Even in an era of high-rise buildings made of glass and concrete, wood still endures as a staple of commercial architecture.
Wood brings a welcoming sense of warmth and richness to your building that no other material can match. Whether a business is putting in new wood or wood refurbishing, the material brings a sense of luxuriance to any building. No wonder it retains so many popular uses in 21st Century buildings from traditional to contemporary:
- Lobby areas
- Elevator cabs
- Reception desks
- Conference tables
- Wall panels
- Handrails
- Trim and doors
- Other furniture
One of the biggest challenges of wood as a building material is that it’s not as durable as metal or stone, usually making it a costlier addition to your building maintenance plan. On top of that, wood is often found in public areas that typically get a lot of wear and tear from heavy usage.
That’s why it’s important to include wood refurbishing in your overall building maintenance plan. Wood restoration by a woodworking expert is an investment in the long-term function and aesthetic value of your wood surfaces, and in turn, your building as a whole.
The great compromise: Restore or replace?
According to experts at Mohawk Finishing, once a wooden surface is damaged, it will never go back to being 100% the way it was before the damage occurred.
So why not just put in all new wood every time a scratch or scrape occurs? Why bother investing in wood refurbishing at all?
- Remember that every wood repair project is a compromise.
- Someone who is an expert in woodworking, and perhaps anyone who saw the damage before it was repaired, will probably always be able to tell that a repair has been made.
- The goal is to make the repair undetectable to the untrained eye, or to someone who is unaware the surface was ever damaged in the first place.
- This is accomplished by restoring the color, texture, level plane, and gloss to match the pre-existing finish as closely as possible.
- While never completely returning the wood to its exact pre-damaged condition, a high-quality wood refurbishing service will help you maintain an acceptable level of function and appearance quality.
Many building owners are tempted to completely replace all damaged wood. However, in many cases this is an expensive option, when a quality restoration by trained woodworking experts will give you the quality results you need for a lot less money.
What are your wood refurbishing service options?
A professional wood refurbishing service provider such as Mid America Specialty Services will have expertise and experience in restoring many types of wood:
- Cherry
- Oak
- Mahogany
- Maple
- Wood
- Walnut
- Hickory
Highly trained wood refurbishing crews should have traditional woodworking expertise as well as knowledge of how to use modern technologies to create superior results.
Depending on the extent of the damage and the type of wood surface in question, different types of wood refurbishing may be appropriate in different situations.
- One-time project. A one-time wood refinishing or touch-up might be all you need if the damage is not extensive and ongoing maintenance is not required. A one-time complete restoration might be needed for more extensive damage.
- Monthly wood maintenance program. Perhaps you have wood surfaces that get a lot of traffic, or get exposed to bad weather like rain, snow, or extreme temperatures. In that case, it’s best not to wait until damage accumulates to an unacceptable level. A regular monthly building maintenance program may include regularly scheduled touch-ups, monthly cleaning and polishing, and occasional complete restorations performed in a timely fashion.
- Complete restoration. If a small touch-up isn’t enough, a complete restoration may be in order. This involves five main steps:
- Stripping off the old finish
- Sanding
- Repairing damaged areas
- Staining
- Recoating
If you need repairs on wood surfaces in your building, or you’d like to learn more about maintaining your wood over the long term, contact us at Mid America Specialty Services.
We’ll provide information to help you keep your building looking its best for years to come.
