Nicks Painted Furniture: Refinishing Old Furniture

The term refinishing according to a definition from Wikepedia refers to “the act of repairing or reapplying the wood finishing on an object. In practice, this may apply to the paint or wood finish top coat, lacquer or varnish. The artisan or restorer is traditionally aiming for an improved or restored and renewed finish.” So refinishing refers to both clear finishing that maintains the natural look of the wood as well as painting where the wood is totally concealed. To restore the old finish you have the choice between a clear finish and a painted finish.

Restored vintage riempies bank

Before deciding whether to paint or whether to use a clear finish there are a number of things to consider.

Does this piece qualify as antique?

Sometimes people do not even realise that they have a valuable piece that can be classified as antique. If you are going to paint or refinish a genuine antique piece of furniture, the value will decrease and it will be difficult to get it restored again. It is best to consult an expert and have it professionally restored.

When can a piece of furniture be regarded as antique? By definition an antique is a piece that has a special value because of its age and style. Some antique dealers regard a piece 100 years or older as antique and most experts will agree that antique furniture date back to the early 1800’s. Most of these pieces were hand-made and natural oils and later shellac was used as finishing material.

To assess if a piece can be regarded as antique the following should be considered:

· Is the piece hand-made or machine made?

Machine manufacturing only started about 1860. Prior to 1860 joints were dovetailed and usually only a few joints, irregularly shaped, were used.

Backings and drawer bottoms were of solid wood. Hardboard was first made in England in 1898 and extensively used from early 1900.

The type of finish used will also give an indication of age. Only oils were used and milk paint was the only paint available. Lacquer and varnish is a sign of later manufacture. To test for shellac use a few drops of denatured alcohol. Shellac will become sticky. To test for lacquer or varnish use thinners and it will dissolve the finish.

The type of wood will also give an indication of age. Furniture before 1700 was mainly made from oak and from 1700 onward from mahogany and walnut.

The style, especially of legs, feet etc. will indicate age and style. Early English styles such as Queen Anne (1720), Chippendale (1790), or American colonial styles such as Federal (1790 to 1815) have great value and painting may not be the best option.

Once an authentic antique piece is painted, re-stained or refinished it will decrease dramatically in value unless it has been done by a professional. The exception is when an old piece has been so badly run down that you can buy it at a fraction of its real worth and repair it yourself. Painting it will transform it to something beautiful that you can enjoy in your home or sell it for a handsome profit.

In the case of an authentic antique, preserving the original finish should be the aim and should be done as follows:

Try and keep the antique look. Do not remove all dents and blemishes accept white rings and dirt. Do not try and clean brass fittings with commercial brass cleaners.

Start by washing the old finish with a mild solution of soapy water. Use cheesecloth and gently rub away dirt and grime. If this doesn’t work try a stronger solution of vinegar and water.

When it is dry but looks dull, use antique furniture wax to brighten up the finish.

After applying the wax, leave for a couple of hours and use a soft cloth to buff the finish to a shine.

Does it have sentimental value?

Furniture with sentimental value should to my mind be kept in its original finish as far as possible. Sometimes, however, you may find that stripping the piece will reveal a stunning natural wood that can be refinished and transform it to its original splendour.

Can the piece be classified as vintage or retro?

Apart from antique furniture, there is also furniture known as vintage and retro. Vintage furniture dates back between 30 and 50 years. Retro furniture refers to furniture of a specific period or style. More recent furniture qualifies as used furniture.

Furniture in this category from the late 1800s to the 1960s is well suited for refinishing and especially repainting. These pieces generally do not qualify as antique but the quality is better than most modern furniture. Most furniture in this category has been mass produced but it is generally much more sturdy than most modern furniture. Modern furniture is not made to last because of cheaper materials that are used.

What is the condition of the piece?

When the item is structurally in good condition but the finish has deteriorated and damaged by water marks, crack etc. it may be a good candidate for painting because repaired finishes may not show up well with a clear coat whilst a painted surface will cover those imperfections.

What will make you happy?

This is probably the most important question. I have had clients that wanted beautiful high quality prestige solid wood furniture painted and no matter how I tried to convince them to reconsider, in the end it was painted and the client was just ecstatic with end result. The reality is that painted furniture has a charm of its own and at the moment it is a hot trend. Painted furniture is in – brown wood furniture is out! But trends change over time and I am pretty sure the time will come when the paint will be stripped again and the original wood look will be back.

Can modern engineered wood be painted?

With the development of technology, modern materials are increasingly being used in furniture manufacturing. Hard woods are becoming scarcer and more expensive and alternative materials such as engineered wood (chip board, MDF, veneered board) and even plastic and glass are increasingly used. Also Pine wood has become popular in furniture manufacturing. Many of these products are cheaper than solid hardwood and are easy to work with. This type of furniture do not have a great collector’s or investment value and when it gets old and run down, lends itself to painting and recycling and are good candidates for re-finishing.

Fortunately with modern paints and more specifically water based paints, almost any material can be painted – even glass and plastic. But when should you NOT paint a piece? Do not paint a piece of furniture when:

It has sentimental value and you want to preserve it for the future.

It is antique and has a commercial value. If you are uncertain, consult an expert or do some research to find out what it is worth before you slap on a coat of paint.

You want to be like everybody else and have some painted furniture in your house or just to be cool
When you want to preserve a particular style or period.