Replace or Reupholster Your Furniture? We’ll Help You Decide.

When your upholstered furniture begins to look worn or outdated, it’s time to decide whether to replace it or simply refresh by hiring a highly rated upholstery service to reupholster it.  Before rushing to buy a new sofa, chair, ottoman, or sectional, consider these helpful tips to guide your decision:

1. Is the furniture an antique or heirloom? Antique furniture often boasts a level of craftsmanship and material quality rarely found in modern pieces. Many older pieces feature solid hardwood construction, which is far superior to the plywood or particle board commonly used today. If your furniture is a family heirloom or a valuable antique, refinishing or reupholstering it with updated fabric can breathe new life into it without sacrificing its timeless quality.
2. Is the piece unique or a perfect match for your space? If you spent considerable time finding a unique piece that enhances your space or perfectly complements your home’s style, pause and consider working with a skilled professional upholsterer to recover the furniture in a fabric that refreshes its look while preserving its character.  A new fabric can transform the piece, keeping it as the centerpiece of your room.
3. Is the frame still in good condition? If the frame of your furniture is solid and the internal components (such as springs and batting) are in good shape, reupholstering becomes an easy decision.  You’ll only need to choose a new fabric to give it a whole new look.  However, if the frame or cushioning needs repairs, make sure your upholsterer is also experienced in restoration to ensure the furniture is both comfortable and structurally sound.
4. What’s your budget? Reupholstering or restoring furniture is often more cost-effective than buying new, particularly when dealing with high-quality or antique pieces.  Buying new furniture, especially if you want something comparable in quality, can be significantly more expensive.  For heirloom or antique items, investing in refinishing makes much more sense than purchasing new furniture that may not last as long or offer the same quality.
5. Are you eco-conscious? Choosing to restore and reupholster your existing furniture is not only a smart financial move but also an environmentally friendly one.  By giving your furniture a second life with new fabric, you’re reducing waste and preventing usable pieces from ending up in a landfill.  It’s a great way to embrace sustainability while maintaining a stylish home.

In most cases, restoring your furniture is the better option.  Rather than discarding a beloved piece, find a reputable furniture refinishing shop in the area that can give it a fresh, modern look while preserving its quality. There are many good furniture upholsterers in our area, but Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best refinishing service Jacksonville FL homeowners rely on for their furniture repairs and reupholstering.  Our talented craftsmen specialize in transforming antiques, forgotten pieces, and outdated furniture into beautiful works of art.  Whether you’re in Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, Ortega, or anywhere across Northeast Florida, our team will work with you to bring your furniture dreams to life.

Guide to Stripping Furniture Finish

Embarking on a furniture refinishing project can be rewarding, but it requires careful attention to detail, especially during the crucial step of stripping the old coatings from the wooden surfaces.  In this guide, we’ll use our professional experience as the best Jacksonville furniture restoration shop to walk you through the essential steps to ensure you achieve the best results possible.

1. Choose the Right Stripping Agent – Selecting the appropriate stripping agent is paramount to the success of your project. While many products claim to be “safe,” it’s essential to scrutinize their chemical makeup and instructions.  Opt for high-quality stripping agents and carefully read the labels to understand their effectiveness and safety for both you and your furniture.  Harsh chemicals can weaken joints and damage the wood, so prioritize gentler options that are still effective.
2. Prioritize Safety – Safety should always be a top priority when working with stripping agents and other chemicals. Equip yourself with the necessary protective gear, including goggles, long sleeves, gloves designed for chemical resistance, and a respirator to prevent inhalation of fumes. Minimize skin exposure and ensure adequate ventilation in your workspace to safeguard your health throughout the refinishing process.  Keep children, pets, and other members of your household away from your work area.  When in doubt, call on a great professional furniture restoration service and leave the messy work to the seasoned professionals!
3. Allocate Sufficient Time – Stripping old coatings from antique furniture is a time-intensive task that requires patience and attention to detail. Allocate plenty of time for each step of the process, including preparation, application, chemical dwell time, and finally, removal.  Factor in additional time for any unforeseen challenges or the need to repeat certain steps to achieve the desired results.  Rushing through the process can compromise the quality of your refinishing efforts.
4. Understand the Need for Elbow Grease – Effective furniture stripping requires good old-fashioned elbow grease. Follow the instructions provided with your chosen stripping agent, ensuring thorough application and proper dwell time for the chemicals to do their work. Use the appropriate tools and techniques for removal, such as scrapers or steel wool, to gently lift away old coatings without damaging the underlying wood.  Once you know what the job will entail, you may choose to just call on the best professional furniture refinishing or reupholstering shop in your area and let the experts take care of everything.

While DIY furniture refinishing can be fulfilling, entrusting your beloved antiques to professional restoration experts offers unparalleled expertise and peace of mind.  Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best furniture refinishing company Jacksonville FL homeowners trust with their favorite furniture.  We provide unmatched craftsmanship and attention to detail, ensuring your furniture receives the care it deserves. From Jacksonville to Riverside, Ortega, and Mandarin, your neighbors trust Jax Furniture for high quality antique restoration services backed by passion and professionalism.

Quality Matters in Furniture Refinishing

Your furniture is more than just wooden or metal or upholstered pieces placed in your home; these pieces are investments that enhance your living space and reflect your personal style.  However, over time, they may require repairs or reupholstering to maintain their beauty and functionality.  When the time comes for such restoration work, it’s essential to find the best furniture refinishing company to entrust with the task.  Here are some valuable tips to help you in your search:

1. Prioritize Experience: When seeking a reputable furniture upholstery service, prioritize experience. Look for a company with a proven track record, one that has been in the business for years.  Seasoned professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to all good furniture refinishing shops, ensuring that your furniture receives the care it deserves.  Take the time to research the best professional upholsterers in your area and choose a highly rated furniture restoration service with craftsmen who have honed their skills over time, capable of handling a variety of furniture types and materials.
2. Assess Craftsmanship: The quality of craftsmanship is paramount when it comes to furniture restoration. Look for testimonials from satisfied customers and ask for references to gauge the quality of their work. The best local furniture upholstery services take pride in delivering superior craftsmanship, ensuring that each piece is restored to its former glory with precision and care.
3. Personalized Approach: The best furniture refinishing services value collaboration and customer satisfaction. Whether you have antique heirlooms to be restored or modern furnishings to freshly reupholster, a reputable company will work closely with you to achieve the desired outcomes, ensuring that your expectations are not only met but exceeded.
4. Local Reputation: Consider the reputation of all highly rated furniture repair or refinishing shops in your area and prioritize those with a strong local presence and positive reviews from the community.

There are many good professional furniture refinishing companies in Northeast Florida, but Jax Furniture is the best furniture refinishing service Jacksonville FL homeowners have trusted for years.  With years of experience and a passion for fine furniture, we have earned the trust of many customers across the region. From contemporary pieces to cherished antiques, our skilled craftsmen handle each project with care and expertise.  Whether you’re in Jacksonville, Riverside, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, or beyond, trust Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering to breathe new life into your furniture.

Furniture Refinishing Benefits

Should you put the dresser with the water rings and sun damage out at the curb, or attempt to refinish it?  Should you throw out that creaky antique chair or find a good furniture restoration service to repair and refinish it?  Here are some of the benefits of refinishing your furniture or hiring the best professional furniture restoration company in your area to do the job:

• New Chapter – Refinishing your furniture gives it a new chapter! Instead of dumping a piece of furniture just because it no longer looks brand new, find a great furniture refinishing shop in your area and let the technicians repair it and give it a new coat of stain or new upholstery.  You’ll fall in love with it all over again and it will have a “new life” in your home.
• No Landfill – When you choose to restore your favorite furniture instead of discarding it, that’s one less thing being dumped in the ever-expanding landfills. The best professional antique restoration companies can refinish your furniture and breathe new life into it again.
• Customize – One of the best things about hiring good professional furniture refinishing companies is that they can provide a customized look for your furniture. If you have a particular color of paint, or tone of stain, or pattern of fabric you’ve been dreaming of for your furniture, good furniture refinishers can make it happen.

If you choose to refinish your broken, faded, or worn furniture, the option that yields the best results is to find the best antique restoration service or the best furniture refinishing service in your area and trust the work to the trained craftsmen.  Jax Furniture Refinishing and Upholstering is the best furniture restoration service Jacksonville homeowners trust with their furniture.  Our craftsmen are trained and experienced and ready to take on your furniture restoration project, whether you are up in Riverside, San Marco, or downtown Jacksonville, or over at Neptune Beach or Atlantic Beach, or down in Mandarin or Sawgrass. Give us a call and we’ll take care of your furniture refinishing needs!

Refinishing Supplies You Need

Good quality wood furniture will last for generations with the right care and can make great furniture refinishing projects.  If you’re thinking about refinishing your favorite wood furniture but aren’t sure where to start, we can help!

Here’s a list of the wood furniture refinishing supplies you need to have on hand when you want to refinish your wood coffee table, dining room table, chest, or bookcase.

1. Space – Working space may not qualify as a supply, but you definitely need adequate work space for any wood furniture refinishing project.
2. Dropcloth – Spread a sizeable drop cloth over your work area. A drop cloth is great to set your supplies on to protect your flooring, and also helps contain all dust, sawdust, and other mess that may be generated during your furniture restoration project, making cleanup that much easier.
3. Sanding Materials – Depending on the type of DIY wood furniture refinishing project you’re embarking on you may need sandpaper in various levels of grit, a power sander and sanding discs, or all of the above.
4. Tack Cloth – Nothing beats tack cloth or a soft, clean towel when it comes to cleaning your furniture. Whether you’re removing longterm dust before applying a varnish, or removing the sawdust from recent sanding, you’ll need several clean towels or tack cloths on hand.
5. Screwdriver – Keep various screwdrivers on hand to remove drawer pulls, knobs, or other hardware.
6. Topcoats and Applicators – Have an ample supply of your chosen lacquer, varnish, or stain on hand, as well as the requisite applicators: brushes of varying sizes, cloths, etc.
7. Protective Gear – Wood furniture refinishing seems like an innocuous task, but in reality, you’ll generate dust and sawdust and handle sharp tools, and potentially heavy or damaged wood pieces. Protect yourself with – at a minimum – protective eyewear and a dust mask.  You may choose to wear work gloves and additional protective gear too.

Restoring and refinishing the wood furniture in your home will allow you to continue enjoying it for years to come!  Many people enjoy working in the garage on a DIY project refinishing their wood furniture, but more and more homeowners throughout Riverside, Mandarin, Ortega, Nocatee, and Ponte Vedra are hiring good local wood restoration companies to do the work.  Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best wood refinishing service Jacksonville FL residents rely on, and we’d love to take care of your wood furniture refinishing project too!

Tips for Buying Antique Furniture

Antique furniture can be a highly worthwhile investment.  You may already have several pieces of fine furniture that have been in the family for ages, but when you want to buy a piece of antique furniture for you home, what do you look for?  Our tips can help you recognize high quality antique furniture to buy.

1. Check the construction. Examine the joints of every antique chair, table, or other handmade piece.  When considering a chest, dresser, or antique desk, pull out the drawers and examine how the piece was constructed.  For example, dovetail joinery typically indicates high quality, well-made furniture that will be worth your investment.
2. Look for labels. Look over the antique furniture you are considering and check for labels, stamps, or signatures that can help shine light on the history and quality of the item.  Vintage handmade furniture is occasionally stamped with the name of the city it was made in, or the year of construction, both of which can increase the value of the furniture in certain cases.
3. Assess damage. Check the antique furniture for damage and determine whether repairs will be possible, and if so, whether they could be costly and worthwhile to you.  For example, if you particularly love the upholstery on a particular antique sofa or chaise but notice a tear in the fabric, this may be able to be mended.  Extensive fading, however, cannot be mended, and you’ll need to hire a high quality furniture upholstery service and plan to have the item reupholstered.  Scratches, water marks, finish wear, dents and dings, caning damage, and many other issues can generally be repaired by a good professional furniture restoration service, so don’t be deterred if the antique furniture you want has sustained damage.  Just assess the damage in order to plan for the appropriate repair.
4. Plan the location. Have a plan for where you’ll incorporate the antique rocker, chest, trunk, or other item in your home.  Avoid the temptation to acquire more and more antique furniture without ample space to arrange it.  High quality handmade antique furniture pieces are treasures of history that deserve to be refinished or repaired by professional antique refinishing companies and then arranged in your home with care and consideration.
5. Find a good professional antique restoration company. We strongly advise that when planning to purchase antique furniture, you locate a professional furniture restoration shop in your area.  Each piece of antique furniture has its own story but also almost always comes with a few scratches, tears, dents, or missing hardware that will need to be mended and restored with great care by highly rated professional furniture refinishers.

When you acquire antique furniture, you’re sharing in its history.  Good local furniture restorers will help you enjoy your antique dresser, table, hutch, or other item by helping to keep it in good shape.  There are many good local furniture repair shops, but Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best furniture restoration service Jacksonville FL homeowners rely on for their heirloom furniture and favorite antique furniture.  We’ve provided truly outstanding service to the Jacksonville area, including Riverside Avondale, San Marco, Ortega, Southside, and along the Beaches, and we’d love to provide our services to you too.

Best Way to Strip Furniture

One of the first steps in your furniture refinishing project is to strip the old wooden furniture of its prior coatings.  All paint, lacquer, or varnish needs to be thoroughly removed before you can successfully apply a fresh stain or other finish.  In fact, if you skip this step or try to rush it, you won’t achieve the results you want.  So, what is the best way to strip your antique furniture?

1. Supplies – Find the right stripping agent for your furniture. Even if the label says the product is “safe,” be sure to read the chemical makeup and any fine print to understand exactly what the product will do, how to use it, and what applicators are needed.  We recommend not skimping on the quality of the chemical, and carefully reading about the contents to be sure you’re getting not only the most effective solution, but also one that is safe, not just for you (since you’ll be handling it), but also for the furniture itself.  Anything too harsh can weaken joints, strip more than just the topcoat, or otherwise damage the furniture’s makeup.
2. Safety – Stay safe during your DIY furniture refinishing by wearing the right protective gear. Anytime you apply harsh chemicals, such as in the stripping step, wear goggles or other protective eye covering to prevent chemical spray or spatter from getting into your eyes.  We also recommend wearing long sleeves and generally exposing as little of your skin as possible to being splashed by harsh chemicals like those found in most furniture strippers.  Also wear protective gloves to keep your hands and fingers from being exposed to potentially caustic chemicals.  You should wear gloves that specifically protect against the chemicals in the stripping agent.  Likewise, wear a respirator to keep from breathing in harmful fumes while you work.  Other protective gear can be worn in addition to these items, but eye coverings, gloves, and a respirator are imperative in protecting yourself while you refinish your furniture.
3. Time – Thoroughly and safely stripping all paint and stain from your furniture takes time! Set aside the time to prep for the work, apply the material, let it sit, dwell, cure, etc.  You may want to set aside extra time in case any part of the process needs to be repeated.
4. Elbow Grease – Your furniture stripping project won’t get far without good old fashioned elbow grease. Once you have the right materials and set aside the time for the job, dig in!  Be sure to apply the stripper according to the instructions, allow it to “dwell” for the time needed, and use the right tools and method for removal, all of which should be listed on the container.  Don’t try to cut corners, and don’t give less than 100%.  A great DIY furniture refinishing job starts with a thorough stripping and removal of the old coats, and elbow grease will get it done!

Furniture refinishing is tricky work, and seems to never go quite as planned for most DIY refinishers.  This is one of the reasons so many Jacksonville, Riverside, Ortega, and Mandarin homeowners call on Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering to take care of their furniture restoration projects!  There are many good local furniture refinishers, but Jax Furniture is the best antique restoration company trusted by homeowners throughout the area.  Our craftsmen are true professionals and know what the job calls for, but beyond that, each of us has a passion for fine furniture and attention to detail.  If you trust your wood or upholstered furniture to us for a repair or restoration, you’ll love the results!

Rejuvenate Inherited Furniture

An heirloom chest, table, or desk once owned and cherished by a family member might not exactly fit with your home’s décor.  These antiques are high in sentimental value, but what do you do if inherited furniture doesn’t look good in your home?  We have three suggestions:

• RESTORE – Often a high-quality restoration can transform a dull or rickety antique into a stunning piece. Trust your heirloom to the best local furniture restoration company and you’ll be astounded at the results!  The tarnished chest just needs to be skillfully refinished, and the shredded or floppy cushions on an upholstered chair just need the craftsmanship of a careful upholsterer to make you fall in love with it.
• REDO – If you like one element of heirloom furniture but not another, hire a great furniture refinishing shop to re-envision and redo it! An overstuffed chair in a fabric from three decades ago may not be a good candidate for your living room but imagine what can happen if you recover it in a fresh new fabric.  A scuffed sideboard from a century ago can be stripped, sanded, and stained in a bold new color to fit your modern home.  Good professional upholsterers and refinishers can work magic on old furniture!
• REPURPOSE – If you don’t know what to do with furniture you inherited from a family member, reimagine it in a new way. An end table can become a nightstand, a hutch or china cabinet can be disassembled and turned into a buffet, and a dining table can transform into a desk.  If you can imagine it, a highly rated furniture restoration service can make it happen!

Don’t banish your inherited furniture just because you don’t know what to do with it, or don’t like something about it.  Find the best furniture restorer in your area and ask the professionals to help turn it into furniture you love and can use!  There are many great furniture refinishers in Northeast Florida, but Jax Furniture is the trusted furniture restoration and upholstery service called on by homeowners throughout Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, St. Augustine, and San Marco, and we’d love to take care of your furniture restoration as well.

Refinishing Your Tabletop

Your dining room table receives frequent use.  It’s the spot for family meals, often multiple times per day, as well as homework, card games, and countless other projects and fun.  The tabletop surface inevitably shows scuffs, water marks, scratches, and more.  When the time comes, how do you refinish your tabletop and get it back into great condition?  Here are simple steps for refinishing your dining room table top:

1. Make a plan. Examine the table to make sure you know what’s ahead for your refinishing project.  If any repairs are needed, be sure you understand how to make the repairs correctly.  Set up a work area for yourself in an area that is well ventilated.  You’ll need to be able to spread out a dropcloth and the table, and arrange your supplies.  It’s best if your work area is in a part of the house or garage that is not highly trafficked so that you’re out of the way in case the project takes longer than expected.
2. Gather your supplies. You’ll need sandpaper or sanding blocks in both coarse (60- 120-grit) and fine (360-grit).  Consider using a mechanical sander if your table is large or in need of significant work.  You’ll also need several clean cloths and tack cloths, and then the stain or paint you’ve chosen.
3. Clean the furniture. Be sure to clean the tabletop well before proceeding.  Use gentle household cleaners to rid all grease, oil, dirt, and debris.  This will make subsequent steps more successful.
4. Remove existing finish. Using the roughest, lowest-grit sandpaper, remove the existing paint, varnish, or other finish.  Rub along the wood grain.  Wipe all dust and shavings off with a tack cloth and then repeat this process with 120-grit sandpaper.  Use chemical stripping agents with caution.  They can be caustic when mishandled, and can damage certain wood when used or applied incorrectly.
5. Apply new finish. Apply the new stain, paint, or other finish you’ve chosen.  Be sure to apply it as directed, and wear protective gloves, eye covering, or respirators that may be called for.  Depending on your desired look, you might choose to apply a polyurethane or polycrylic clear coat.
6. Finishing touches… Once the final coating has dried or cured, you’re ready to wipe down the tabletop and bring it back into use!

At this point, your tabletop should be looking handsome and ready for more family dinners and fun!  Tabletop refinishing can be a tricky or protracted DIY project, but almost always worth the effort!  Or, you can transform this checklist into a single step – simply call on a great local furniture refinishing shop, tell them how you want your tabletop to look, and trust the professionals with the job!

Northeast Florida homeowners in Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, Riverside, Southside, and Fleming Island call on Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering when it’s time for a tabletop, desk, headboard, or sectional to have work done.  Jax Furniture is the best furniture restoration service Jacksonville FL residents have trusted for years, and we’d love the honor of restoring your antique or other well loved furniture so that you can enjoy it again, and keep enjoying it for years to come!

Outdoor Furniture Cleaning Tips

Here in Northeast Florida, our outdoor spaces get used almost year round.  Most Jacksonville residents like to be outside from the first warm evening in spring, all through the summer, and as late into autumn as possible.  After a few seasons on the deck or patio, your outdoor furniture may start to look a bit worse for the wear, and rust, mildew, and other stains can appear.  Our tips will help you keep your outdoor furniture clean and ready to use, so you never have to miss any time outside. (more…)