Is It Worth Having My Antique Furniture Restored?

Perhaps you have been left an antique piece in a relative’s will, or you may have purchased it as a welcome addition to your own home furniture. Antiques can certainly add a touch of elegance and style to the right décor, and some can have value, acting as investments in their own right.

But what if the pieces are damaged in the first place, or suffer wear and tear as a result of being used on a daily basis? In this case, you may be looking for professional furniture repairs or antique restoration services.

What Can an Antique Repairs Specialist Achieve?

Choose the right master craftsman and your furniture piece can be lovingly restored to an almost as-new condition. A good company or individual can carry out reupholstery, for instance. This addresses any torn, faded or worn fabrics on pieces such as chairs, sofas and so on. If the piece is loved, but not of great value otherwise, you may choose to have the piece reupholstered in a modern fabric that better suits the décor and style of your home.

French polishing is another art that skilled workmen can carry out. This and other finishing techniques can repair damage to scratched, stained or marked surfaces, as well as better protecting them from future accidents. 

Good furniture restorers are also adept at repairing other types of damage. If joints in drawers are starting to come adrift through the passage of time or rough handling, cabinet repairs can re-affix these and strengthen them for the future. Dining and other types of chairs may also benefit from repairs to structural damage. 

Clock repairs are also possible for anything from imposing grandfather clocks to mantlepiece carriage clocks. The right care and attention can see them telling the time again, while the clock overall will benefit from maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating the moving parts within.

Is the Damage Worth Rectifying?

There is no easy answer to this. It depends on the value – financial, sentimental or otherwise – of the piece in question. While the costs of repair are unlikely to be prohibitive, it’s very much up to you as the customer to weigh the options up in the balance and make an informed decision as to whether to proceed. 

To be able to do this, you need to take advice from a professional who really knows his or her business. A good antiques furniture restorer will be able to estimate the overall value of the piece in money terms, assess the level of damage, quote you a price for various levels of repair or restoration and then allow you to decide what to do next. 

It’s also worth bearing in mind that even if you know the item is relatively modern, or the item turns out not to be as old as you think it is, many professional restorers also work on reproduction repairs alongside their work on antiques. So if the piece is much-loved or invaluable in your home, it’s still worth enquiring on the cost of restoration. 

For honest appraisals of items and the damage they have incurred, as well as free estimates for the cost of repairs in East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey, come to A. E. Booth & Son. We will help you by giving you the sound advice you need, based on our 85+ years in the trade.