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Restoration – The Process The restoration process usually starts with the following two questions: How much will it cost, and is it worth it? Certainly fair questions, but hard to answer. Each piece is different and value is very subjective.
The real questions are, do I like it? Can I use it? And what does it mean to me? If the answer is yes, or it has sentimental value, we can then evaluate the piece and what it will take to answer the first two questions. Price can be any number, depending on what the labor and material factor will be to bring the piece to completion. Value of the piece has no relation to labor costs, but there are some general rules of thumb. For non-antique or heirloom furniture, a good guide is to spend up to 50% of equal quality replacement cost. If restoration exceeds that number, it may be time to replace or reevaluate the job scope. For antiques or heirloom furniture, there may be no way to replace that piece and price becomes less of an issue. What to do first
Once you decide to restore a piece, you must put it into a condition that will allow you to start. That process is usually removal of the old finish. Tobin's uses all stripping methods and uses what is appropriate for each wood species. The most common is the recirculating wash tray, which washes off finish safely. The "dipping" myth continues, but the fact is that there is no magic tank that you just dunk it in. Stripping is hard work and is the basis for a good finish, whether we do it for you or you do it yourself. Preparation Sanding wood after stripping is a given. So is detailing the finish removal process. The more time and effort put into preparation, the better the end result. Our statistics show that 75% or more of the time required to restore a piece after stripping is spent on prep time. Nicks, gouges, scratches, and liquid damage all must be addressed in this operation. This is also where price can change; the more prefect, the more it costs. Home | Fixin' It | Staining | What if? | Contact us |
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