Non Re-finishing Can Be Refreshing
Refreshing
When refreshing, we are maintaining the original color of the wood, applying additional finish to the wood to give it added protection. This adds life to the present finish improving the overall look of the piece.
Re-Finishing
With re-finishing, we actually remove all of the layers of color and finish covering the wood, so that the wood is bare. This allows us to make repairs to the furniture as well, removing scratches and gouges among other things. From there, we rebuild the layer of finish from scratch, creating a like new finish.
“Another thing people will want to consider is the reality that most furniture has heavily worn surfaces in combination with lesser used surfaces,” Gies says. “In many cases this can translate into less expense because often we can refresh the less worn areas and re-finish the heavily worn areas. The simple truth is if we do not have to strip the entire piece and re-finish it, we can save the owner money. A serving buffet (pictured above) is a great example of heavy use and light use surfaces.”
“Another good example include tables top compared with the side aprons and legs. The tops usually need re-finishing and the rest just needs refreshing.”
Saving Money
The price difference can be substantial depending on the scope of the project, according to Gies. The cost difference between refreshed chairs compared to re-finished chairs is approximately $65 vs. $150. Re-finishing instead of refreshing six or eight chairs can translate to a sizeable difference in expense for similar results.
“The thing I find fulfilling is extending the life of furniture that people often appreciate formore than function alone,” Gies adds. “Those pieces having memories attached to themare particularly pleasing to bring back to life.”
You can bring nearly any piece back to life with selective treatments. In this case the top of this piece was totally stripped and refinished, there were some repairs made and the rest of the piece was refreshed saving time and money. Refreshing can add life to a piece of furniture and save money when compared to completely re-finishing.
Every piece of furniture is unique in the way it is used and how its finish is affected. Many homeowners have wood furniture completely refinished because they do not think in terms of degrees of wear. Many times, a piece can be refreshed rather than refinished. This means for half the cost, a similar end result can be achieved, with less stress on the item being refreshed. Kay Gies CertiRestore.
