Furniture Refinishing

Furniture Refinishing -- An Easy Way to Update Your Home

Perhaps there are some pieces of furniture at home that you don't particularly like. Or maybe you're like me and love going hunting for antique pieces at yard sales and thrift stores. Either way, understanding the benefit of furniture refinishing will be of great value to you!

Furniture refinishing involves making an old piece of furniture look like new again. There are some basic steps that are required, whether you're working on a chair, table, cabinet, or even hardwood floor.

** Refinishing Tip ** On bathrooms... Although wall and floor tiles can be very expensive, by using a reasonably priced bathroom tile as a base for the overall pattern you are going to save money. It is then just a matter of finding a design that will complement what you have already chosen to create a new pattern and then it doesn't matter if the new tiles cost more as you won't be using them as much.

The first step is to remove all the old paint or stain. I prefer a gel-based paint remover, although you can find them in liquid form as well. Make sure your room is well ventilated and you are wearing eye protection before beginning this process. Apply the paint remover in the direction the grain is going in a smooth, uniform coat. After about half an hour, wipe off excess remover, then use steel wool to take care of any stubborn spots.

The next step is to sand. Sanding provides a uniform surface for stain or new paint to be applied. When it comes to the grit, start with a large grit, then finish off with a fine one. Always sand in the direction of the grain and make sure you do a thorough job. Good sanding can make all the difference in your finished product!

If you find scratches or notches that you want to remove, fill them in with a wood filler, then finish with some light sanding. This is followed by painting or applying stain. You'll want to apply a primer first to allow the paint or stain to grab the wood. Then, after the primer is completely dry, apply several coats of paint or stain, allowing each to dry before moving on to the next.

** Refinishing Tip ** The need for home refinishing is on the rise as many people like the neighborhood they live in and the affordability of their existing homes. Many aspects of internal home improvements can be more about what is currently fashionable rather than having practical considerations so it is worth finding out what types of work are being carried out in your area. The type of refinishing work you are considering will obviously depend on your circumstances and if you intend to stay, then area fashions will not be your major concern.

After all the coats of paint or stain are dry, finish your piece with three coats of oil based polyurethane. This will allow for lasting durability and a gleaming shine. There are also matte finishes out there if shine just isn't your thing.

Understanding the steps in furniture refinishing can help you turn an old, ratty piece of furniture into an absolute treasure!

Refinishing News:

Parkview's New Owners Unveil $10 Million Renovation Plan at November 14 Tenant Meeting
Charles Reyher, President of Audubon Communities Management, LLC, has unveiled the $10 million master plan for the renovation of the Parkview Apartments, one of southern New Jersey's largest rental communities EUR¦..

E-mail this story - Joplin Globe
Globe/Roger Nomer Dana Hutson, supervisor of the Freeman Womens Pavilion, on Monday demonstrates the new Womens Health Centers new digital mammography equipment. Published November 17, 2008 09:41 pm - When Lori Buchele scheduled her doctor ...

High school faces renovation hurdle - Peoria Journal Star
Residents on a committee that is putting together a renovation plan for Washington Community High School have a daunting task ahead of them. In the next two weeks, they need to take the most crucial elements of two renovation options designed by BLDD ...

Airport plans to add 1,400 parking spots
On the heels of completing a five-year airport renovation project, officials at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport now plan to build a $25 million parking garage at the city's EUR¦..

Burlington church renovation is on the clock - Burlington Free Press
Contact Tim Johnson at 660-1808 or tjohnson@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com . Anyone who keeps time by relying on tower clocks is out of luck these days on College Street. Three of the four faces on the steeple of the College Street Congregational Church ...

IMU face-lift nears finish
EUR¦ renovation project to be completed by the start of the spring semester EUR¦..

MT residents to get update on school construction
If you want to know more about what's been going on with Manheim Township's $80.6 million high school renovation/expansion project, then head to the school Friday EUR¦..