Outstanding experience. Very fast turnaround re doing two chair cushions. Highly recommend for upholstery work.

Haven't had furniture refinished before so wasn't sure what to expect or even to ask for. I was given a hand me down table that was old fashioned and not matching my decor. Roger suggested several options and then told me his opinion. They were able to take a hand me down dining table and chairs that were old fashioned and turn them into a beautiful piece that has the antique flair with a modern twist. Thanks, it looks great in my house. read more

How bad a review can I possibly write? I had heard of Keel refinishing, and I referred a client to this guy after I found that the reputable refinishing man in Birmingham was not available to do the project. I then called Keel to tell him that I was sending my client to him, and when I started to tell him a little bit about the table, he launched on me very angrily and accused me of trying to tell him "how to do his business" I should have called my client right away, but I failed to. A month or so later, my client called me telling me that they were very unhappy with the job this guy had done. They said that the table was returned to them, and several days later someone set something down on it. The said that when they tried to pick it up, it stuck to the table and then left a big imprint in the finish. They called him back, and he refused to even come look at it, and he blamed them for it. He said that they the way that they were mistreating it. Then my client called me back and asked me if I would come and look at what this guy had done to their table, and I said that I would be happy to. I felt horribly bad that I had referred them to this guy. So, there was the big sticky spot that they told me about. When they asked, I told them that he had probably made at least one or more of these common mistakes. He either laid down too many coats of lacquer before the previous ones had dried, he coated it too heavily in the first place, so the finish was very slow to dry, or he thinned the product incorrectly, and the lacquer would take way too long to cure. There are several other factors that can cause problems like this, but it mostly comes down to being careless, and in a hurry. So I had been busy looking at that one spot, and then my client asked me "what is this?" I then looked across the whole surface of the table and I was horrified. "That is cross grain sanding" I told my client. Boy was it ever!! Not just a little cross grain sanding, but deep coarse grain sanding scratches across the grain all the way down the length of the table. Again, I was sick that I had referred them to this guy, and I apologized over and over. They asked what could be done about that and I told them that it would have to be stripped, and then require a lot of careful sanding to get all of the scratches out. Being honest, I told them that someone could easily sand through the veneer trying to remove the scratches. Apologizing even more, I gave them the name of the truly reputable refinisher in town. I told them that I hoped that he could save it. I do not know how much they had paid Keel, but they were just going to have to eat it. Again, he blamed the customer for this mess. I could only feel guilty. Then there is this... possibly the single most unprofessional thing I have ever heard of in any "business".... I called the other refinishing man in town, who has a very high reputation, to tell him about the table. He said "Oh yeah, Roger Keel has warned me about those people. He says I should stay away from them, that they are really putting him through hell over this table" I was mortified. Would any ethical "professional" ever do a thing like that? I cannot apologize to my client enough. The only other thing I can say is... stay away form Roger Keel, he will put you through hell over a table!!! read more

I have been using Keel Refinishing and Upholstery for years and can't say enough good things about them. His crew is really professional and highly skilled, no matter what weird piece we might bring in for restoration. I highly recommend Keel for any work you might need on your furniture or furnishings. read more

At the first of October 2015 I took an end table, a drop leaf dinner table and my favorite leather chair to Keel Upholstery. I met with Roger Keel who informed me 'it was a very busy time of year,' No worries I say, I was not in a particular rush. I wanted the dinner table, which has been in the family for 60+ years, to be refinished with the same stain color, as I have matching chairs that were not being refinished as they were in better shape, had been re-caned in the last several years. The instructions for the end table were simply to refinish with a clear finish. Fast forward a couple months....I was advised the tables were ready to be picked up. The quality of the work was top quality, however, the color of the dinner table was nowhere near its original color. It was as though there was no attempt to match the original color. Truth be told, I like the new color better. As I still use the chairs in my home, and as I had the table refinished for my son, the mismatch is not currently a problem, and won't be a problem until the chairs and table are reunited sometime in the distant future. Now, about my favorite chair. It, too traveled to Keel's place in early October 2015. I wanted to have it recovered in matching colored leather. Roger thumbed through his leather samples and was unable to find a similar color. He told me I would have to find the hides myself if I wanted to keep the same color. He also refused to take the chair from me until I had purchased the leather hides. Okay. So I schlep the chair back home and get on the internet shopping for leather. Within a week, I am back at Keel's door with the chair and hides. I was again told of the backlog and, again, reiterated that I wasn't in any particular hurry. Fast forward a couple months to the day I picked up the tables. I was surprised to see that the hides I had purchased were still laying (mostly wrapped) on the middle of the concrete floor in Roger's office, where they were placed a couple months earlier. I asked about the status of my chair, and they were unable to find it. I was told it was likely stored in another building. Fast forward to the end of February 2016. I paid an unannounced visit to the shop to have a face to face with Roger. He wasn't in. I observed that my leather hides were still, partially unwrapped, and still on the concrete floor in the office where they had rested for nearly five months. The chair was still "in storage". I stomped my feet and relayed to Jesus that I had run low on patience; that it was no longer reasonable to postpone my work, and that I wanted to hear from Roger. Roger called me later that afternoon and told me that Jesus was working on my chair, and would have it wrapped up in a day or two. I received the call in several days, and went to fetch my favorite chair. Both Roger and Jesus met me, and walked me to the chair. Immediately Jesus started in on the difference in quality of the original leather and the new hides. He pointed out two very obvious abrasions on the left chair arm; one the size of a dime, and the other the size of a quarter. The finish on the leather was broken revealing the hide beneath. He claimed that the quality of the leather was so low, that these abrasions appeared simply as he was hand stretching the material over the arm. All the pieces had already been cut from the hides, so there was no replacing the damaged panel. With no obvious solution, and no offer of any discount, I paid $500 and left with my newly reupholstered, pre-damaged chair. I have now been reunited with my favorite chair for several weeks. While I know I will stain/damage the yellow leather on my own in time, just as I had over the course of 15 years with the first incarnation, I am completely put out with the abrasions/damage done to the chair while at Keel's shop. Knowing that the hides were 'stored' in the middle of the concrete floor in Roger's office for a period of five months, leaves me to wonder if the damage to the hide my have occurred differently than as explained by Jesus? After all, I can rub the leather hard without producing the same result? I think that the truth may be that Keel's Upholstery is not the place to have leather furniture recovered. There are places where I have material bunching that it didn't bunch before. There is also considerably more piping on the chair than there had been before. Not a good look. All in all, not a very good experience. Be warned. read more

We had an old straight chair with beautiful detailing on it that needed a facelift. The seat and back was covered in a dark brown leather in its previous life. It sat begging to be rejuvenated for over 12 years. I finally ran across reviews of Keel's and saw they did wood refinishing and upholstery work so we decided to give them a try. We wanted real leather in a soft light gray. Roger was able to find some and now we have a beautiful chair that will be treasured for many years! Thank you Roger and the workers at Keel's! read more

I've had furniture repaired, re-finished, and upholstered by Keel Refinishing and it's always been first class workmanship. There's no one in the city that's been doing it as long or as well as these guys. I highly recommend them! read more

Restored and refinished a large antique China Cabinet/ secretary piece that was past down and needed to brought back to life. True artist! Best in Birmingham! read more

I used Keel Refinishing & Upholstery to reupholster a Queen Ann chair and sofa. They did an outstanding job on both pieces and finished them on the date expected. They came highly recommended and I see why now. Roger is the owner, he was very personable and was helpful with choosing fabrics. I highly recommend them for any upholstery or refinishing needs! read more