You might know this as church pew refinishing. Same work, either name. We restore and reupholster church pews — refinishing the wood, replacing worn seat and back cushions, and repairing joints that have loosened. The pews stay yours; the sanctuary just stops looking neglected.
Total linear footage of seating, pew count, existing padding condition and wood condition. Linear feet, not pew count, is how this work is normally priced.
Commercial-grade fabric with an appropriate abrasion rating and foam density chosen for how often the space is used. Samples should be viewed in the sanctuary under its own lighting.
Seat-only is the common and cheaper option; seat and back costs more and is noticeably more comfortable. Existing foam is usually replaced rather than reused.
Loose joints tightened, cracked pew ends repaired, missing trim replaced, and gouges filled. Older pews often have joints that have loosened over decades of use.
From a light clean and rejuvenation of the existing finish through to a full strip and refinish. These are very different scopes and prices and should be quoted explicitly.
Work is normally done in sections so services continue. Some shops work on site; others remove pews in batches to a workshop, which affects both price and disruption.
If you are seeing any of this, call us before it gets more expensive.
| What you are seeing | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Fabric worn through but wood sound | Reupholstery only; refinishing not yet needed |
| Finish dull and hazy but not flaking | Light rejuvenation, not a full strip |
| Pew ends loose or rocking | Joint repair needed before any finishing work |
| Foam flattened and unsupportive | Foam replacement, not just recovering the fabric |
Linear footage measured, condition documented, and fabric and finish samples reviewed by whoever is authorised to decide. Viewing samples in the sanctuary's own light matters.
Sections sequenced so services continue uninterrupted. This is usually the part congregations care most about and should be agreed in writing.
Old fabric and foam removed, wood joints tightened, cracks and gouges repaired, and any missing trim replaced before finishing begins.
Depending on scope, either a clean and rejuvenation of the existing finish or a full strip, sand and refinish. Full refinishing is where most of the cost and time sit.
New foam and fabric fitted, then pews returned and secured. A final walk-through with the committee to confirm consistency across sections is worth scheduling.