Furniture Refinishing Preparation
GET READY FOR REFINISHING
Your Furniture Preparation Checklist
Preparing your furniture before your appointment helps us provide the highest quality finish possible. A little preparation goes a long way in protecting your piece, preventing delays, and ensuring your refinishing project starts smoothly.
Please review the checklist below before bringing your furniture to our workshop.
1. Clean Your Furniture
Before drop-off, wash your furniture using warm water and a mild dish soap. Dry all surfaces completely with a clean, lint-free cloth.
For dressers, cabinets, and storage pieces:
- Remove all drawers.
- Check inside, underneath, and behind the furniture for personal belongings.
- Vacuum drawers and interior spaces.
Clean furniture allows us to properly inspect the piece and begin preparation without delays.
2. Remove Pet Hair
Please remove all pet hair from your furniture, including:
- Upholstered areas
- Drawer interiors
- Cabinet spaces
- Corners, seams, and crevices
Pet hair can contaminate finishing products and affect the quality and durability of your final finish.
3. Remove Old Felt Pads & Furniture Glides
Please remove all existing felt pads or furniture glides from the legs before drop-off.
If you would like new glides installed after refinishing, let us know and we can discuss available options.
4. Hardware Preparation
If you are updating your hardware, please bring your new knobs, pulls, or handles with your furniture.
Existing hardware may also be refinished for an additional charge.
Before transport, make sure all existing hardware is securely attached so pieces are not lost during handling.
5. Custom Colour Matching
For custom paint or stain colours, please provide a physical colour sample whenever possible.
Examples:
- Paint chips
- Fabric samples
- Wood samples
- Existing furniture samples
If you do not have a physical sample, you may email reference photos to:
Please note: Colours shown on screens may vary from the final result.
6. Identify Repairs Needed
Before your appointment, inspect your furniture and make note of any repairs you would like completed.
Common repairs include:
- Dents and scratches
- Loose joints
- Wobbly chairs or tables
- Doors that bind or do not close properly
- Drawers that stick or do not slide smoothly
- Broken, loose, or missing hardware
- Loose veneer
- Damaged trim
Please point out any concerns during drop-off so they can be included in your project assessment.
7. Empty All Furniture
Remove all personal belongings before bringing your furniture to the workshop.
Please remove:
- Clothing
- Documents
- Electronics
- Decorative items
- Fragile belongings
Superior Paint Co. is not responsible for items left inside furniture.
8. Bring Only Items Being Serviced
To protect your furniture and make handling more efficient, please bring only the pieces or components included in your project.
Examples:
- If only the tabletop is being refinished, leave the table base at home.
- If glass or mirror components are not being serviced, leave them at home.
- If upholstery is not included in the project, upholstered sections do not need to be brought in.
- If only doors, drawers, or shelves are being refinished, leave the remaining cabinet components at home unless instructed otherwise.
Bringing only service items reduces unnecessary handling and helps keep your project moving efficiently.
9. Transport Preparation
Proper transportation helps prevent damage before your project even begins.
Please:
- Use moving blankets to protect furniture.
- Secure doors and drawers with stretch wrap or painter’s tape.
- Do not apply packing tape directly to finished surfaces.
- Remove loose shelves whenever possible.
- Always lift furniture from the base — never drag.
10. Furniture Intake Inspection
When your furniture arrives, we will complete an intake inspection to document its condition and confirm the requested work.
During this inspection, we check for:
- Existing damage
- Required repairs
- Missing hardware
- Veneer concerns
- Structural issues
- Previous finish problems
If additional repairs are discovered, we will discuss options with you before proceeding.
11. What to Expect During Your Project
Every piece of furniture is unique, and every project requires a different level of preparation and craftsmanship.
Please keep in mind:
- Processing times are estimates and may vary depending on the condition of your furniture.
- Additional repairs, design changes, humidity, and drying/curing times may affect completion dates.
- Colour samples or finish approvals will be provided when required.
- Once your project is complete, we will provide pickup instructions and any required curing information.
WHY TIMELY PICKUP MATTERS
Just like other service businesses, our workshop has limited space and every project requires room to work.
Would a hair salon allow a client to remain in the chair after their service is complete? No — that chair is needed for the next appointment.
Would a restaurant allow a guest to stay at their table long after their meal is finished? No — that table is needed for the next customers.
Would a mechanic allow a serviced vehicle to remain inside their shop indefinitely? No — they need that space for the next vehicle.
Our furniture workshop is no different.
Once your furniture refinishing project is complete, we need that space for upcoming client projects. Completed furniture left in the workshop takes up valuable working space, slows production, and limits our ability to serve other customers.
Furniture cannot be stored outside due to weather and security concerns. For this reason, completed furniture must be picked up within 3 days of notification.
Thank you for helping us keep our workshop organized and allowing us to continue providing quality craftsmanship to all of our clients.
12. Appointment Information
Our workshop is by appointment only.
Please arrive with your furniture cleaned, prepared, and ready for service at your scheduled drop-off time. Proper preparation allows us to begin your project efficiently and provide the best possible results.
Thank You!
Our clients are at the heart of Superior Paint Co., and we truly appreciate the opportunity to restore and transform your furniture.
We look forward to bringing your piece back to life.
Have questions before your appointment? We’re happy to help.
Email: info@superiorpaintco.ca
Click here to view our Furniture Refinishing Frequently Asked Questions.