot of in house training, which takes a lot of time, but now we plan for a longer onboarding process. The city has been very helpful in providing answers and walking us through how to stay compliant with rules and regulations as we got started so we didn’t feel so overwhelmed in figuring out how to even get started. So I work hard to make this run well but there will always be bumps here and there. I am lucky that so far the bumps have been bumps and not mountains.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Moss Restoration LLC?
We specialize in historic door and window restoration. This means that we will only work on your windows if they are built before 1940. After this there was a shift in construction and the quality/type of window shifted. We are a very specialized company. Most of our clients think their windows need to be replaced but I caution against replacement. Your old wood windows are meant to be restored and fixed over and over again. You probably have paint that is cracking and needs to be removed and repainted, not to throw away the whole window. We are one of the largest window restoration shops in the city. I know there can be a back log or waitlist for our work but I promise the wait will be worth it. We help you get functioning windows and maintain the original charm of your home. Also I caution against replacement windows as they have a high failure rate and typically will last no more than 20 years before they need to be thrown out and completely replaced. With our services I would expect new paint every 10 years or so. If you say on top of your window maintenance the restored windows should last upwards of 50 years before they need major repairs again. They should never need to be thrown away. We pride ourselves on our high quality craftsmanship as well as our contribution to helping homeowners reduce their carbon footprint by keeping their original wood windows. We also install high quaility storm windows.
We also do door refinishing. We will remove the exterior coating of the door that becomes cracks, white, and dry and no longer protects the door. We remove that, restore the color of the door with new stain and then reseal the door to protect the wood. Most of the doors in the city are round top or other custom widths and heights so replacement is not an easy option. Most importantly, they typically don’t need to be replaced but restored. This is where we help you make your home’s first impression just right. As guests come over they see your beautiful front door and know this is a home that is loved and taken care of.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Please know the value of your home’s original components. They are meant to last as long as the home does. Modern replacement windows and doors are meant to have a life cycle that is much shorter. This is what helps those companies stay in business. Don’t get fooled into “needing” to replace your doors or windows. Restored windows with a quality storm window are as energy efficient as a modern replacement window, but will last much longer and keep things out of the dump. I encourage people to always at least get a second opinion and know all their options before replacing any window or door. There are other great window restoration companies in town too. We all want to see as many original windows and doors kept as possible so find the right fit for you and your home. Restoration and replacement windows and doors can be expensive so take your time making the choice and don’t feel pressure to decide right away. Your windows and doors have lasted 90-100+ years, a few more months is not going to ruin them as you explore all your options.
Pricing:
- Pricing is so unique to each home as the details and level of need differ greatly. I always encourage people to reach out and send pictures to get a ballpark price from us if they are curious. I know we work in a specialized field where you have no idea what it costs and you can’t google it. We are happy to give ballpark prices from pictures anytime.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mossrestoration.com
