First of all, it can be very expensive and second of all, it's never a good idea to have strangers frequently coming in and out of your house. Unless your furniture gets entirely damaged (i.e. destroyed) then chances are that you can fix it yourself. And besides, if you're furniture gets serious damage, then your so much better off replacing it than having it repaired.
Yes, repairing your own furniture is intimidating especially if you've never touched a screw driver or a hammer ever before in your life. It sure looks like hard work but it's actually very easy. If you pinpoint the source of the damage well enough and assess it wisely then there's no reason why can't do it. All it takes is some guts and perhaps, just perhaps, a few of these helpful tips.
Have the tools. To become an instant repair(wo)man, your toolbox at home should at least have a good hammer, some clamps, measuring tape, and sharp cutting materials. Buy the good brands though it could cost more because they will surely last longer and perform better.
Do preemptive strikes. Repair your furniture as soon as you spot minor breaks such as loose joints and scratches. These normally results from the wear and tear of regular use and they usually happen to almost all furniture. However, if left unattended, these can become more serious and much harder and costly to repair.
Glue it. One of the biggest mistakes people make when repairing their own furniture is using nails and screws to put back together broken pieces. Unless they were originally done that way, then you should just use glue ? wood glue that is ? and wooden splines if necessary. Nails and screws change the supposed look of the furniture and they cause awful eyesores on originally beautiful pieces. Glue, on the other hand, is not that noticeable once it dries up and the good ones can are powerful enough to put broken parts together.
Handle it with care. A lot of people end up causing additional damage to their furniture in the course of fixing it. They focus too much on fixing it that they no longer notice that they're already causing scratches, dents, and even stains. Don't forget to protect your furniture's corners, its finish, and its working handles while working to repair it.
With proper care it can last us our lifetime and in many cases we can pass it on to our children. That is how we acquire many antiques that have been passed down to us, that and some really good garage and estate sales. It might sound redneck, but you can sometimes even find good furniture just thrown away at the dump or on the side of the street, especially in wealthy communities that sometimes throw furniture away just because they want something new.
Sometimes the finishes on older furniture can be worn down from wear over time and can be more susceptible to damage. They can be scratched more easily and they will show more. Most people today know that refinishing antique pieces of furniture can diminish their value when and if they are resold.
Antique dealers recommend that you keep the furniture well dusted and use only a quality paste furniture wax or beeswax. This is good to use on new furniture as well.
Even when we try to give our furniture the best of care things will probably happen to it anyway. The scars of time and everyday wear are bound to show up sometimes, especially if you have children. Water damage from water rings is one of the most common accidents that can mar the tops of our furniture's finishes.
Many times these rings where someone has sat down a glass that either spilled or had condensed moisture settled at the outside bottom of the glass, will be white. One method used to clean these white water rings is to use a dab of toothpaste on a soft cotton cloth. Buff the spot carefully going with the grain of the wood and then remove with a clean cotton cloth.
Dark water damage spots are common on furniture for the same reason as the white rings, only if the spot has blackened it can mean that the water has eaten through the finish on the wood and mold is growing in it. Dark spots are more serious than the milder white ones.
To repair these spots you should remove the finish and clean with bleach. This will kill the mold and then the piece of furniture can be refinished. If the furniture is perhaps a valuable antique, you might want to consider having a professional do it to avoid possibly damaging the piece further.
Both Bozenaj & Jim Corkern are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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