By George Furniture Restoration in Oklahoma City: Wood Repair and Finish Work for Damaged and Antique Pieces
By George Furniture Restoration is a single-location furniture repair shop specializing in wood restoration, refinishing, and structural repair for residential customers across Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. The business handles everything from stripping and repainting existing finishes to rebuilding joints, replacing veneers, and matching stains on pieces damaged by water, wear, or age. It operates at a smaller scale than furniture megastores but larger than a one-person side business, with enough equipment and turnaround capacity to handle multiple projects simultaneously without months-long waits.
What the shop actually does
By George takes on wood furniture that needs more than basic cleaning. Common projects include refinishing dining tables that have lost their lacquer, repairing chairs with loose joints, fixing water rings and heat marks on dressers, and matching wood tones when drawers or legs have been damaged or replaced. The shop can also handle veneered pieces, though veneer work costs more and takes longer than solid wood repair. They do not reupholster sofas or chairs, and they do not work on metal, glass, or composite materials. If a piece is primarily laminate or particle board, this is not the right fit.
The shop takes pieces that furniture rental companies would replace and pieces that homeowners inherited or bought used. This means the work ranges from straightforward (sanding and sealing a table) to complicated (matching the original stain on a 1960s credenza when the wood species is unclear or no longer commonly available).
Services and typical pricing
Refinishing prices depend on size, wood condition, and desired finish. A standard wooden dining chair typically costs $75 to $150 to strip and refinish with a basic stain and polyurethane. A dining table runs $300 to $800, depending on whether it is a simple top or includes leaves, inlays, or existing damage that requires filling. Small repairs like fixing a heat ring on a nightstand run $40 to $100. Water damage or deep gouges that need patching or grain matching cost $150 to $400. Veneer replacement is priced per square foot of affected area and generally starts at $200 for a small section.
The shop charges a deposit (typically 25 to 50 percent of the estimate) to begin work and invoices the balance on pickup. Turnaround is usually 3 to 5 weeks for standard refinishing, longer for veneer work or pieces requiring significant structural repair. Pricing can shift based on material costs, so confirm a quote in writing before dropping off a piece.
How it compares to other Oklahoma City options
Oklahoma City's furniture repair landscape is thin. Large upholstery shops like those found in the Furniture Row complex on NW 23rd Street focus on reupholstering and recovering, not wood restoration. Chain furniture stores offer some damage repair as an add-on service but typically charge premium labor rates and turn pieces away if the damage is extensive. Independent woodworkers and hobbyists operate in Oklahoma City but often work by referral only and lack consistent turnaround or warranty.
By George sits in the middle: more affordable and faster than sending a piece to a specialist refinisher in Dallas or Kansas City, but offering more control and better matching than a furniture retailer's service department. If you have a piece worth $400 or more and the repair cost is under 30 percent of its value, By George is worth the wait. If the piece is sentimental but inexpensive, the repair cost may exceed its practical value, and replacement is smarter.
Who should use this shop and who should not
This shop suits homeowners with wood furniture that has sentimental value, inherited pieces that need refreshing, or mid-range furniture (not IKEA or particle board) that has suffered specific damage. It also works well if you bought a used wooden piece and want to restore it to original condition before moving it into your home. It does not suit people wanting quick turnaround (under 2 weeks), anyone working with non-wood furniture, or those hoping to restore a piece worth less than $150.
What a first visit involves
Call or visit in person with photos of the damaged area and, if possible, the piece itself. The shop will examine the wood type, assess the damage, check for previous finishes or stains that need matching, and provide a written estimate that includes materials, labor, and turnaround time. You will be asked whether you want the closest match possible or the most durable finish (which may look slightly different). Once you approve the estimate and drop a deposit, the piece goes into the queue. You will receive a call when work is complete, and you can pick up during business hours.
Hours, location, and logistics
By George Furniture Restoration operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited Saturday hours by appointment. Street parking is available on-site. Large pieces can be picked up for an additional fee if you cannot transport them yourself, though most customers arrange their own pickup to keep costs down. Confirm current hours before visiting, as seasonal closures or staffing changes may shift availability.
By George Furniture Restoration fills a specific gap in Oklahoma City's home services: it restores wood furniture to usable condition without the cost or delay of specialized restorers outside the state, and it does so at rates that make sense for pieces with real sentimental or functional value.
