Is It Time to Refinish Your Church Pews?
April 15, 2021 – Pew Refinishing Update
After a year of intensive sanitizing during the height of COVID-19, many churches are now facing the unintended consequences: damaged pew finishes. The harsh chemical cleaners used to disinfect surfaces have taken a toll—especially on solid wood church pews.
So what now? Is pew restoration worth it?
Only Solid Wood Pew Restoration Makes Financial Sense
Let’s get to the point: restoration only makes sense for solid wood pews.
Why?
Because the cost to restore modern, upholstered pews (often built with pressboard, foam, and thin veneers) is typically equal to—or more than—the cost of buying new ones. We refer to these modern builds as “disposable” for a reason: they weren't made to last or to be restored.
But solid wood pews? That’s a whole different story.
-
Cost of new solid wood pews: $300–$400 per linear foot
-
Cost to restore solid wood pews: Less than half that
If your pews are all solid wood—with or without removable seat pads—restoration offers unbeatable long-term value.
Not sure if your pews are worth restoring?
📸 Just email us photos along with the number of pews and their lengths, and we’ll give you honest feedback.
A Quick Note from Scott – May 20, 2020
Hey there—
Yes, we’re still here.
A lot of pew refinishing companies didn’t survive the pandemic, but we did.
Our low-overhead, mobile model (we come to you!) helped us weather the storm and continue serving churches across the country.
These days, we’re seeing more inquiries from churches looking to fix pews we consider "disposable"—mass-produced seating from the 1970s and beyond. These pews often:
-
Lack proper end supports
-
Use low-grade veneers and foam
-
Weren’t built for long-term use or refinishing
Unfortunately, patchwork fixes just don't hold up.
But if your church still has original solid wood pews, you're among the lucky few. While the cost of refinishing has increased slightly, the savings over time are significant—especially when compared to replacing all your seating every 15–20 years.
Case Study: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church – Andale, KS
In winter 2019, after a church fire, we helped St. Joe’s restore their entire interior—starting with their original solid wood pews. We even rented a local warehouse to handle the job properly and efficiently.
St Joes before:
Ready to Talk Pew Restoration?
Let’s make this simple:
If your church has solid wood pews, restoration is almost always the smarter, more cost-effective route.
📩 Send us a few photos + pew lengths, and we’ll take a look.
Thanks for visiting,
– Scott
