Expert: Eileen Cronk - 11/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: Help! What is the best, most efficient and fastest way to refinish a 20 year old bathroom vanity?  It has an original Min Wax stain on it. Please be as specific as you can in your response. Thanks so much!

ANSWER: Hi Barbara
Nice to hear from you.
Barb to refinish anything, the old finish must be removed.
The only way to remove the finish is with paint stripper.
Then of course you restain and apply a new finish.
Its efficent. Its fairly fast too LOL
Thats a total refinish.
If you just want to "refresh" the existing vanity thats fast and efficient too.
Scrub the vanity very very well with a TSP solution.
Use a medium steel wool pad as a scrubber.
When dry, apply a coat of stain the same existing color with a rag.
All this will do is stain any areas where the finish may have worn. You cannot change the color this way (stripping is the only way to do that).
Let this dry for 48 hours.
Then apply a fresh coat of finish.
In bathrooms a poly is the best choice.
Hope this helps.
Good luck and good question.
Regards
Eileen


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for your prompt reply.  It SOUNDS easy enough.  Can you recommend a paint stripper or does itnot matter?  I plan on putting the same color stain on, if that makes any difference.  After stripping, how long should I wait to apply the stain?  Thanks again!

Answer
Hi Again Barbara
This will be easy Barbara. Just take your time.
I like the Circa 1850 paint and varnish remover.
I am in Canada, and the products in my area are limited but there are many types of stripper available. Many are less toxic, some are more.
I like the Circa because there is no after washing required as with a lot of them.
The same stain color is fine.
Just make sure the wood is dry after stripping before you apply the stain.
An hour or two with the Circa stripper.
Good Luck
Regards
Eileen