What Happens During a Kivett's Pew Restoration Project?
Handing your sanctuary's pews over for restoration is a big step for any building committee. Here is the process from first walkthrough to final reinstallation, so you know exactly what to expect at every stage.
The Six Steps
-
Free On-Site Consultation
Our team visits your sanctuary to inspect the pews in place — checking joinery, wood condition, and finish wear — and talks through your committee's goals, whether that's a straight refinish, reupholstery, or a mix of restoration and new matching pieces.
-
Careful Removal
Once a scope is agreed on, our crew removes the pews using trucks specially designed for church furniture, built to protect both the pews and your sanctuary floor and fixtures during the move.
-
Refinishing at Our Clinton, NC Facility
The stripping and refinishing work happens at our shop rather than on-site, since it involves an EPA-regulated finishing process best handled in a controlled environment with the right ventilation and equipment.
-
Stain and Fabric Selection
Your committee reviews real stain and fabric samples to match your existing sanctuary or choose a refresh. See the full range on our Fabric & Stains page. Reupholstery, when needed, is handled by our own direct upholstery team — see Direct Upholstery.
-
Delivery and Reinstallation
Once refinishing is complete, the same crew that removed your pews delivers and reinstalls them, using the specially designed trucks again to prevent damage on the return trip.
-
Final Walkthrough
We walk the sanctuary with your committee to confirm placement, finish, and fit before considering the project complete.
What Determines the Timeline
Every sanctuary is different, so we don't quote a generic timeline before seeing the actual scope. The biggest factors are the number of pews involved, how much repair work the wood needs beyond a standard refinish, and whether reupholstery is part of the project. Your consultation includes a realistic timeline for your specific project, discussed alongside your service schedule so removal and reinstallation land when they work best for your congregation.
Insured and Guaranteed
As the largest family-owned pew manufacturer and pew refinisher in the United States, with the largest refinishing division on the East Coast, Kivett's has run this same process since 1958 as a second-generation family-owned company. Every phase — removal, refinishing, delivery, and reinstallation — is insured and guaranteed.
FAQ
Do the pews leave our building during restoration?
In most cases, yes. Refinishing is done at our Clinton, NC facility rather than on-site, since it involves EPA-regulated stripping and finishing processes best handled in a controlled shop environment. Our crews remove the pews using specially designed trucks and handle reinstallation once the work is complete.
Will our sanctuary be unusable while pews are being restored?
We plan removal and reinstallation around your service schedule, and many churches restore pews in sections or during a planned closure window rather than emptying the whole sanctuary at once. We discuss the logistics that work for your congregation during the consultation.
Who decides on stain color and fabric during restoration?
Your committee does, with samples to review. We bring stain and fabric options from our Fabric & Stains selection so you can match the existing sanctuary or choose a refreshed look before any work begins.
What happens if damage is found once the pews arrive at the shop?
We contact your committee before proceeding with any repair beyond the original scope. Most structural issues are visible during the on-site consultation, but if something is found once stripping begins, you get the full picture and a cost adjustment before work continues.
Is the restoration work guaranteed?
Yes. Every Kivett's project is insured and guaranteed, covering the removal, refinishing, delivery, and reinstallation phases of the work.
Related Reading
Not sure restoration is the right call yet? See Pew Restoration vs. New Church Pews: How to Choose. For signs it's time to start the conversation, read 5 Signs Your Church Pews Need Refinishing Instead of Replacement and What Causes Church Pew Damage Over Time.
Ready to Start With a Free Consultation?
Clinton, NC · Serving churches nationwide since 1958