Guides And Tips To Repairing Wooden Furniture
Posted by Jody Raines on Thu, Oct 20, 2011 @ 12:49 PM
Repairs to wooden furniture, including those to chairs, doors, drawers, caning and mirror frames can be time consuming, but when they are done correctly, the result will be a beautiful piece of furniture. Whether it’s an heirloom or has sentimental value, or it’s just a table that you love, repairing wooden furniture is ecologically savvy and you’ll wind up with a unique piece of furniture.
Most structural issues that we see involve joint failure. The joint can weaken over time, especially if the table was not crafted well initially. Repairing the furniture in that case can result in a stronger piece of furniture after being refurbished.
Joints can be simple or complicated and old wooden furniture, that was crafted prior to the current generation of pressboard and mass production, typically has stronger joints. Age and abuse can take their toll, even on the best constructed tables and chairs. Test your table to see if it wobbles, and if it does, it may be time to have a professional take a look and make repairs.
Most structural problems of wooden furniture is due to one of three issues:
- The material
- The construction
- The function
If the material is broken, warped or missing, it can still be repaired. Sometimes crafting a replacement arm or leg to match the other pieces is required. If the furniture was constructed incorrectly, the joints may fail and cause the furniture to wobble or even collapse. This can be dangerous and for a commercial business, could be a liability. The way the furniture functions is dependent upon the material as well as the construction.
If the furniture was created from quality material and is suffering due to stress, age or issues related to abuse such as kicking or leaning backwards over time, the piece can be rescued with professional repair.
The difference between having a professional repair as opposed to do-it-yourself furniture repair is in the knowledge and details. Covering and disguising screws and hardware, assuring proper placement, alignment and fit, identifying potential future issues are all details that a professional will observe and correct, but which may not be evident to a novice.
Have you ever been somewhere and the table was wobbly? How did it make you feel? Have you ever seen poorly repaired furniture in a restaurant or hotel lobby? What impresion did it give you of the establishment.