Business Details
44 Years
experience
Expert Furniture Refinishing & Restoration Services
Founded in 1982 by Margery Smith and Rita Wagner, The Strippers has established itself as a trusted leader in furniture refinishing, restoration, and repair. With over 40 years of combined experience, our team specializes in preserving the craftsmanship of antique and vintage furniture while delivering modern solutions for contemporary pieces. We employ meticulous hand-stripping techniques, custom staining, and protective finishes to breathe new life into damaged or worn furniture.Our commitment to quality is underscored by a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a free consumer guide that educates clients on best practices for furniture restoration. Through our sister store, Bits & Pieces Furniture & Dcor, we also promote sustainability by offering consignment options for gently used furniture. Our three locations in Kitchener, Guelph, and Cambridge serve Southern Ontario with personalized consultations, professional repairs, and eco-conscious practices.
Services
Furniture Stripping
Staining
Painting
Restoration
Veneer Repair
Chair Repair
Custom Finishes
Insurance Claims Handling
Kitchener Cupboard Refinishing
Wicker Repair
Details
- Year established: 1982
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of combined experience in furniture restoration
- Our 100% satisfaction guarantee ensures quality results
- Free consumer guide helps clients make informed decisions
- Eco-friendly practices through our furniture consignment store
- Trained professionals handle complex repairs and custom finishes
Services
Furniture Stripping
Our hand-stripping process uses liquid or semi-paste strippers to safely remove old finishes while preserving wood integrity. We offer full-service stripping for professional restoration or DIY projects requiring only the stripping stage. Our technicians carefully disassemble pieces to ensure thorough treatment of all components, including intricate details and hidden surfaces.
Furniture Staining
Custom staining services transform furniture with hand-applied finishes that highlight natural wood grain. We offer color matching to existing pieces or samples, with multiple stain options for different wood types. Our process includes sanding, defect repair, and multiple coats of high-quality stains to achieve durable, long-lasting results.
Furniture Painting
Professional spray painting services revitalize furniture with any color choice using premium primers and paints. We prepare surfaces through sanding and priming, then apply even coats for flawless finishes. Our team advises on paint types based on furniture usage, ensuring optimal durability for high-traffic pieces.
Specialty Restoration
Comprehensive restoration services address structural repairs, veneer replacement, and intricate detail reconstruction. We handle chair regluing, spindle turning, missing part recreation, and water damage repairs. Our expertise extends to antique furniture preservation and modern piece modifications while maintaining original craftsmanship integrity.
Custom Finishes
Clear coat finishes protect stripped or stained furniture with multiple layers of lacquer for enhanced durability. We offer various sheen options from matte to gloss, applying sealers and topcoats through high-quality spray systems. Our process includes fine sanding between coats for ultra-smooth, professional results that extend furniture lifespan.
People
Margery Smith
Co-Founder
Co-founder with over 40 years of furniture restoration expertise, Margery pioneered The Strippers' meticulous approach to preserving antique craftsmanship while innovating modern refinishing techniques.
Rita Wagner
Co-Founder
Co-founder Rita Wagner established The Strippers' reputation for excellence, combining technical skill with customer education through our industry-leading consumer guide on furniture refinishing best practices.
Questions
What types of furniture can you refinish?
We handle all wood furniture types including antiques, modern pieces, pianos, clocks, and specialty items like wicker and brass fixtures.
Do you offer color matching services?
Yes, we match stains to existing furniture or samples, considering wood grain variations for accurate color replication.
Can you repair damaged veneer?
Our specialists perform veneer repairs ranging from small touch-ups to complete panel replacements using matching wood materials.
Do you handle insurance restoration claims?
Yes, we work directly with clients on fire, flood, or vandalism damage claims, providing professional restoration services for insured furniture items.
What is your turnaround time?
Project timelines vary by complexity but average 2-4 weeks, with detailed estimates provided during initial consultations.
Do you provide pickup and delivery?
Yes, we offer curbside service and professional pickup/delivery through our COVID-approved moving partners for client convenience.
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Reviews (3)
Natasha Ivy
Nov 29, 2020
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We had an antique rocking chair that a moving company broke in our move. After plenty of research we choose strippers because the way they were going to fix the wood on the broken leg was the one we were most comfortable with. They did an amazing job! They offered to upholster, but we declined as we are waiting until it is necessary but will be back! They were thorough and they were communicative. It took longer than we anticipated but it was worth the wait.
Marilyn Hollinger
Jan 22, 2016
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We are so pleased with our new dining room suite that you refinished. Although the pieces are not the same wood, now they all match and are useful for us. As you know, we removed the straw and old innards of the chairs. Now we have new foam and very comfortable seating. I'd like to send you a picture of the suite.
Marilyn Hollinger
Marilyn Hollinger
Jennifer Michaud
Nov 29, 2015
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We moved from Calgary Alberta to Brantford Ontario and our movers damaged 90% of our Teak vintage designer furniture. We contacted the Strippers and explained our situation where we lived and what happened in the move, they seemed very eager to work with us and our insurance company. We sent them many pictures both before and after along with detailed measurements for them to give us a rough estimate on the repairs. After I sent them they stated that they would need to come to home to view the items. I agreed and sent them our address. We did not get any response for two weeks so we called them
