Furniture refinishing: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What furniture refinishing is

Furniture refinishing strips or sands old finish from wood furniture, repairs damage, then stains and seals the piece so it looks restored. The method depends on the wood species, the age of the piece and the finish already on it. People call when a table or dresser has worn, scratched or faded finish that cleaning will not fix.

Signs you need it

  • The finish is cloudy, sticky, peeling or crazed with fine cracks across the surface
  • The top shows water rings, heat marks or deep scratches that go through the finish
  • The wood color is uneven, faded or blotchy after years of light exposure
  • The piece has an old varnish or lacquer layer that is thick and flaking
  • The finish has been painted over and you want the original wood restored
  • The surface feels rough from old wax or residue that has built up over time

What the pro does

  • Identify the wood species and the existing finish, and test a hidden spot to see how it reacts
  • Strip or sand the old finish off the surface, working with the grain and changing grit as the wood is cleaned
  • Repair dents, gouges, loose veneer and any cracks before the color goes on
  • Apply stain or a color that matches the wood in thin, even coats, and let each coat dry
  • Seal the wood with a topcoat such as lacquer, varnish or oil, in the number of coats the finish needs
  • Cure the finish fully and check the surface under light, then rub out any dull or uneven spots

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Size of the piece and the amount of surface to strip and sand
  • Number of coats of finish and the type of topcoat used
  • Old finish type, such as shellac, lacquer, varnish or paint, which affects stripping
  • Damage that needs repair, such as dents, cracks or lifted veneer
  • Color matching, which takes time on mixed or faded wood
  • Whether the piece is an antique that needs careful handling

What a written quote should spell out

  • Piece type, wood species if known, and the finish being removed
  • Each step by name, such as stripping, sanding, repair, staining and topcoat
  • The stain color and the topcoat type, and how many coats
  • Whether hardware is removed, cleaned or replaced
  • Warranty on the finish, in writing

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can you tell me the wood and the finish before you strip it?
  • Will you strip the finish, or only sand it?
  • How do you handle veneer that is loose or thin?
  • What topcoat will you use, and how durable is it?
  • Do you match the color to the wood or to my choice?
  • Will you remove and reinstall the hardware?
  • Does the warranty cover the finish if it wears or clouds?

Red flags

  • Sanding through thin veneer on an antique without checking its thickness
  • A stain applied in one heavy coat, which blotches on many woods
  • Finish applied to the piece without sealing the wood underneath first
  • A quote that does not name the topcoat or the stain
  • No test on a hidden spot before the color is chosen

What you can do yourself

You can clean the piece with mild soap and water, test a hidden spot with stripper to see how the old finish reacts, and remove loose hardware and bag it. Work in a ventilated area, wear gloves and eye protection, and handle finish-soaked rags with care, since rags soaked in oil-based finish can heat up and catch fire on their own; lay them flat outdoors to dry or keep them in a water-filled metal can. On a piece painted before lead paint was banned, do not dry-sand old paint, which can release lead dust. Do not sand a veneered piece or an antique until you know the veneer thickness; call a pro for stripping a large piece, repairing veneer, or matching a color on an antique.

Licenses and permits

Furniture refinishing is generally not a licensed trade. Check with your state or local licensing agency or business office for any business license that applies to paid work.

Furniture refinishing questions

Can you refinish a piece without stripping it?

Sometimes. Light scratches and dull finish can be cleaned, buffed or topcoated. If the old finish is cracked, cloudy or peeling, the piece usually needs full stripping first.

Will refinishing reduce the value of an antique?

It can. Original finish on an antique often adds value, so ask the pro to explain the trade-off and to keep original parts when possible before you decide.

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About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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