A CLASSIC VENEER PROBLEM REQUIRING GREAT SKILL TO REMEDY
As I have said many times, there are certain furniture repairs that a reasonably skilled layman can do and there are other repairs that need real, time honoured skill, if they are to be completed satisfactorily. French polishing is one of these together with veneer repair or restoration.
Certainly, a considerable amount of our furniture repair work in Surrey involves veneer repair and restoration and rarely is it completely straightforward!
There are several reasons why veneer repair and replacement is awkward and a task only for the skilled. One reason is that veneers differ in thickness with old veneers generally thicker than new veneers. This can present a furniture repairer with obvious problems particularly when he is tasked with matching in new veneers with old veneers.
The second problem is that veneers are often laid onto their surface to create a pattern – most obviously a mirror effect between the two halves of a table or a left and right door to a unit, for example. So, any antique restoration specialist has to then find a veneer that matches the one existing. This can be very difficult and time consuming, to say the least.
Finally, very considerable skill is needed to exactly cut and lay new veneer alongside that existing with the smallest mistake being unsightly and, of course, unacceptable to the owner of the piece.
At Snelling Associates we are specialists at antique restoration in Surrey with long experience of veneering.
Indeed, some of our craftsmen are veneer experts who specialise in the repair of veneers and their restoration or replacement where there is no option. This is work that requires tremendous patience, pride and skill and is something that we enjoy – along with the French polishing of furniture and the reconstruction of damaged items.
So, if you need antique restoration in Surrey or if you have an item of furniture that needs veneer repair, restoration or replacement – then do contact us. We should love to hear from you and you can be assured that your antique will be in safe, professional hands…