How do I know if my wood furniture is worth refinishing?

• <div><p>Telling the difference between <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-clean-wood-furniture.htm">high-quality wood furniture</a> and lower-quality pieces is challenging, but there are a few sign that indicate whether your furniture is worth repairing:</p><ul><li><p>Push your fingernail into an inconspicuous section of the wood. If it doesn’t leave a dent, it’s likely hardwood and is well worth a repair.</p></li><li><p>Unzip the bottom of couches to look for the structural components. If they’re made of wood rather than particle board, it’s likely worth refinishing.</p></li><li><p>Ask a local furniture repair technician. A reputable professional will let you know if you’re better off replacing rather than refinishing your specific item.</p></li></ul><p></p></div>

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Q: What if the dirt doesn’t come off the furniture with the vinegar, water, and dish soap mixture?

• <div><p>Sometimes you will need a stronger cleaning solution to thoroughly clean furniture before painting. It&rsquo;s best to start with a mild solution to avoid damaging the surface, especially if it is an antique piece. If you need to use a stronger mixture, try a commercial cleaner or mineral spirits. Before applying any solution, do a test patch on an inconspicuous area so you don&rsquo;t risk damaging the finish.</p></div>

Q: Can I refinish over top of refinishing oil?

• <div><p>No. Once you apply refinishing oil, it will continue to seep into the wood, making it difficult or impossible to refinish over top of it. Since the product contains an oil that&rsquo;s meant to penetrate existing finishes, almost anything you put on top of it will bring the previous layer of stain with it. If you plan to refinish your cabinets more than once, it&rsquo;s a good idea to go with the traditional method of sanding before applying a new finish to the surface.</p></div>

Q: What kind of wood should I use for a fireplace mantel?

• <div><p>You can use most types of wood for a fireplace mantel. You can use simple veneer plywood. If you prefer solid wood, pine is an affordable option that's easy to cut and finish. Walnut is harder, heavier, and highly durable with a rich dark brown color. Hickory offers a lighter color but is similarly durable. Cedar is ideal for a <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/dated-fireplace-mantel-turns-rustic-modern.htm">rustic fireplace design.</a></p></div>

Q: What should you not use to clean antique wood?

• <div><p>Stay away from using window cleaners and other harsh cleaning solutions on antique wood&mdash;or any wood in your home for that matter. The pH of the cleaners can break down the finish and permanently damage and stain the wood below. Even when it comes to more durable areas, such as when <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-clean-your-baseboards.htm">cleaning your baseboards</a>, only use cleaning solutions that are safe for porous materials. </p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Furniture Refinishing pros in Montgomery, AL

*The Angi rating for Furniture Refinishing companies in Montgomery, AL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Furniture Refinishing needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Furniture Refinishing companies in Montgomery, AL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Furniture Refinishing needs.

Last update on October 24, 2025

Reviewed in March 2024
Portman Furniture Repair comes to your home which avoids all the hassle of getting a piece of furniture to a repair shop. Whew!! Will is very knowledgeable, answers questions with courtesy, arrives as scheduled and above all- gets the repair done. He repaired an old, wooden roll top desk for me...
Portman Furniture Repair
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Reviewed in February 2017
Our historic home kitchen was completely remodeled. A wall was removed to expand the kitchen and add a walk-in closet. An antique door found in the attic was refinished and used for the newly constructed closet. A beam was installed to support the ceiling which was replaced. All of the cabinets...
Heritage Roofing and Construction
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Reviewed in January 2017
OK. Website said they vacuum prior to cleaning. This was not done; however, the carpets had been recently vacuumed and perhaps did not need. Apparently furniture was not moved and was only cleaned around. It's been a long time since I've had carpets professionally cleaned so perhaps this is the...
A Step Above Carpet & Flooring Care LLC
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Reviewed in May 2015
Pleasant experience overall. Two young men showed up right on time and got right to work. One little snag happened when they forgot a tool box, but a supervisor promptly brought one out. No big deal. They worked quickly and efficiently and got the job done earlier than estimated, thereby saving...
Motivated Movers of Montgomery
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Reviewed in October 2014
Very punctual and professional throughout the project. Very clean work, no dust etc. Cleaned up and left no mess for me to clean up. The floors look great and I am very pleased with the workmanship. We used Central Hardwood Floors about five years ago when remodeling an old house with original...
CENTRAL HARDWOOD FLOORING
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Reviewed in July 2014
I had a large bradford pear tree approximately 30 feet tall in the backyard that had developed a large split down the center of the trunk. The tree was between a privacy fence and pool and would have caused damage to either or both if it had fallen. I called Steve Steele on a Sunday afternoon...
Alabama Tree Services, LLC
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Reviewed in December 2011
I got several estimates and decided to go with Tony as he was very knowledgeable and his price was among the lowest. They arrived on-time each day, carefully moved all the furniture and cleaned-up very nicely at the end of each day. The job took exactly 1 week as he had said and cost exactly...
CLAVELLI PAINTING AND WALLCOVERINGS LLC
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Reviewed in September 2011
Mr. Lackey and his team were extremely professional and did a great job on our home. We chose him because he was referred from another contractor and then we found out that we have several neighbors that have used him as well. His crew came on time each day and was very respectful to me and...
RUSSELL LACKEY HOME PAINTING
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Weissends Floor Service

Weissends Floor Service

Sumtinwong

Sumtinwong

Lewis enterprise

Lewis enterprise

Driggers Painting and Furniture Restoration

Driggers Painting and Furniture Restoration

Guardsman-In Home Furniture Repair Montgomery

Guardsman-In Home Furniture Repair Montgomery

Fine Art Furniture

Fine Art Furniture

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Furniture Restoration by Woodie Dickey

Designs 4 Today

Designs 4 Today

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ROBERTS ANTIQUES and RESTORATIONS

Thomas Piano Service

Thomas Piano Service

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