Kenneth Lewis Blog

Cabinet refinishing on stained and painted wood work by Kenneth C. Lewis.

The restoring or refinishing of antique oak furniture can be a real challenging task if you're not equipped with some vital information. The first thing you should know that before you start changing the original appearance of an antique that it may diminish its value from the point of view of a collector. Collectors place a higher value on an antique if its appearance is completely unchanged. This is not to say that the piece can't be "cleaned up" but they are concerned with its originality.

Keep in mind that when you decide to restore a piece of antique furniture, you're going to be putting a considerable amount of time and effort into it. Another thing to consider is that this process will not necessarily be inexpensive. Many people have started a project like this only to find that the cost and the amount of time it took wasn't really worth it.

In the case where you have a piece of antique oak furniture that has been badly damaged due to being exposed to the elements, it might be the perfect project to restore anyway. Restoring this particular piece could greatly improve its appearance and add a thing of beauty to your home.

Keep in mind that if your piece has a large amount of ornate or carved surfaces that this will add a lot of extra time to complete the project. Realize that the project could take up to several months because of the intricacy of the detail. We suggest that when in doubt, or if you have any questions to leave the task up to the professionals. While restoration of furniture is possible on your own, why not have us complete the task for you with our years of experienced staff. Factoring in the time and cost of doing it yourself is far more expensive than actually hiring someone to do it for you, not only is it less expensive but the result will be satisfactory on every level. So contact us today should you need any furniture restoration or refinishing needs.

Antique furniture pieces may deteriorate over time, just like any other kind of material in the world. When this happens to your furniture, you are faced with the question of whether you should refinish or restore the antique piece. In choosing which process should be undertaken, it is vital for you to have a complete understanding of the difference between the two before you run hastily into the decision. And here at Kenneth C. Lewis  we can cover both of the needs for you.

But what is the difference between Antique Restoration and Antique Refinishing?  Well as the name implies, antique restoration process refers to the step by step procedures to restore the antique piece. Basically, the process ensures that the antique object will not lose its value or worth as time goes on. Antique restoration may refer to light cleaning, antique refinishing, or conservation.

Now, antique refinishing is a method of antique restoration. And in this restoration technique, the restorer usually prioritizes the upholding of the functionality of the antique furniture. So for example, if the antique furniture is a table, the restorer would have to make sure that the legs of the table are in good shape and condition to hold some weight on the flat surface where food can be displayed. As such, aside from light cleaning or the process of removing dirt and stain from the product, reassembling and repainting should also be a key factor. However, the restorer should make sure that regardless of whatever he does, the antique furniture should be able to retain, if not totally increase its value.