Should I Refinish or Not?

Should an older piece of furniture be refinished or left with its original finish?  Would refinishing result in a significant loss of value?

Speaking as the owner of a furniture refurbishing shop, I am amazed at how brain washed the public has become when it comes to the question of whether or not to refinish furniture.  Thanks in part to shows like the Antiques Roadshow, people are generally afraid to refinish any piece of furniture that remotely has some age on it.

In America, there are different standards regarding refurbishing depending on the type of merchandise.  Many people feel it is taboo to refinish antique furniture regardless of how awful the piece may look because of a possible negative impact on value.  But, you can take an antique car and tear it down to the bare bones, strip it, sand it and fill it full of new old stock replacement parts and it only enhances the value of the car.

If you are thinking of refinishing, it is probably because the piece of furniture in question is not very attractive and there are finish problems.  Think about what you paid for a piece and how you want to use it.  Most folks want to enjoy a piece of furniture in the most attractive way possible in their homes.  They would rather have a good looking piece of furniture in their house than a piece that looks like it only belongs in a museum.

Generally, factory, assembly-line furniture made in the late 19th and 20th centuries can safely be refinished without value being affected.

There are times that you do need to have a professional give you an opinion about whether or not to refinish.  If a piece predates 1850 and reflects the maker’s art, you should seek guidance before refinishing.  This is also true of most antique painted furniture.  Painted furniture from the 19th century may have value tied up in the painting.  This may be true of painted and/or stenciled furniture that really does not look very good at all.

Remember, an older piece of furniture may have already had repairs and restoration to the finish.   Furniture refinished in the 19th century may well have a nice patina making it difficult to determine if the finish is original.  When in doubt, ask the opinion of a professional in the restoration field.

Logan and Dick Adams are the owners of The Specialists of the South in Panama City, FL.  One of their specialities is the art of Furniture Refinishing and Professional Furniture Refurbishing.