Should You Restore Antique Furniture?
Antique and collectible furniture tells a story of craftsmanship, history, and style.
When these pieces show signs of age, owners often hesitate to replace their historic original materials.
They ask themselves:
Get Expert Advice from Raleigh’s Leading Restoration Team
Mumford Restoration is here to answer your questions about antique furniture restoration.
Since, 1982, we've been repairing:
Our integrity, knowledge, and craftsmanship have made us North Carolina’s go-to experts for professional, historically appropriate furniture repair and restoration.
In this blog, we'll cover the top 5 antique furniture repair questions clients ask us.
We’ll offer helpful insights that balance restoration and preservation.
Whether you're a collector, seller, or family heirloom owner, we hope this guide will help you make informed decisions.
Above: A rare, antique banjo clock that Mumford Restoration restored for the Burgwin-Wright House in Fayetteville, NC
One of the most common concerns is whether refinishing will decrease the value of an antique.
In some cases, it can. This is especially true for museum-grade pieces.
However, light restoration or conservation (like gentle cleaning or waxing) can improve your antique’s appearance without harming its authenticity.
Common Questions about Refinishing Antiques and Maintaining Value:
Can you match the original finish or patina?
Mumford Restoration’s consultants will evaluate your piece and tell you whether it is finished with lacquer, shellac (including French polish), varnish, or wax.
Wondering what the difference is between these four furniture finishes?
Read our blog series to find out what the most common historic and modern furniture finishes are made of and how they’re applied.
We will recommend the most appropriate finish for both your furniture's style and history as well as your lifestyle and goals for the piece.
No matter the finish, our antique restorers with over 150 years of combined experience will provide a beautiful, professional finish that compliments your furniture.
Above: Mumford Restoration's artisans determined that this 19th century Empire-style sofa was originally finished in shellac. We carefully cleaned the accumulate dirt and debris from the original finish and then applied a fresh coat of shellac. This beautiful settee is beautiful as ever as is now protected for decades to come!
How do you remove water stains or scratches without over-sanding?
The good news is that water stains and scratches are generally only in the finish itself, so there is usually no need to sand.
Water Stains
Water stains are just water that has made its way past the thin top layer of finish and gotten stuck in the middle.
We can use a special finish reactivator to help the water evaporate.
If the water has fully passed through the finish into the wood, we will need to chemically strip the existing finish.
Fortunately, our chemical stripper minimizes any required sanding.
Right: This antique silver chest sustained water damage that affected its structure and finish. After repairs and a full restoration, it's as beautiful as ever!
Scratches
In the case of shallow scratches in the finish, we can gently buff them out and restore your furniture’s beautiful finish.
For deeper scratches that penetrate into the wood, our furniture restorers will likely need to fully refinish the affected area.
Will refinishing harm the antique's value?
We always advise our clients to consult an antique appraiser before refinishing antique wood furniture.
We can refer you to an appraiser, if you need one.
An experienced appraiser will understand the antique market and can advise you whether antique restoration will increase or decrease the value of your piece.
Often, a sensitive restoration can enhance the value of rare and valuable furniture. There are always exceptions, however.
To be safe, look up qualified antique appraisers near you.
Pro Tip: Ask your restorer about classic finishing techniques like French polishing to maintain integrity while improving appearance. Learn more about French polishing in our blog article!
Above: This antique desk's age and quality made French polishing the obvious choice. French polishing is an investment, but it is well worth it to preserve antique furniture's value and historic character.
Time and use can take a toll on furniture’s joints and frames.
Restorers often need to repair loose mortise and tenon joints, cracked arms, or broken legs , all while still preserving original construction.
Skilled restorers use traditional joinery techniques with period-appropriate adhesives to ensure strength and subtlety.
Common Questions about Structural Repairs:
Can the original joinery be preserved?
Yes, originally joinery can usually be preserved.
If your wood furniture is simply a bit wobbly, an antique restorer can disassemble it, clean the mortises and tenons, apply fresh glue, and then reassemble it.
However, repairs can be more complicated if a wobbly piece goes un-repaired for too long.
For example, if you continue to sit on a wobbly chair, you will put pressure on the increasingly loose joints. This may ultimately break the tenon, which will need to be replaced.
Will the repairs be visible?
The visibility depends on the location, severity of the break, and the type of wood. However, we can camouflage the repairs to maintain your furniture’s appearance.
Mumford Restorations furniture restorers can expertly faux grain (replicate the original wood’s pattern) a repair to blend into the original wood.
Many of our clients are thrilled to see how beautifully we mask repairs to their furniture. They tell us, “You’d never know it was ever broken!”
Photos above: After suffering loose joints for years, this antique buffet finally broke. Mumford Restoration's artisans were able to repair the broken joints and ensure that this buffet would remain stable for many years. The customers also elected to fully refinish the buffet!
Is the piece safe to use after repair?
Mumford Restoration takes furniture repair very seriously.
We invest in strong, stable materials and go the extra mile to ensure that a repaired piece will last for many years.
However, some types of furniture are more prone to breakage than others.
These pieces were designed to be beautiful and perhaps more ornamental than practical.
For example, the stiles of the chair may be in an impractical position or the legs might be too thin and tapered to truly be supportive.
In this case, we can certainly repair broken areas and camouflage the breaks. Unfortunately, we can’t modify the original design without significant work that would change your furniture’s appearance.
We would advise the owner to use their charming antique as an art piece. Think of it as a lovely sculpture! In other words, to be looked at, but not used.
Above: This vintage 1930s chair suffered a badly broken joint. Mumford Restorations furniture repair experts created new joints and stabilized the broken wood on its leg. Now, it is perfectly safe to use!
Veneers are thin sheets of beautiful (and expensive) wood applied for decorative effect. They often bubble, chip, or
A good veneer repair should seamlessly blend with the surrounding surface.
Experts: Restoration professionals often use heat, glue, and clamps to re-adhere original veneer.
Common Questions about Veneer:
Can missing veneer be replaced to match?
Of course!
Mumford Restoration’s artisans know how to replace damaged veneer and expertly blend the new material with the old.
Above, right: Many pieces of art deco furniture have beautifully patterned, amber-colored veneers that bring each piece to life!
Will you use reproduction or authentic materials?
Mumford Restoration always tries our very best to repair and preserve the original veneer.
We only replace original materials when absolutely necessary.
If the existing veneer is just too damaged to preserve, we will replace it with modern veneer.
We ensure that this replacement veneer is of the species and grain pattern as the antique veneer.
Our antique restorers are true artists and will ensure that the replacement is beautifully matched to the original in both color and grain.
Above: Can you tell where the patched-veneer was blended to match the original? We had to nearly put our nose to the frame to see the faint outline?
What causes veneer damage?
There are several reasons veneer may detach or be damaged.
Right: The veneer on this chest of drawers began to peel away after it experienced water damage.
Whether it's a Victorian chaise or a mid-century lounge, upholstery tends to wear out first.
But many collectors want to keep the original look and feel of the piece.
Consult an antique appraiser to find out how your chair or couch’s value will be affected by new upholstery or other materials.
A skilled upholsterer will note all layers and materials, and offer a restoration to ensure comfort and honor historical accuracy.
Visit Mumford Restorations upholstery services page to learn more about all of your options!
Common Questions about Upholstery:
Can the original springs or horsehair be reused?
An upholsterer would have to remove the fabric to find out if the horsehair and springs are in good condition.
We can generally reuse the springs and just re-tie them. It’s the string or twine that degrades more often than the springs. Read our blog article to learn more about how we repair sofa springs.
If your antique furniture is collectable or historically significant, we can keep the horsehair and original material.
If this is a piece of furniture you want to use, modern upholstery foam will be far more comfortable.
Horsehair and antique padding materials are thinner than modern foam, so you’ll still be able to feel the springs to some extent when you sit down.
Above, right: High-quality, traditional couches and chairs often use 8-way hand-tied springs.
Do you use period-appropriate fabrics?
Many valuable antique chairs, couches, and other furniture had silk, cotton, or other natural upholstery fabrics.
Our furniture restoration specialists can give you ideas for the most appropriate colors, patterns, and materials for your collectable antique furniture.
Mumford Restoration has an extensive collection of fabric samples on hand.
We can also source any fabric of your preference and can special order samples for you!
Or if you prefer to source historically appropriate upholstery fabric from other vendors, you can have it shipped to us and we will be happy to use it on your upholstery project!
Should I keep the original fabric, even if it’s damaged?
An antique appraiser will be able to advise on how new upholstery fabric will affect your antique’s value.
Often, modern upholstery fabric producers offer period-correct fabric that will enhance the value of your antique furniture.
Above (top and right) This beautiful antique settee stayed with historically appropriate velvet fabric, but updated it in a vibrant red!
5. Hardware Repair: Keeping the Details Right
Original brass knobs, wooden casters, or ornate locks are often lost or broken. But replacing them carelessly can devalue a piece.
Common Questions:
Can you restore original hardware?
Mumford Restoration can clean, de-rust, and polish your antique furniture’s existing hardware.
We can shine it to a lovely, bright finish or leave it with a bit of patina that is appropriate for its age.
It’s 100% up to you!
Above, Right: Sometimes,Mumford Restoration can find vintage and antique replacement hardware in architectural salvage stores or online. If it was a popular pattern, there may even be modern reproductions!
If missing, can you source or replicate exact matches?
We will do our very best to find vintage or antique hardware that will match your furniture.
If we can’t find an authentic match, we can certainly take molds of the existing hardware and have custom replicas made.
We will discuss each option with you and find a solution that matches your budget as well as your goals for your antique.
Will replacing hardware hurt value?
Generally, new hardware will not hurt the value, since it is so easily removed and does not affect the piece’s finish or materials.
Above: It may be hard to find replacements for very distinct hardware. Some clients choose to have Mumford Restoration reproduce these especially rare lost pieces. Fortunately, this armoire's beautiful Art Deco hardware is all accounted for!
When it comes to repairing antique furniture, the key is striking a balance between preserving history and restoring usability.
Whether it’s a beloved heirloom or a rare collectible, understanding the right repair methods can protect your piece and its value for future generations.
Mumford Restoration has specialized in antique furniture repair and restoration since our founding in 1982.
Our professionalism, craftsmanship, and unparalleled customer service has made us North Carolina’s most respected antique restorers.
For four decades, our clients have come back to us again and again.
They know they can trust us with their most prized antiques and heirlooms.
Have collectable or sentimental furniture that you need repaired or restored?
Contact us at 919-510-6310 for a consultation and let’s bring your treasured pieces back to life the right way.
Or you can submit photos via our online form and our specialists will contact you soon!