Does refinishing an antique hurt its value a lot?

Question

I have a Cushman Colonial Creation bedroom set, but it's been refinished. How bad does this affect its value?

Answer 1

It can be bad but I would talk to some one that knows antique's. Good luck:)

Answer 2

I have learned that it only affects the value if you want to sell it!  If you are keeping it and possibly passing it on to another family member or friend, then the emotional value is more ofcourse.    This sounds silly I know, but I have an antique sideboard that's been in my family for 3 generations and I know I won't sell it, so I will be refinishing it.  My parents have tons of antiques that they say are worth sooo much, but they are not willing to sell anything. To me that makes it worth nothing.

I'm sure you only asked b/c you want to sell though.     Good Luck.

Answer 3

What are the functions of a finish?

- to protect

- to beautify

- to provide a cleanable surface

If the finish has degraded to the point where it is not serving these functions, then not doing anything is just going to accelerate the demise of the piece of furniture.  

Only in the very rarest of instances is refinishing going to "destroy" the value.   Everything old is not extremely valuable to begin with.  And "old" can be as little as 40 or 80 years, not truly an antique.

People who automatically say, "Don't do anything" are just blindly following what they've heard on Antiques Roadshow and don't have the complete information.

Answer 4

reduces it by three quarters

refinishing is a disaster

Answer 5

IT TAKES THE VALUE DOWN BY 50% BUT IF IT HAS BEEN DONE NOW WHEN YOU GET IT I WOULD NOT WORRY ON IT.