Authored by Michelle Fairbrother in Furniture
Published on 10-13-2009

Refinishing furniture is a process that can bring life back to old furniture and leave it looking like new again. Refinishing furniture can be done to renew the original look of the furniture or to give it a dramatic new change. There are of course professionals for this sort of thing but many people prefer DIY projects. Refinishing furniture is not the most difficult task but there are a few important instructions that need to be followed.

The first step to refinishing furniture is to remove the old finish. This is necessary and not a step that should be skipped. This is important to remember because there are a lot of people who assume that they can just continue to reapply one finish over another. Removing the old finish on a piece of furniture can most certainly be quite the gruesome task. Typically chemical strippers will be used during this part of the DIY project and these are going to help break down the finish which can then be scraped or sanded off the rest of the way.

Once the old finish is removed the next step to refinishing furniture is to prepare the wood. This is perhaps one of the most important and necessary steps of all because this is going to prepare the wood for the new finish and ensure that it is going to apply properly and last. To complete this home improvement project properly be sure to use high quality materials and have patience. Taking time to do a good job is what will really make all the difference here and rushing is only going to result in a poorly refinished piece of furniture.

Once the wood has been prepared it is time to fill the grain. This is another major step to refinishing furniture and the purpose of this is basically to help achieve a smooth and even finish. There are some particular types of wood that do not require wood grain filler and so this process could be skipped but most do.

Now this is the time to stain the wood if desired and while this is not a necessary part of refinishing furniture it does add a nice touch. It is important to take the time to decide on the right stain for the particular piece of furniture that is being worked on. There are oil-based stains, water-based stains and gel stains as the three most popular types of stains that are available. Always read the instructions on the stain purchased because these will vary from one to another and it is crucial to get the application process right. When it comes to choosing the color, of course be sure to consider the color scheme of the room the furniture will be used in.

Then it is just a matter of applying some sanding sealer and completing the final finish. The penetrating oil finishes are usually best because they result in such a smooth and natural appearance. Water-based polyurethane finishes are also available for refinishing furniture so it really all depends from one case to the next.

Sometimes old furniture can use a facelift of sorts and in these cases refinishing furniture is a great option. These are just a few of the most basic techniques for refinishing furniture to help homeowners understand what is involved in this process. Refinishing furniture can be quite a cumbersome task but one that is also very rewarding in the end. Seeing a piece of furniture brought back to life in a whole new light is truly wondrous.