What is The Difference Between Refinishing & Staining?

Refinishing and staining are two different processes used to modify the look of a piece of furniture or another wooden item. Refinishing involves the removal of existing finish from an object, such as sanding it down, whereas staining does not require any kind of stripping process. Staining simply applies color to porous surfaces like wood to give them a desired appearance without hiding their natural texture. 

The main difference between refinishing and staining is that with refinishing, you can change the overall look of a piece, while with staining, you just add color to make something appear more desirable or uniform. Refinishing also provides protection against damage due to heat, wear, and scratches, while stains do not provide this same level of protection. 

With refinishing, you have many options, including painting, varnish, shellac, etc., but when using stain, all you have are limited shades which will be absorbed by the wood grain differently depending on its porosity and type. Additionally, if there is already a coating on an item before attempting to apply stain, then it could result in blotching due to inconsistent absorption rates among areas that were protected by existing sealer versus those that weren't covered by sealer priorly.