CC Wikipedia: 20 Questions 1954
When it comes to the furniture refinishing and repair business, clients often have many questions before deciding to request service. We have dedicated this page to some of the more commonly asked furniture service questions that we get here at Salpeck’s Furniture Service.
Frequently Asked Questions:
My furniture moving company broke my chair. Can you reinforce it to make it stronger so it won’t break again?
We often get asked what we are going to do to reinforce a piece of furniture to prevent future breakage. At Salpeck’s Furniture Service, it is our policy to never repair or attempt to repair an item if we are not 100% sure that the repair will work. Most chair damage is fixable and usually results in the item being stronger than it was originally. We start by dismantling the chair and cleaning the glued joints, we then re-glue the chair and place dowels, if needed. The repaired joint in the chair will be stronger than the wood itself. If it did break again, it would most likely be the leg of the chair that would break, not the joint.
After you make the repair, will you be able to see where the damage was?
We always tell the client that they will be able to tell where the original damage was because they know it was damaged, but someone else would never be able to tell. Because the client knows where the original damage was, their eyes will be drawn to that area. Salpeck’s Furniture Service pride ourselves in our ability to make repairs and match colors so well that someone who has no idea where the original damage was, will never be able to see that there was damage in the first place.
Broken chair legs repaired at Salpeck’s Furniture Service
Is my furniture piece solid wood? How can I tell the difference between “real” wood and “fake” wood.
Most furniture is not solid wood. That does not mean it is not a good quality piece of furniture. Most fine furniture pieces are made of veneer. Wood veneer is not fake wood, it is actually a thin slice of wood that is adhered to another wood surface. Typically, the outer layer is made from high quality wood, while the layer underneath is made from a less expensive wood or particle board. The higher end furniture pieces have a thicker piece of veneer that will allow for refinishing in the future.
A true fake wood surface is either painted to look like wood or even just covered with a wallpaper like covering that is like a photograph of wood. Low quality or fake wood is usually easy to spot. Fake wood will typically be lighter weight, not have true wood grain, not have dove tail joints and overall poor quality construction.
Is it worth restoring or refinishing our furniture or should we just go out and buy new furniture?
A good way to make this decision is to look at the quality of the materials used and the construction. Pieces that are 40 or 50 years old are mostly of higher quality than what you will find at most furniture stores today. A bit of paint, stain and professional finishing from Salpeck’s Furniture service can make that old piece like new again! This method is often more cost effective than purchasing new and it will provide for several more years of enjoyment and memories
Will my furniture increase in value after it’s restored?
Most of the time the answer is yes. If the piece is in decent condition but just lost its luster and can be restored without stripping the finish off, it should increase in value after restoration. Salpeck’s can repair minor furniture damage and use several techniques to hide blemishes and restore that original luster.
Can an existing finish be adjusted to a different color without stripping?
Only if you want a darker finish. You cannot make a piece lighter without stripping the finish off the wood.
What stripping methods do you use?
We use a flow over system to strip furniture; however, if hand-stripping is preferred, Salpeck’s Furniture Service can provide hand-stripping service to the client.
Can you match a new piece of furniture to a color and finish of a piece we already own?
Yes, we are experts at matching colors, stains, distressing and sheen to create the match you desire.
Can you re-purpose old furniture to create and entirely new piece like a bench or a bed?
Absolutely, we like to find creative ways to reuse wood. In fact, we welcome you to take a look at our blog post Painting Furniture Tips or our Pinterest Page for a few ideas.
Do you make repairs or refinish furniture on-site?
Yes, we offer several on-site services including touch-up service for furniture nicks, small dents in hardwood floors and vacuum cleaner damaged wood trim.
Do you pick up and deliver?
Yes we do offer a pick-up and delivery service in the Fuquay Varina, Apex, Cary and Raleigh area! Give us a call and we can schedule a time to pick up your furniture.
How long will it take to have furniture stripped, repaired, and refinished?
Our turnaround time is approximately 2-4 weeks; however, the time also depends on the size, condition, and complexity of the piece.
How can I remove a musty smell from my furniture?
Wipe down the furniture with a damp cloth then take the furniture outside and expose to sunlight and fresh air for a day. Make sure to open the doors on a cabinet or remove drawers from a dresser so the air can freely flow through.
Do you have a furniture service question for Buddy that we haven’t addressed here?
Please ask in the space below or fill out our contact form.