- Home
- Read all about it
- Making it Shine!
Making it Shine!
McBuffers restores the metal hardware and fixtures found in homes, hotels and houses of worship.
Front door hardware that costs $40 to $75 to restore might cost $400 to replace.
Lou Kusner’s McBuffers metal polishing and refinishing restores majestic style to Greater Cleveland homes.
By: Ken McEnteeDate: 10/22/2009
Doorknobs, hinges, locks and other metal features, insists Lou Kusner, owner of McBuffers, are “the jewelry of your house.”
That would make McBuffers your home’s jeweler. For 25 years, McBuffers has specialized in polishing and refinishing chrome, gold, silver, copper, brass and nickel.
“We can change the whole complexion of your home,” Lou promises. “We did all the hardware for a home that sold on Fairmont. The owner said one of the reasons it sold so quickly was because the buyers looked at the hardware and said, ‘This really looks great.’”
McBuffers handles hardware, fireplace equipment, chandeliers, lamps, kick plates and all other metal items.
“We can take brass and make it nickel,” Lou explains. “If it’s nickel we can make it brass. The two most popular finishes we’re doing now are oil rubbed bronze and satin nickel. We complete most projects with a baked on lacquer finish.”
Demonstrating a half-completed brass bed at his facility on Dille Road, in Euclid, Lou points out the stark contrast between the “before and after.” The unfinished portion appears uncompromisingly curb-ready. The shining finished portion could grace the floor of the finest furniture store.
“There is no magic here,” Lou insists. “It is just hard work and it’s very labor intensive.”
That’s why most customers who drop by for a bottle of McBuffers’ special polish inevitably return with the piece they started to work on.
A true entrepreneur, Lou started McBuffers to fill a need in the marketplace.
McBuffers’ first location was a 600 square foot shop located in Beachwood.
“The demand was so strong that we ran out of room in six months,” Lou recalls. “We found this place, which is perfect, and we’ve been here ever since.”
About 60-percent of Lou’s business is residential, but large commercial customers also ring his phone.
“We’ve done work for the Ritz Carlton, Embassy Suites, Hilton and Holiday Inn. Name a major hotel around here and we’ve done work for them,” Lou says. “We’ve also done a lot of churches. We just completed Parkside Church, in Bainbridge, and we’ve done the Church of the Western Reserve and Mentor United Methodist Church.”
The Hanna Mansion, in Bratenahl, was another major project.
All of McBuffers’ work is done in-house.
The cost of restoring hardware is a fraction of the cost of replacement, Lou insists.
“A piece of door hardware that costs $40 to $75 to restore might cost $400 to replace,” he says. “Then you’d have to refit the holes. When people bring in door hinges we ask them to label them with tape. Then we engrave the back so you know exactly where they go, because all things are not always equal.”
One of our specialties is same day service on refinishing front door hardware,” Lou says, “as long as it is made of solid brass.”
To get a quote on refinishing, you can call, but it’s best to drop in and have Lou take a look.
McBuffers is located at 1420 Dille Road, Unit F, in Euclid, conveniently close to the E. 185th exit off I-90. You can reach McBuffers at 216-486-6696, or visit the website at www.mcbuffers.com. The hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. McBuffers also features a boutique section of refurbished goods from estate sales.
Get In touch with this business.
Mimi's Calling Cards do not currently include a listing for this business.
