Bel Air Furniture Refinishing

Bel Air Furniture Refinishing originally started as a hobby. Don Long Jr. and Kay Long were avid antique collectors who started fixing up their pieces of furniture in the basement of their Fallston home. Through their network of dealers, they began taking on other’s furniture for a small fee. They did very well refinishing friends furniture, but were soon overwhelmed by work out of the home.

In March of 1972, Mr. Timmins opened “Bel Air Furniture Stripping”. They featured the Houck’s Process, which at the time was the only “48 Hour” stripping process. Wood, metal, you name it, they stripped it. Unfortunately, shortly after opening Mr. Timmins was forced to sell. Mr. and Mrs. Long approached Mr. Timmins and bought his business, but instead of using the Houck’s Process, used their own they had perfected at their home.

The name Bel Air Furniture Stripping stayed for a few years while the Long’s son Don Long III was learning the business. Stricter Environmental regulations were put in place and the business was forced to stop striping and disposing of paint waste. The name was then changed to Bel Air Furniture Refinishing, with an emphasis not on stripping furniture, but on full restoration.

As of now, 2011, Bel Air Furniture Refinishing is still in business serving Harford and Surrounding Counties, and still owned by the Long family. About twelve years ago the grandson of the original owners, Don Long IV, started working with his father to learn the business; he hopes to carry on the tradition started 40 years ago.