In the modern world, unthinkable amounts of waste material are having a huge influence on the environment, and it’s rarely a good one. As such, it’s crucial that you avoid playing any part in this. Owning furniture means that you sometimes consider the restoration process. Many times, owners will call furniture restoration furniture refinishing instead, even though they’re not actually all the same. Both require certain skills, and as a furniture owner, it’s useful to know a bit about both. Fortunately, there are experts who can provide you lots of guidance and assistance with such matters.
If you’re stuck trying to decide between the two, then the following are a handful of reasons why furniture refinishing is different from furniture restoration.
Some Crucial Differences Distinguishing Furniture Restoration from Furniture Refinishing
In terms of learning the differences separating furniture restoration from furniture refinishing, you’re likely to understand several of them.
In terms of restoration, it’s more of a process of doing light cleaning of the piece of furniture in question and then cosmetic repairs. When you have restoration done for a particular vintage piece, then the intention should be maintenance of the structural integrity of the exterior so that the value holds up over time.
Typically, this would be non-invasive so the item remains as intact as it can be, perhaps antique furniture restorers. Additionally, the process of restoration would consist of replacing damaged parts and doing other minor but necessary changes in order to get the piece of furniture looking like something either very or nearly new.
Alternatively, the process of furniture refinishing typically means stripping down the current finish of the piece of furniture so that it can be coated with something very new. If the piece is wood, the professionals might apply a chemical stripper in order to peel off the finish before the furniture piece is sanded, then blemished, and finally refinished.
The Process of Restoring a Furniture Piece
The process for furniture restoration isn’t complicated or difficult.
To start with, you need to first analyse the extent of the present damage. How bad are the scratches? Are there watermarks? Are any oil marks present? Is the finish starting to wear off? Do the wood components have any termite infestation? If the marks and stains are too deep, then would rigorous efforts be needed to clean them out? If you can avoid this, then the process is going to be a lot easier.
Sand down the furniture until it has a clean surface. Once you are done sanding the piece of furniture, and then it’s time to finish the woodworking and replacing parts. That way, you can make the particular piece as visually appealing as you can. Once done, move with the finishing giving it the final touch.
The Process of Refinishing a Piece of Furniture
In the worlds of woodworking and decorative arts, refinishing a piece of furniture means reapplication of the finish to a piece of furniture. In some parts of the world, this might also be known simply as polishing or re-polish. The whole procedure consists of the application of varnish, lacquer, paint, topcoat, or wood finish to a particular item. The primary idea behind these various methodologies is to renew the finish or restore its previous appearance.
Refinishing a piece of furniture can include applications to different materials, including wood, glass, paint, plastic, and metal. When you look at the wide variety of traditional and modern finishing is available, you can find quite a big list of refinishing options just for one piece. You might even find faux finishes that can help improve the total look of a certain piece.
In Conclusion
Given how worthwhile refurnishing furniture is, it’s good to know what all is involved before making any decisions. There is no shortage of owners that mismatch the terms for furniture restoration and furniture refinishing. In addition, they wind up complicating the circumstances for their furniture more than ever.
As such, you should know exactly what you need and how you can go about getting it. If you think you might be able to DIY the whole process, then more power to you!