Refinishing & Restoration

What’s old can become new again or restored to its former glory. 

Care and meticulous attention

Since 1996.  Certified.  Fully bonded and insured.

We know our stuff!

We can refinish or restore anything from contemporary furniture to antiques, stand-alone cabinets to full kitchens. Kitchens usually require a great deal more work, depending on the kitchen size and applied finishes, but they get every ounce of attention we’d pay to your prized heirloom.

 

The process of properly restoring a piece of furniture and cabinetry is an art in and of itself. It’s labour intense and requires skill, experience, meticulous attention to detail, and no small amount of patience, but it can be well worth it.

Different pieces each have their own unique requirements, and the work needed can vary greatly. Consider the differences between properly restoring an antique gramophone to a rolltop desk, then further compare these to the requirements for refinishing a rocking chair or kitchen cabinets. Knowledge of different woods, finishes, construction technique, material composition, age, and much more, all come into play, and they can all change greatly between seemingly similar items.

Some want to get a piece of furniture refinished, because they want to change its aesthetics: colour, finish, style. As we grow, so too do our tastes. What’s old can become new again, and what we love can evolve with us. Some want pieces restored for sentimental reasons. Some simply don’t like the appearance of old and worn furniture but still like the rustic look. Others, still, desire to return a piece to its original glory, back to when it was first purchased or crafted. We can do all that and more.

But, there are times when restoring or refinishing may not be the right path. Some people refuse to get a piece restored out of concern for it losing value. This can be uniquely valid for antiques and rare items. The right piece in good condition, especially with its original finish, has the potential to command a high value on the antique market. But, if the same piece is in rough shape and needs repairs, the value is already diminishing. Here, restoration becomes the best avenue to reestablish its durability, beauty, and value.

Wood is organic. The finishes used, and the techniques used to apply them, don’t simply provide an extra dimension of beauty. They also protect and preserve your piece. If your furniture is becoming gummy, usually caused by using harsh cleaning products or polishes, it’s telling you that it’s time for a new finish. Is your furniture’s finish flaking? Then, its detracting from the piece’s beauty rather than enhancing it, and it is no longer protecting the wood as it should.

Some finishes break down with age, and climate can accelerate the process. Over time, wear can either lend a certain aesthetic to a piece or cause it to structurally fail. Water can ravage a piece, and harsh cleaning products and polishes can do more damage than good.

There’s a reason why your family heirloom has been around for so many years. The construction of older furniture and the different species of woods used was much better quality than what is often on the market today. In days past, they didn’t use manufactured woods. Wood was meticulously selected, craftsmen used solid cores, and when veneers were applied, they were high-grade. Pride and craftmanship ruled over volume and cost. You didn’t see MDF, particle board, and paper veneers like you do today.

We pride ourselves in enhancing or restoring each and every piece entrusted to us with the same level of love and attention to detail as the artisan who originally crafted your piece. If a piece is near and dear to your heart, and you want to keep it around for another 100 years, trust the Furniture Doctor’s expertise and decades of direct, hands-on experience to refinish or restore your piece or kitchen to its fullest potential.

Our Commitment To Quality

Refinishing and restoring often includes repairs, and antiques require specialized knowledge and attention.  Pieces handed down, or that we have a connection with, can easily become part of our identity. When such a piece is damaged or broken, we feel the loss.

Done right, repairs can fortify our pieces, making them structurally stronger than when first built. Done right, repairs restore these pieces and remind us why we first fell in love with them, taking them out from the garage and back into our lives.

We’re not satisfied unless it’s done right.

  • Residential & commercial
  • Custom repairs, installation or replacement
  • Insurance claims
  • Furniture repairs, refinishing, and restoration
  • Cabinet installations, repairs, replacements
  • Door installations or replacements
  • Trim installations or replacements
  • Crown molding installation
  • Decorative woodworking solutions
  • Decks, benches, and outdoor furniture
  • Shelving and cases

Call us today to discuss your needs.

Considerations when researching refinishing & restoration:

Satisfaction is our #1 priority

Honesty is our policy

Proven track record with our clients

Dedicated and offer reliable service from concept to creation and delivery

Excellent workmanship

Decades of experience

Specialize in antiques

Fully bonded & insured

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when it’s time to get my furniture refinished?

Some of the symptoms that you’ll notice on your furniture or kitchen cabinets will tell you it’s time to get a new finish. Such as:

  • Gumminess
  • Finish flaking off or crystalizing
  • Finish turning white
  • Wood turning black

These are all signs of needing a new finish on your furniture or kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts.

Do you do custom work?

Yes we do.  We do custom cabinetry.  We also build urns and some furniture by request only.

Can I get a piece of furniture stripped only and refinish my own?

Yes.  You can get your furniture stripped only or stripped and sanded only.  If you need any advice in the rest of the work , we’ll be happy to answer all your questions.

Message Us

Get in touch below. Ask any question or start a quote.

Call Us

(705) 560-6755

Call Us

(705) 688-6698

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Office Location

1385 Radar Rd, Hanmer, ON P3P 0B4

Open Hours

M-F: 8am - 6pm

Email

Restore@TheFurnitureDoctor.ca

Phone

(705) 560-6755

(705) 688-6698