The finish a piece of furniture has is generally determined by two main factors. How old it is and whether it's going to be in daily use. Really old pieces tend not to suit a modern finish, therefore old techniques and methods should be applied. If a piece is to be used daily, then a more modern, hardwearing finish is the way forward.
Any piece that is to be refinished requires the old finish to be removed. This either involves chemically stripping off the old finish, or melting it back to a suitable base level. Both methods are done by hand. We don't dip furniture as it can create more problems than it solves.
French Polishing is the application of a natural substance called shellac using either a brush or a pad, known as a rubber. The layers are built over a number of days and then left to harden before being sealed with wax. It's the most traditional method and is best suited to antiques, new furniture and certain hardwoods e.g mahogany. It creates a recognisable 'toffee apple' appearance.
Most modern furniture is finished with lacquer of one kind or another. It produces a hardwearing finish that is wipeable, especially useful in the finishing of dining tables. Once fully cured it's a very practical option. The sheen can be varied from completely matte to a lovely shine.
There has been many natural oils around for a long time such as linseed, tung or lemon oil. We use a modern alternative in either matt or satin which gives a beautiful natural finish. It's proving to be popular on most modern furniture.
We can match most colours that are found on colour charts and vary the sheen to suit the clients requirements.
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