Our Restoration Process

RESTORATION - return to a former state; The key to quality furniture restoration is to preserve the integrity of the original piece.

The process we use is not a "refinishing" process. Ours is a "restoring" process that requires a little more work than the standard processes of today. It is the ONLY method approved for a "true" restoration by high quality antique dealers across the country.

Antique Furniture Restoration takes "know how" when working on high-end antiques. Not just knowing about the method of "French polishing" and the old wax finishes, but the ability to re-carve ornate sections of missing wood; how to make molds; how to duplicate or turn a leg; replace veneer; mother of pearl designs, to perform a invisible repair to a section of a finish; or to veneer a top with matching sections.
All these challenges draw on artistic ability. Color matching is essential in any part of furniture restoration. 

Knowledge of wood and how it responds to climatic conditions is important to know. Knowing what coatings are appropriate for what woods and for what period is also essential. If the item is an antique, the resulting look needs to keep in character with the piece of its time. It needs to retain its look of age - the patina. It takes a talented artist to recreate this appearance. 

Original hardware is removed, bagged and stored in a file prior to stripping of the furniture. It is later polished if needed, then reinstalled after finish application. Mirrors and glass are also removed and protected before stripping. Mirrors are re-silvered or replaced as ordered. A large selection of quality reproduction hardware is available for order when needed to suit furniture of most any styling.

Repairing Processes

Repairing requires extensive tooling for what might be considered the smallest of repairs. Our shop is highly qualified for nearly all wood repairs, including reproduced custom hand carvings from missing sections. We are constantly upgrading and adding to our tools to insure that we have the proper means to complete all repairs correctly.

When we repair, we clean all joints before re-assembly, removing all old glue and/or wood/parts from previous attempts that may have failed. It is imperative that all wood be able to touch fresh wood for glue to adhere correctly. Glue does not stick to old glue. We use a modern marine epoxy when possible. This epoxy doesn't get brittle and crack like regular glues. It expands and contracts with temperature and humidity changes to keep the integrity of the repair or joint solid. 

• Chair dowels and holes get re-drilled and replaced when needed.

• Seams on tabletops are repaired precisely enough that they can not be seen other than the difference in wood grain.

• All joints get re-surfaced for proper adhesion of glue. We have a multitude of styles of clamps for almost any repair.

• Our repairs are guaranteed, and marked as such. If a piece cannot be guaranteed, we mark the reason why, and can generally tell you up front, when we cannot offer this guarantee.

• Our restoring includes color matching, replacement parts,
  veneer replacement and patching, and finish appearance authenticating.

Stripping

The stripping process we use is one that is not commonly used these days.  All of our stripping is done by hand, the old-fashion way. It takes a little longer, but the time is worth the results. A superior finish requires proper preparation, and a hands-on approach means your furniture gets the care and attention it deserves.

Most people would be surprised at how fast and safe this method can be. No water rinsing, no sanding unless necessary to remove deep stains or after repairs, and no neutralizing with tri-sodium phosphate. We apply our stripper to an area, scrape it off, steel wool it dry, and re-apply one more time repeating the steel wool process again. 

Other than fine brass brushing detailed areas and picking corners, we are done. We wipe down the piece with a special agent that takes any residue, silicones, or waxes off that might be left. We are ready to stain or finish.

Staining

We apply a variety of types of stains depending on the color required. In general we will apply a sealer-based stain by hand and wipe it off. We can color match period pieces as well as color match new furniture in touch ups. We have a method of "toning" which allows us to deepen or offer a hue to the color of any piece. This method is called tinting. We mix a special tinting color into the finish and apply to the depth or color desired.

Finishing

We finish with three new types of finish. We have recently upgraded all our finishes and now offer the best European technologically advanced, environmentally friendly finishes on the market like water based polyurethane for both interior and exterior use. If the piece is to be used in direct sunlight we recommend using an ultraviolet light resistant finish. In high moisture areas or heavy use pieces we also like to use a hybrid finish which is a lacquer urethane mixture. This Nu-Coat finish is great for kitchen tables if you have children.

 This means you, our customer, get the most durable, top of the line, longest-lasting finishes available.  All our finishes are sprayed to achieve the smoothest, most flowing result possible. After the staining process is completed, all pieces are allowed to dry for at least 24 hours. We now first coat with any one of our three finishes. After the dry time has elapsed, all pieces are sanded and further prepped with rubbing by steel wool or special rubbing pads. Now we blow the piece off, tack cloth it to remove further dust, and re-apply another coat of finish. Consecutive coats are applied as needed, using the same preparation process between coats.

 A good protective coating reduces the exchange of moisture between the wood and the air, which helps eliminate expansion and contraction of the wood, which can lead to cracking, warping, and failure of glue joints. 

This is why in addition to the multiple coats of finish we apply to all exposed surfaces, we make sure to apply at least one coat of finish to areas you don't even see, like the underside of table tops, inside dresser casings, and under the seats. 

Once all this protective finish is applied to your furniture, the only thing left to do is to protect the finish. The lacquer finish we apply requires very little care. Use a good quality polish on all exposed surfaces about four times a year. Use a water-emulsified furniture polish. A water-emulsified furniture polish cleans oily based dirt as well as water-soluble dirt like food. Some examples of this type of polish is Guardsman or Pledge. Make sure you always buff off any excess polish with a dry rag every time

This is a brief summary of the process. The procedures described above are not unique. What makes the process "ours" is the experience which guides our methods, attention to details, and using the highest quality material. As always, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about our method and materials. 

Delivery & Care

We pick up and deliver small items  free within ten miles of Glens Falls and charge a minimum fee for other areas. Larger items are on a case by case basis depending on the requirements for transportation, manpower and services needed. Our service area is mainly within a 50 mile radius of Glens Falls, NY.   

Our recommendations for protecting and preserving your wood products can be found on our Caring for Wood page.