Thursday, April 24, 2014

Helpful Information When Considering Antique Furniture Repair Philadelphia

By Eloise Hewitt


The value of antique furniture pieces is enhanced by the fact that it is hard to get new ones when those you have are damaged. Additionally, repairing them is not an easy task that can be undertaken by just anyone with a few tools. If not done correctly, the value of the item would be greatly diminished. This therefore means that when preparing for antique furniture repair Philadelphia residents must understand a few things. This will ensure that they get the best outcome for the sustainability of the item.

One must evaluate the item that is being repaired. If it is a classic example of craftsmanship or a masterpiece, the repairs must be done in a way that will not diminish its value. You should also check whether the item was made by a distinguished manufacturer. There is a high chance that the producer is still in business and therefore you can take the item to their workshop for restoration. This will ensure that it is not damaged.

For those items that might have been stored for a long time the problem might be just dust or other forms of dirt and not real damages. If that is the case, you only need to clean them well to restore them to their original condition. Therefore, before settling for a restoration, you must find out whether there is any damage at all. When cleaning, you can also fix any simple missing parts.

If an item must be repaired, you have to do some research in order to establish the best way to do it. As already stated before, you should look for marks to establish the origin of the item. You can also look at the quality of the wood and the level of craftsmanship such as carving. If there is a lot of detail, the item might be highly valuable. For such pieces, you should look for a specialist to deal with the restoration. A museum curator can point you in the right direction.

You can also decide to refinish the item. This is a great idea if the origin finish had deteriorated and therefore the new finish will give the item a new look. Although it is an attractive option, you should be careful because some finishes may be hard to reproduce. For example if the piece was hand painted, you will have a hard time reproducing the finish.

Although there is high value in antique items, it is good to evaluate the cost that will be involved in the process of restoring the item. Unless someone is only interested in the sentimental value there is no need to spend money haphazardly. One must therefore evaluate the solutions available in order to choose the most cost effective one.

If you are hiring an expert to do the restoration, you should at least look for someone who has built a reputation in this line of work. This will assure you that the person has already handled similar pieces before. You also have confidence that he will do a good job.

With clear knowledge of the kind of item, you have and the kind of damage that it has suffered, you will know which steps to take. In case you have to hire a professional, you know where to start. You will also know the best person to do the job for you.




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