Much of the original woodwork that is found in homes today cannot be bought anymore, which infinitely increases its value. For some houses, the original woodwork that is found within it can be a major selling point and therefore the owners want to keep it in the best possible condition. However, wear and tear can often cause damage to this woodwork. Luckily wood restoration services are available, and nearly anything can be fixed for a price. This does mean, however, that the greater the job is the more you will pay; it merely depends on how good you want the restoration project to be. DIY restoration can also be conducted, although for more ornate and expensive pieces of wood this is a much greater feat.

Why would I need to restore woodwork?

There are a number of different types of restorations that can be carried out, that are due to a variety of factors: -

• Wood rot due to exposure to damp.
• Woodworm.
• Damage caused by window installers.
• Cup/plate rings or scratches on furniture.
• Damage caused to the finish of the wood.

What type of wood can be repaired?

Virtually anything that contains wood in the house can be repaired. Different companies will specialise in different types of repair, for example some will specialise in structural wood, e.g. windows, whereas other companies will specialise in more ornate repairs, e.g. furniture.

• Window sills
• Sills and floor joists
• Wood floors
• Wood doors
• Outdoor furniture
• Antique furniture
• Support columns

Professional repairs

If you have a great deal of damage, need the wood to be completely restored, or have a particularly expensive and intricate piece of furniture then it is advisable to get a wood restoration company to perform the work for you.

Where can I find them?

You want to make sure that the company is of the best calibre, so that they will perform the work to your required high standard. Also, if you do not know the extent of the damage and need the company to assess your wood before they start, it is essential to get a reputable company so they tell you the true condition of your wood. Sometimes your wood will not require stripping or refurnishing but merely cleaning, refurbishment or recoating. These processes are much cheaper than the others, and so some less trustworthy companies may tell you that your wood is in a worse condition than it is in order to make you pay for the more expensive work. One of the best ways to find an excellent company is to get referrals from architects or from fine furniture stores. Both will use restoration companies regularly, and will therefore know the best ones in the area and be able to recommend a suitable one for you. Going by recommendation is the best way to find a company, rather than looking in directories, so ask around to see if you know people who have had similar work done.

What are the processes of professional wood refurnishing?

Initially the surface of the wood needs to be thoroughly prepared. This usually involves the paint or varnish being stripped from the wood.

• All the furniture is cleared away from the area, so that none of it is damaged by the chemicals used throughout the process. The work will be stripped and cleaned one section at a time, so that it is performed precisely. The restoration team will mask and protect all the adjacent surfaces to the wood, using hardboard, carpet protector, poly sheeting and rosin paper. The work area is also ventilated using a filtered exhaust system, as some of the chemicals used are very powerful. The appropriate stripper is then applied and removed using wire brushes.
• Next chemical solvents or water is used to scrub the wood with small metal bristle brushes, to ensure that all the finish is removed from the pores of the wood. When it is deemed satisfactory that all the finish has been removed from the surface of the wood, it is wiped down with a rag. A full clean-up job is then done of the area to remove any debris that has come from the stripping.

Next the wood needs to be prepared before any new finish is applied.

• Initially the restorers will roughly sand the wood to give it an even surface. They may also bleach the wood if necessary, and all repairs done to the wood are performed at this point. This includes all carpentry patches, addition of any wood, joint splitting and filling any holes. If any new wood is added, it is matched exactly for species, grain and texture. If any holes are filled, the putty fills are faux finished so that they are approximate to the surrounding surface.
• Once the adhesives or putty is dry, the whole surface is fine sanded by hand to create a smooth, workable plane.

Next the finish will be applied to the wood.

• No finishing, colouring or staining work will be done to the wood until there has been an extensive consultation. As the wood owner, you will have to specify exactly how you want the wood to look, and this will be based partly on the type of wood it is, the natural colourations of the wood, any accessories or the other furniture that will be placed in the room, what the lighting is like in the room, as well as other individual factors.
• Once this consultation has been performed, the restoration team will produce a sample on the existing wood so that you can see what it will look like. If this is approved they will go ahead and finish completing the work.
• The initial colours will be laid down using a stain. Next the restorers will start sealing and topcoating the wood, using either a hand or spray application. They will lightly the sand the wood, using fine sandpaper, between each layer or seal or topcoat.
• Next the tint or glaze is applied to the wood. This layer ensures that the colour is even, and that all discolourations or light spots are blended in with the rest of the finish so that they do not show. This is done by dry brushing colour, spray tinting, airbrushing or wipe glazing. The restorer may also use artist brushes, powders and pigments to create special effects, touch-ups and to help blend all the colours.
• The final stage of finishing is to topcoat all the surfaces using clear finishes of various types. Very fine sanding is performed between each coat; about 4 to 6 coats are necessary to provide an even sheen.

Once the work is done, all masking is removed from the surface and the fine detailing can be done to the wood. This includes any minor touch-ups and polishing. The surface will be rubbed, waxed and buffed in order to provide it with the required finished. This can either be a low lustre, a satin shine, a semi-gloss or a full hi-gloss finish.

Finally, the restoration team will perform a full and thorough clean up of the site.