Old wooden furniture is usually worth refinishing as it is exquisitely made of high quality wood.
Regardless of the daring contemporary trends in interior design that challenge the traditional home layout and classical home furnishing, wooden furniture still tops the list of most widely preferred interior solutions. It comes as no wonder that the majority of homeowners opt for wooden furniture pieces as they are not only very comfortable and durable but also bring unique coziness and charm to the ambience. Solid wood suggests endurance and grandeur and also allows the creation of intriguing shapes and delicate ornaments, turning wooden furniture into exquisite artwork that can be passed down to the next generations as treasured family heirlooms.
However, wood may lose some of its aesthetic appeal due to wear and tear over time. Scratches and dents, missing veneer, and water stains are common signs of extensive use that need to be taken care of if you want to prolong the life of your wooden furniture pieces and bring back their original good looks. Wood refinishing is your best bet when it comes to restoring the excellent condition of your worn out furniture.
Benefits of Furniture Refinishing
Having your furniture repaired and refinished will allow you to improve the overall appeal of your home décor without spending big on major remodeling or refurbishment projects. If you want to revitalize your surroundings without wasting too much time and money in the process, furniture refinishing is your most beneficial option. It will allow you to:
Refinishing your old furniture pieces will revitalize their appearance and prolong their life.
• Preserve valuable pieces – you will certainly not replace cherished furniture pieces (family heirlooms and antiques) with new ones but if they are damaged or worn out, professional wood furniture repair and refinishing is your only chance to restore them to a good condition and preserve them for the future generations. What’s more, even if your old furniture has no particular sentimental or monetary value, you may want to preserve it because of its fine workmanship and high quality material (keep in mind that modern furniture pieces are rarely made of the high quality wood that was used in the past or created in the exquisite manner that was the standard years ago);
• Provide the comfort you need and the interior design you like – without a doubt, your old furniture perfectly matches your home décor and reflects both your artistic taste and everyday needs. It will be difficult to find new pieces that will fit in the available space and will provide the comfort and the good looks you are used to. Refinishing your existing wood furniture will allow you to revitalize the appearance of your home without any hassle or excessive expenses. Besides, you can create a new interior style if you wish so. Just a touch-up on stain or paint will help you achieve a new look to your preferences;
• Save money – refinishing your old furniture will cost you just a fraction of the market price of a new piece. It is a very good investment as you will have your interior decor refreshed at a low price and without having to replace your comfortable high quality wooden pieces that are perfect for your home layout.
Cost of Refinishing Wood Furniture
It’s difficult to say how much it will cost you to have a specific piece of furniture refinished as every situation is different and many factors come into play. To get an accurate estimate of the final costs of refinishing your furniture, you need to contact professionals in your area and discuss the particular circumstances in your case. However, you can get a realistic idea of what to expect in terms of refinishing options and costs with the help of our useful guidelines:
Factors Determining the Cost of Refinishing Wood Furniture
The worse the condition of your furniture, the more time will be required to repair and refinish it and the higher the cost will be, of course. On the other hand, if a certain piece needs little or no repairs and you want it restored back to its original color and style, you will certainly pay less. To sum it up, the cost of refinishing your furniture will be based on the following factors:
Refinishing detailed woodwork requires meticulous attention and great skills.
• Extent of damage – refinishing is not possible unless any necessary repairs, such as replacing broken or cracked parts, fixing peeling veneer or paint, gluing loose parts back on, removing stains, etc., are performed first. This means that your damaged wooden piece will be thoroughly cleaned, stripped, and sanded down, and then sealed again before stain or paint is applied to achieve the desired final look. All this extra work will, of course, increase the cost;
• Size – larger pieces usually take longer to refinish and require more materials to complete the job, so it’s only natural that they cost more to refinish than smaller pieces do. However, some small items have very intricate detail work that requires special handling, so refinishing them may also cost a lot;
• Required materials – if a rare or expensive material (a hard to find stain, for example) is required to refinish your furniture, you can expect the price to get higher;
• Complexity of the job – the condition and the type of the existing finish is one of the most crucial factors when it comes to furniture refinishing costs. The more labor is required to strip the old finish, the more you will pay. Of course, the same rule applies to the new finish as well – its type, style, and stain determine the final cost of refinishing wood furniture. As already mentioned, the detail of the woodwork is also a major cost factor;
• Your specific requirements – refinishing a piece usually takes about 4 to 8 weeks, so if you need your furniture ready in shorter time, you’ll have to pay for the speedy services. The cost of refinishing your piece will also increase if you want the furniture refinisher to match an exact stain color.
Sometimes, if the base is in good condition and you haven’t requested drastic changes in style and color, the original finish may not be stripped off. Furniture with little wear and tear can be just cleaned to remove built-up dust and dirt and then lightly sanded. A touch-up on paint or stain is all you need to revitalize the overall appearance of the piece and will improve its appeal. This simpler process will be much more affordable than full refinishing, of course.
On the other hand, when special equipment, detailed knowledge, and expert skills are required to refinish some unique furniture of yours (antiques or exquisitely carved pieces), the cost tends to be much higher.
You may consider having several pieces restored by the same furniture refinishers as it will probably result in lower costs per item. Pick-up and delivery are often free of charge but you need to discuss the matter with your chosen company first.
For an accurate estimate, however, you need to have your furniture inspected by a professional. Discuss all your options, as well as the pricing components for each aspect of the restoration and refinishing process, and clearly state your preferences in order to get a realistic idea of what your refinished furniture will look like and how much you will have to pay for it. When the specific circumstances in your case and all your requests are taken into account, you will get a final price.
Restoring the good looks of your prized furniture yourself can be a very gratifying experience.
Average Costs
The average cost to refinish wood furniture varies from as little as $150 for a dining chair to above $2500 for armoires, big desks or tables, kitchen cabinets and other larger or more intricate pieces. Homeowners are reported to spend between $300 and $900 on a furniture refinishing project performed by experienced technicians. If this cost seems too high to you, you have the option of refinishing your furniture yourself. Just have in mind that it is quite a tricky task.
DIY or Hire Furniture Refinishing Services
If you are up to the challenge, you can take advantage from some detailed practical guides on how to refinish wood furniture that will take you through all the steps required to successfully complete the job. The comprehensive refinishing kits available on the market include all the materials you will need for your DIY refinishing project (wood cleaner, wax, oil, stain, color charts, instructional videos, plastic gloves, wool pads, etc.) and cost only $40-$60! So, if you have plenty of time and take pride in your craftsmanship, you can refinish your old furniture at a very low price.
However, if you don’t have adequate equipment and some experience with furniture refinishing, you risk wasting lots of time and nerves in the process and even damaging your valuable pieces. So, consider the advantages of professional wood furniture refinishing services before making your final choice:
Contemporary wooden furniture often challenges the traditional aesthetic principles.
• Know-how – furniture refinishers have proper training and rich experience so that they can refinish your piece in the most efficient way possible and preserve or even increase its value;
• Specialized tools and materials – professional refinishing companies have the specialized tools and advanced equipment, as well as various modified tools, required to meet specific furniture refinishing needs and to make use of effective contemporary refinishing techniques. What’s more, they have a huge variety of stains and polishes at their disposal, so that they can achieve the exact look and feel of your furniture you have requested;
• Adequate working area – your furniture will be taken to a safe well-ventilated area, properly equipped with everything necessary, and will be kept there until completely ready (for a month or two).
If you decide to use professional refinishing services, you will not only save yourself a lot of time and effort but will also avoid all the hassle or inconveniences typically associated with repair and restoration works in your home. Best of all, there will be no risk of accidental damage or personal injuries, so you will ensure your peace of mind too. Just do a little research and find reputable furniture refinishers in your area who will offer quality services at a reasonable price.
