How to Refinish Your Wood Furniture like a Pro

If you have wood furniture that needs new life breathed into it, it’s time to refinish the wood. While this can be a do-it-yourself project, you’ll need to be committed to giving the furniture the time and effort it deserves to look its best. Once you’ve completed the project, however, you’ll be proud of the work you did and will be able to enjoy it for many years to come. 

Furniture Restoration Starts with a Good Cleaning

Thoroughly clean the furniture to remove all the grime and dirt that have built up on it. You can use a mild dish soap that is mixed with water to clean the wood. Simply use as much dish soap as you would usually use to wash the dishes and then use a sponge to scrub the wood surface. If you have to get into any moldings or carvings, dip a paintbrush into the dish mixture to use for the cleaning job. Once you’ve finished cleaning the surface it’s time to rinse it off using clear water and a clean sponge. Allow the wood to dry completely before going on to the next stage of the furniture restoration.

Remove the Old Finish

There are different ways to remove the finish on the wood. Paint can be scraped off carefully using a paint scraper but you need to be careful not to scratch or dent the wood while doing the scraping. It’s a lot easier to do your furniture refinishing by using products on the market that will dissolve the old finish so that it can simply be wiped off. 

This must be done in an area where there is a lot of ventilation and certain products will recommend that you wear a mask to avoid inhaling the fumes. If you are able to take the item outside to do the furniture repairs you may want to consider doing that. Just make sure that it isn’t windy so that dust and debris don’t blow on the furniture and check the weather report to ensure that there is no precipitation expected.

It’s Time for Any Furniture Repairs

Assess the current state of the furniture you are working on to locate any necessary repairs. It’s best to get these done before you add the new finish to the wood. If you happen to notice any damaged molding or chipped wood, this can be easily fixed using a proxy putty. The epoxy turns into a light colour once it has hardened and it can then be stained to match the rest of the wood and sanded. You’ll want to be sure to do this step before adding the finish. 

Paint or Stain the Wood

If you don’t want to highlight the natural look of the wood but would prefer to paint or stain it, this would be your next step in your wood furniture restoration project. It’s always a good idea to test the stain or paint in an inconspicuous area of the furniture to make sure that the colour and the tone look right. Stain or paint a small area, allow it to dry and then apply another coat. Then, if everything looks good, continue with the rest of the furniture refinishing by fully covering the piece with a final protective coating.

Apply the Final Finish

The last step in your furniture restoration project is to apply the final coat of finish. Wipe the newly stained or painted piece of furniture with a dry cloth to remove any dust that may have fallen on it. Apply a liquid wipe-on finish or choose a gel finish that can be applied with a rag. Make sure that you cover the entire piece of furniture with the finish using a swirling motion like you would use if you are waxing your car. Any excess finish should be wiped off by following the direction of the grain. Allow the final finish to dry overnight and you can apply a second coat if you feel like you may have missed some spots.

Wood Furniture Repair Toronto

There are a lot of wood restoration projects that you may want to tackle on your own but there may be others that should be left to a professional. If you have an old antique that has sentimental value or is worth a considerable amount of money, you may not want to do it by yourself. You can ask for an online quote by sending in a picture of the item that requires furniture restoration or refinishing and we will get back to you quickly. You can also get in touch if you have any questions at all regarding furniture repairs for your valued pieces.