Furniture Refinishing

What Does Professional Furniture Refinishing Involve?

Refinishing is the process of completely removing the existing finish from a piece of wood furniture and applying a new one from scratch. It is not the same as touch-up work, spot repair, or simply slapping a coat of polyurethane over old varnish. True refinishing takes the wood back to its raw state so that the new finish bonds directly with the wood fibers and produces a clean, even result.

At Schanz Furniture, our refinishing process follows the same methods we use when finishing our own handmade furniture. Every piece goes through a careful sequence of stripping, sanding, color matching (if needed), and hand-applied finishing coats. We work with the wood – not against it – to bring out the grain pattern, depth, and warmth that made the piece worth building in the first place.

Refinishing vs. Touch-Up: What Is the Difference?

Not every piece of furniture needs a full refinish. Some just need cleaning, light sanding, and a fresh topcoat. Others need deep structural work before the finish is even considered. Here is how to think about the difference:

• Touch-up or restoration – The existing finish is mostly intact but has minor scratches, or small areas that can be touched up by hand. These can often be addressed without stripping.
• Full refinishing – The finish is cracked, peeling, discolored, sticky, or so heavily worn that spot repairs will not look right. The old finish must come off completely.
• Repair + refinishing – The piece has structural damage (loose joints, cracks, missing parts) in addition to a failing finish. We handle the repair first, then refinish.

When you bring a piece to our shop, we evaluate it and recommend the most appropriate path. We will not refinish something that only needs a touch-up, and we will not try to patch a finish that needs to be stripped.

Hand-rubbed Finish

What Types of Furniture Can Be Refinished?

We refinish solid hardwood furniture – that is our specialty and what we do best. The most common species we work with include oak, walnut, cherry, maple, and hickory. These are the same woods we build with in our own shop, so we understand how each one responds to stripping, sanding, staining, and finishing.

What We Refinish

• Dining tables and chairs – The most common refinishing project. Tables take daily abuse and often show it first.
• Dressers and chests – Bedroom furniture with water damage, heat marks, or worn tops.
• Desks and bookcases – Office and library furniture that has darkened or yellowed with age.
• Rockers and benches – High-wear seating where the finish wears through on arms and contact points.
• Beds and headboards – Large pieces that benefit from a cohesive, professional refinish.
• Antiques and heirlooms – Family pieces that deserve expert care to preserve their character and value.

What We Do Not Refinish

We generally do not refinish particle board, MDF, laminate, or veneer furniture. These materials cannot withstand the stripping and sanding process the way solid wood can. If you are unsure whether your piece is solid wood, bring it in or send photos and we will let you know.

Is It Worth Refinishing Old Furniture?

Almost always – if the piece is solid wood. The wood itself is often old-growth timber with tighter grain and greater density than anything available today. The joinery is frequently hand-cut or at least built to a standard that most modern production furniture cannot match.

Refinishing restores both the beauty and the protection of the wood surface without altering the structure, the character, or the story of the piece. A refinished walnut dining table that has been in your family since the 1940s will outlast a new factory table by decades – and it carries something no new purchase can: provenance.

The only time we advise against refinishing is when the piece is made from materials that will not survive the process (particle board, thin veneer on composite) or when the structural damage is so extensive that the cost of repair exceeds the value of the result. We will always give you an honest assessment.

How Long Does Furniture Refinishing Take?

Plan on several months from drop-off to pickup. Refinishing is not fast work, and we do not rush it. Each piece moves through the process at its own pace – stripping takes time, finish coats need to cure between applications, and our craftsmen work through projects in the order they are received.

The timeline depends on the size and complexity of the piece, the condition of the existing finish, whether structural repair is needed, and our current workload. A single end table will move through faster than a full dining set with eight chairs. If you have a deadline – a family event, a holiday, a move – let us know early so we can plan accordingly.

Pickup and Delivery

All furniture must be brought to our shop at 2773 Hwy 6 Trail, South Amana, IA 52334. We do not offer pickup or delivery for refinishing projects. Customers are responsible for transporting their furniture to and from our workshop.

Getting a Quote

The best way to start is to send us photos first using our online contact form. Show us the overall piece and close-ups of any damage, wear, or finish failure. From good photos, we can give you a ballpark figure. A firm quote requires an in-person evaluation at our shop – every piece is different, and there are things we can only assess by looking at the wood directly.

How Do I Care for Newly Refinished Furniture?

A professional finish is durable, but it is not invincible. A few simple habits will keep your refinished furniture looking its best for years:

• Use coasters and trivets. Heat and moisture are the biggest enemies of any wood finish. Hot dishes, sweating glasses, and wet plant pots will leave marks.
• Dust with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid spray polishes and silicone-based products – they build up over time and can interfere with future refinishing.
• Keep furniture away from heat sources. Do not place refinished pieces directly next to radiators, heating vents, or in prolonged direct sunlight. Excessive heat dries the wood and can cause cracking or finish failure.
• Clean spills immediately. Blot with a soft cloth – do not rub. Water left standing on a finish will eventually penetrate and stain the wood underneath.
• Use felt pads under objects. Lamps, vases, and decorative items can scratch the finish if dragged across the surface.

With proper care, a professionally applied hand-rubbed finish will maintain its beauty for decades. When the time eventually comes for another refinish – and with solid wood, that time will come – you know where to find us.