How to Refinish Veneered Furniture

Veneered furniture can be refinished to look like new

Veneered furniture is wood furniture that has a thin layer of decorative wood on its outer surface. This veneer can become scuffed and scratched from wear and tear and may need to be refinished. Veneered furniture can be refinished like other wood furniture, as long as the veneer is not too thin, and you take care not to remove too much of the veneer when removing the old finish.

Things You'll Need

• 120-grit sandpaper
• 220-grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Stain
• Polyurethane
• Sanding sealer
• Brush
• Cloth
• Chemical Stripper
• Putty knife
• Steel wool

Instructions

1. Brush a coat of chemical stripper onto the veneered furniture. This will dissolve the old finish. Allow the stripper to stand for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Scrape the old finish off the veneered furniture with a putty knife. Work slowly to avoid gouging the wood. Use steel wool to scrub the finish off in areas that are hard to reach. Wipe the veneered furniture down with a damp cloth to remove the stripper and bits of finish.

3. Sand the veneered furniture with 120-grit sandpaper just enough to rough up the wood surface. Take care not to remove too much material as veneer is not too thick. Wipe the wood with a tack cloth and lightly sand again with 220-grit sandpaper to smooth the wood surface. Wipe it clean with a tack cloth.

4. Brush a heavy coat of sanding sealer onto the veneered furniture and allow it to sit for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Wipe off excess with a cloth and allow it to dry.

5. Brush a coat of stain onto the veneered furniture. Allow the wood to absorb the stain for several minutes, then wipe off excess stain with a clean cloth. Allow the coat of stain to completely dry.

6. Brush several thin coats of polyurethane to the veneered furniture and sand between each coats with 220-grit sandpaper. Brush in long, even strokes to avoid bubbles in the finish. Lightly sand only after the polyurethane has dried and wipe clean after sanding.

Tips & Warnings

• Work with the grain of the wood

• Use a plastic putty knife to ensure you don't damage the wood

• Hand protection and goggles are needed when using chemicals and sanding

• Keep your work area ventilated

References

• Nursery Progress: Refinishing Veneer Furniture