James Sechser

Restoration Woodworker

Specializing in Doors and Windows in the Omaha, NE area

Hours of Operation

Hours of Operation: 8am-5pm Weekdays.

Closed: Weekends and most Holidays.

Estimates: Only on Fridays

I will respond to new Inquiries as soon as I can get to them.

About Me

Greetings! I'm James and I am a Woodworker who specializes in the Restoration and Preservation of old wooden windows and wooden doors. I also build new wooden windows and wooden doors in the classic styles. I operate out of the Historic Dundee Neighborhood in Omaha, Ne but will travel the city and region for the right projects.

I'm one of the lucky people who found their niche in life and I truly love my craft. I have been restoring professionally since 2021 but my passion and experience goes back much further. I have worked on countless homes in many of the classic styles. I have worked on government buildings, buildings on the National Registry, beloved businesses in Omaha, and even historic barns.

When I'm not practicing my craft, I enjoy being with my family, lifting weights, folk dancing, and being active in my community. I'm big on mutualism and taking care of my neighbors and friends. The environment is very important to me and that's why I make sustainability a major part of my craft.

Now that you know more about me, let's talk about what I do and how I might fit into your project...

Why you should you consider Restoring over Replacing

Most windows and doors in older homes were designed to last lifetimes as long as maintenance is performed. Even if your features have gone neglected for some time, there is still hope! The stiles and rails of your fenestrations can be rid of wood rot, worn ropes can be rehung on their sash and weights, and broken glass can be reglazed.

This is not the same case for most modern windows and doors. These features were not designed to be maintained, and instead designed to be replaced, which makes you fall into a perpetual cycle of replacing. Instead, you can engage in a maintenance cycle!

Let's talk about that..

Preserving and Restoring your Windows

Preservation is the service needed for windows that are engaged in the maintenance cycle and might need a little additional work. Think fixing the ropes on your double hung sash, or replacing broken glass and glazing it in it's sash.

Restoration is the type of service needed for an opening that has gone neglected for some time. Think about situations where there is wood rot severe enough that the wood is failing, or perhaps you want the window stripped of paint and sanded rough to fine, so that new paint can be added. This is the more time-consuming service but it is worth every penny.

No matter which service your windows need, the goal is to get your window back to like-new status, operating as intended by the original housewright who made your sash, with some features that still show their character and age.

Preserving and Restoring your Doors

Preservation and Restoration of your exterior Doors is very similar to saving your windows. Without repeating everything I already mentioned, the biggest difference is the size of the fenestration involved and coordinating logistics such as a temporary door while yours is at my shop.

Often times doors have much bigger and more ornate hardware, so I also put an emphasis on polishing your handles and hinges so that your investment is a shining example of the love for your old home.

Many exterior doors also have glass features that are unique and hard to come by. Be it beveled glass, leaded or strained glass, or even a unique art glass--I'm able to repair it or replicate it.

Replacing your Replacements

Are you sick of those replacement vinyl windows a real estate flipper installed... Or maybe you installed some and have regrets (no judgement here)? Maybe you want to add more character to your home with a beautiful quarter-sawn oak storm door that matches the style of your century home? While I love restoration and preservation, my heart is also in creating one-of-a-kind wood features for your home to shine. Sash, casement windows, storm doors, solid core or stave core doors--I might be interested in your project and would love to work with an enthusiastic client.

You've read this far... You must be curious about how much my services cost.

Costs & Pricing

It's very difficult to assign a cost to your project without looking at it. I have restored windows from $600 to $2600 per opening. I have restored doors from $800-$4000 per opening. Often times I have identified projects that didn't need to be restored and instead needed some Preservation work, which is on the more affordable side compared to Restoration.

If you have a few photos of your project and send them to me in an introductory text message, this will help me gauge if this is the right project for me to work on.

If this is in your budget range, here's information on hiring me..

Retaining My Services

If you would like to show me your project, contact me by texting me at the number at the top or bottom of this page, or e-mail me at the e-mail address at the bottom of this page. Photos and a brief description help me understand if I will be interested in your project. If I am, we can schedule a time for me to look at your project and then I can give you an estimate. If you like your estimate, I ask for a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total of your project. The other 50% isn't due until your project is completed or if we agreed to special payment terms. I keep it simple. I keep it accessible.

I also encourage you to 'shop around' to different woodworkers or restoration specialists in the area. You should find that my costs are the most affordable and I've been told that I'm the easiest to reach and the most personable (my wife says that I'm the most handsome one too).

I like to reiterate that I am not a salesman. I'm a craftsman who has empathy for whatever your situation is. I will not try to upsell you anything. I'll give you options and suggestions without pressure and answer questions to the best of my abilities.

At the same time, I cannot describe myself as a handyman or general contractor. If you're a landlord, investor, flipper, or realtor, I am probably not your man. My craft is rich with sincerity and takes time and is very meticulous, and I am typically booked out for months.

Helping others while maintaining Boundaries

I love to help others, but I've come to the realization that I need to keep some boundaries in order to conserve my energy for clients who have retained my services. Here are a few things I like to touch on if you're seeking some advice instead of a traditional estimate and services:

If you just need advice: If you are a homeowner who just wants some advice on a project and doesn't want to hire me, feel free to get ahold of me and within reason I'll help you.

Insurance numbers: If you need an estimate for the sake of insurance numbers or for another matter than doesn't include hiring me, please inform me of your intent so we may discuss a solution.

Consulting: If you are seeking something more intense and need me to oversee your project from a hands-off role, my consulting fee is $37.50 (rounded up to every thirty minutes). Depending on the length of the project, I will entertain a barter.

How to Hire Me: If I am interested in your project and you have accepted my estimate, I will for require a 50% non-refundable deposit before I can schedule your work. I know that some woodworkers want a deposit of 75% or even 100%, but I like to keep my services accessible to enthusiastic and serious clients.

Quick Fixes & Timelines: I am not a handyman. If you are looking for a quick fix type of solution, I am not your man. A set of 3 double hung windows typically takes around 5 weeks just to restore because of drying times. Sometimes projects go on longer than expected because of surprises. Not only do you have to be financially invested in your restoration project, you have to also be invested in trusting the process of my labors and techniques.

On my style and aesthetic

My core aesthetic and style are heavily influenced from my long term surroundings of old Omaha neighborhoods, the plains of rural farmland, and my love for folk art. My aesthetic has be described as "folky" or "natural" as I prefer to work with linseed oil mediums and other historically minded techniques, and I find that the occasional line in paint is a sign of human hands and not paint sprayers or prefab style manufacturing. I believe that signs of use in wood shows character and tells a story, just like the patina in a brass doorknob or the stair treads in a family's home. While restoration will keep your windows working for a very long time, it's also important to show off their character by highlighting their signs of age with care and expert craftsmanship.

I rarely use products with plastics in them. I believe that a dutchman wood repair or a replication of a wood feature, is superior to the use of epoxies.

While I do like the "old ways" of craftsmanship and I love my older refurbished antique tools, I also use state of the art power tools like Festool dust collectors and sanders to make my work as efficient and safe as possible.

Conservation is an important aspect of my craftsmanship: my work produces very little waste. The vast majority of the glass I use is recycled from older windows, and most of the wood I use is old growth lumber salvaged from other windows and doors. Even my wood scraps end up in my rabbit's run or in my garden.

Some accolades and what's going on in 2026.

My work and I have been featured in the Omaha World Herald, the Lincoln Journal Star, and most recently Omaha Magazine. I have also given a lecture at the historic Joslyn Castle on door restoration, and receieved formal awards on my work. My Instagram is also a fun follow.

For 2026 I'm focused on improving my skills through education under other proven woodworkers. I have put a lot of focus into my joinery skills and have become comfortable with different kinds of joinery. I'm also hoping to finish any long term projects that I still have out there, and squaring away things on the business end of things.

Phone & Text: [ 402-577-0793 ]

Email: [ wattleanddaubcraftsman@gmail.com ]

Follow me on Instagram: [ @wattleanddaubcraftsman ]

Licensed & Insured

Bartering Entertained