Refinishing tables can run the gamut, from a standard piece that offers no challenges, but is a comfortable, sturdy piece that turns out beautifully, to those that could be considered fussy, a challenge, or even tedious.
Tedious doesn’t have to mean frustrating, though. Rather, it could mean very exacting, detailed work that results in a satisfying project. Most often, when thinking of a table that needs refinishing, one might think of a piece with detailed carving and enough nooks and crannies to challenge anyone’s patience.
Imagine, then, a long table—very long—that is polished perfectly smooth without a single flaw to catch on a sweater. A prime example of this is a veneer conference table. At first glance, it might seem as though it is a simple refinishing project, with few surprises. To look at a 16-foot-long conference table, it is deceptive in its simplicity. Under the gloss, however, a veneer table is made of fiberboard with a veneer over the top. This means that there can be no dipping the table in order to strip it. Instead, the craftsman will have to use a gel stripper and strip it by hand so that the fiberboard won’t expand due to moisture.
Made to look like a solid wood table, due to the veneer, most tables are actually made up of two pieces. These pieces need to match up perfectly and that means the veneer must be treated very carefully when sanding it. Veneer is typically thinner than 3 mm and glued to the flat surface.
Work like this demands not only a great deal of time and patience but a level of expertise that only a craftsman can acquire over many years, working on many difficult projects. One wrong move and the veneer could be irreparably damaged. The polyurethane used as a finish will need to be chosen to measure up to the wear and tear the surface will receive. As a result, the table will retain its beauty and usefulness for many more years.
If you have a key piece of furniture in your business or home, rather than throw it away or chop it up for firewood, consider bringing new life to it through restoration. You can not only have it pulled apart and re-glued, you can also choose a different color stain, or even have it painted.
Our expert craftsman have the experience and patience to take on any job. They will be happy to evaluate your piece, explain what the potential is for it, build a plan together with you to address the problem areas, and develop a cost analysis. Our team can also custom build conferences table to fit any environment, and daily use.