10 Questions to Determine When You Should Restore Learn about our services

FAQs

/FAQs
FAQs2020-05-19T01:09:58+00:00

To do our part to limit the spread of Covid-19 while accommodating our customers, we are now offering evaluations in the following ways:

Support your local business and choose the option that works best for you!

Where are you located?

We are in Raleigh across from the Angus Barn (on the east side of 70) off Westgate Rd. at 8813 Gulf Ct.

How do I get my piece to you? (It won't fit in my car!).

We provide a free In-Home Estimate and Pickup and Delivery. No obligation, we promise.

Do you do repairs?

We have two skilled woodworkers that spend their days performing only repairs; re-gluing, veneering, making parts and turnings and fabricating missing pieces.

Do you handle moving claims?

Yes, all moving claims and insurance claims. We prepare a report on the restoration cost and estimated value of each piece, and include photographs to document damages. There is a $250 fee for a moving claim inspection and digital photo report.

Can I afford this? How do I find out?

We have an article, “10 Questions Anyone Can Use To Determine When to Restore.” that may help you with this question. We’ve learned through serving thousands of customers that when they’ve answered “yes” to most of the “10 Questions”, they’ve recognized the sentimental value of their pieces and what would make restoration worthwhile. Our shop rate is $95 per hour. All of our quotes are based on a Price Guide from 30 years of restoring furniture. Most likely we have restored a piece similar to yours and can quote your piece when we’ve seen what it needs. Send us a photo. An easy way to find out how much restoration will cost is to send us a photo through our website, or send to bernard@mumfordrestoration.com. We’ll call or email you with a quote. Or, sign up for a free In-Home Estimate—no obligation, we promise.

What will it be like to have someone come to my home for a free In-Home Estimate?

We have three estimators who are passionate about furniture, so we try to find out about you and your piece while we help you find out about us. We have a 17 step process to guide you through so you can make an informed decision on your furniture. We’re more about discovering what your piece needs with our 23 Point Inspection and proposing what can be done to restore, without pressuring you one way or another. Often, this is an emotional decision for you and you need time to consider.

How far do you travel to look at furniture?

We try to stay within 75 miles of Raleigh, but have restored pieces from Asheville to Wilmington to Fayetteville.

Why Four Levels of Service?

We have Four Levels of Service to help determine the most appropriate match for your piece of furniture. Not every piece needs the finish completely removed. Minor repairs, touchup or waxing may be the best approach. Please view our Four Levels of Service for more information.

What if my piece is a mixture of the Four Levels?

We recommend meeting with one of our estimators with 32 years of experience to guide you through what your piece needs and what we propose to correct and restore it to original condition. Often there are exceptions to the Levels and we can adapt our proposal accordingly.

Do you restore metals?

Yes; brass, silver, iron, aluminum. We perform repairs, polishing, lacquering, powder coating, refinishing and restoring missing parts.

Do you restore outdoor furniture?

Yes; aluminum, iron, wood and re-upholstery of cushions in outdoor fabrics.

Do you carry fabrics or can we supply our own?

We do carry fabrics from Barrow Industries, Greenhouse Fabrics, Kravet Fabrics, leather and vinyls. You are welcome to provide your own fabric, there is no change in the labor quote.

What do you do with artwork? Do you restore artwork?

Please see our Four Levels of Artwork Restoration

Why would I choose Mumford's?

“15 Reasons to Choose Mumford Above the Other Guys.”

What is an Evaluation and how is it different than just an estimate?

An experienced technician provides a free 23-Point Inspection in your home to evaluate the condition of your pieces and determine the materials, finish, history, approx. age, where it was built, by whom and what Service Level would be appropriate; an Evaluation also includes an appraisal of the current fair market value and the value after restoration.

How do I know my piece is worth restoring?

The article on our website, “10 Questions Anyone Can Use to Determine When to Restore,” will help you determine if your piece is worth the investment. If you answer “yes” to most of the questions, an evaluation can help you make a final decision.

Do you restore only antiques?

We restore quality pieces from the 16th century to the 21st century, modern and antique. Check out our Photo Gallery for example.

Does it cost less to restore than replace?

It depends on the quality, uniqueness and connection you have to your furniture, the article “10 Questions Anyone Can Use to Determine When to Restore.” may be helpful.

Does refinishing destroy the value?

Value can often be increased through restoration when the correct process is matched to the need and historical value of your furniture. A piece can be de-valued when the wrong process removes all traces of the original condition.
Refinishing

Refinishing is defined as the chemical removal of the existing finish, sanding, staining and the application of a new finish, which may or may not be the correct process for what a piece needs depending on it’s historical, sentimental and intrinsic value.

Result:
Functional and usable finish.
Positive:
Refinishing can produce good results when a finish is no longer usable or restorable and must be removed and replaced. The result is a functional and beautiful finish.
Negative:
Total refinishing can produce a generic one-finish-fits-all result which is not always desirable on unique pieces.
Restoration

Restoration as defined by Webster’s dictionary as “a bringing back into a former, normal or unimpaired state or condition…a representation of the original form.” In other words, restoring involved bringing back the original condition through the investigation of what process fits the need, the historical, sentimental and intrinsic value of any piece.A unique piece requires a unique process.

Result:
Increased value and usability
Positive:
Restoration can produce excellent results and increase value when a piece is in need of major repair and has historical, sentimental and intrinsic value.
Negative:
Restoration can cost as much as replacement and must be measured by an appraisal of historical, sentimental and intrinsic value.
Conservation

Conservation as defined by Webster’s dictionary, “is the act of preserving, guarding or protecting; preservation from loss, decay, injury or violation. The official care and protection of natural resources….” In other words when you have a Louis XV piece, don’t refinish it, perhaps don’t even restore it (unless of course it has been neglected for 100 years). Focus on conserving, protecting, cleaning, minor repairs as you would a fine art piece that is meant to last for centuries.

Result:
Preserve and increase value for centuries.
Positive:
Conservation will preserve and increase the value of any piece when properly investigated and administered.
Negative:
Conservation in some cases can render a piece unusable due to the sensitivity of the veneer or the finish.