How much does furniture refinishing cost in Virginia?

Furniture refinishing has no standard Virginia price. A refinisher quotes each piece from its size, how much finish has to come off, the repairs it needs, the finish you want and whether the piece is valuable, so a small plain table and a large carved sideboard are very different jobs. This guide explains what drives the quote and how to get written quotes you can compare, rather than quoting a figure no one has dated.

What the price follows

Size and detail. A flat tabletop is quicker to strip and finish than a chair with spindles, a carved chest or a piece with many drawers. More surface and more nooks mean more hours.

The existing finish. If the old coat is sound, a cleaning and recoat is a lighter job than taking everything back to bare wood. NPS guidance says refinishing is preferred if the existing finish is either inappropriate or almost completely worn away,^[1] and conservators will use the least harmful means of finish removal.^[1] A repairer who can restore a finish rather than strip it will often charge less.

Paint and hazards. Stripping paint is slower and carries safety costs. The EPA lists refinishing old furniture among the jobs that can put you in contact with lead.^[2] The federal ban on lead-containing paint covers furniture articles for consumer use that bear lead-containing paint, and applies to products manufactured after February 27, 1978.^[3] An older painted piece may need extra containment and cleanup, which a refinisher builds into the price.

Repairs that come first. Loose joints, a wobbly leg, missing veneer or sticking drawers are fixed before finishing. Veneered surfaces may split or buckle because the grain orientation of the veneer is different from that of the underlying wood,^[1] so veneer repairs are priced separately from plain wood work.

The finish you choose. A natural clear coat, a matched stain and an opaque paint finish take different materials and different numbers of coats. Matching an existing color can take trial samples.

Age and value. For a valuable antique the goal changes from a fresh look to preserving the piece. That slower, more careful approach is quoted higher, and it is worth asking whether a restorer would advise leaving the original finish alone.

Where the work happens. Pickup, delivery and a house call all add to the bill. A heavy piece that must be carried down stairs costs more to move.

Compare the cost of doing it yourself

Doing it yourself saves labor, but not everything. You pay for stripper, sandpaper, stain, finish, brushes and protective gear, plus a weekend or two. A strong reason to hire is the stripping: the CPSC says that if work must be done indoors under low ventilation conditions, consider having the work done professionally instead of attempting it yourself.^[4] Our guide to refinishing a wood dresser walks through the DIY route so you can judge the effort.

Getting a quote you can compare

Send each refinisher the same photos: the whole piece, close-ups of the worst damage, the underside and any maker's label. Say what finish you want and whether it is painted now. Ask for the quote in writing, itemized:

• the repairs, the stripping or sanding, and the finish itself;
• materials, plus pickup and delivery or a house call;
• how long it will take and when the piece will be ready;
• how lead paint, if any, will be handled on an older piece.

Compare scope, not only the total. A lower figure that skips repairs or uses one thin coat is not a lower price for the same job.

The work should also match the bill. Virginia's Consumer Protection Act lists, among prohibited practices, misrepresenting that repairs, alterations, modifications, or services have been performed or parts installed.^[5] Keep the quote and ask for an invoice that lists what was done.

Methylene chloride strippers

If a refinisher says they use a particular stripper, ask which one. In March 2019, EPA issued a final rule to prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution of methylene chloride for consumer paint and coating removal.^[6] The CPSC also notes that strippers with citrus smells or "environmentally friendly" claims may also be hazardous, so a good shop will explain how it protects its workers and your piece.^[4]

Stop and call a pro if

• The piece is an antique, a signed piece or an heirloom. Get a restorer's opinion before anything is stripped; poorly done repairs are another common cause of damage to wooden objects.^[1]
• The finish is old paint and the piece was made before 1978. Ask how the lead question is handled before anyone sands.
• The veneer is lifting or the frame is cracked. These repairs come before finishing.
• A quote is far above or below the others. Ask what it includes.

Getting help in Virginia

See whether refinishing old furniture is worth it, read about what table repair costs in Virginia, browse refinishing requests, or see more furniture repair answers.

When you are ready, describe the piece once and local furniture refinishers can quote it.