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1. Smith & Haines
SmithHainesInc.com
Repair Your Important Furniture Heirlooms
Not enough homeowners take advantage of furniture repair in Maryland. Some simply discard their worn
furniture or leave it on the curb for passersby. Others donate it to a charity organization, or attempt to sell it
on an auction site. If the furniture is not worth a lot of money, one of these may be the best option. On the
other hand, some families cannot bear to part with their worn furniture.
If a family decides to hold onto a particular piece of furniture, then again they are presented with several
options. They can leave the furniture in its current state and put up with the increasingly shabby look. They
can move the furniture to a playroom where it may become worn even more quickly. They can cover it with a
temporary furniture cover or throw pillows and hope for the best. Some enterprising homeowners may opt to
attempt to repair and refurbish the furniture themselves.
The problem is that is not as easy as it looks. It usually involves two disparate talents: repairing the frame,
either wood or steel, and reupholstering the old fabric and stuffing. If there is a problem with the joints of a
steel chair, then repair will involve welding skills. Very few homeowners have the talent or equipment to do
these kinds of repairs. Custom welding can be somewhat expensive, and is probably only logistical if the
value of the chair is very high.
A wooden chair on the other hand can be much easier to fix. To assess the state of a wooden chair, it is often
a good idea to separate the decorative part of the chair from the support structure. It is important to start by
seeing if the load-bearing structure of the chair has failed. If so, it is likely that the chair is not sturdy enough
to support the weight of the persons using it. In this case, it is not often worth it to repair the chair unless
you reinforce it. Otherwise, it will simply be back in the shop in a few months anyway. This reinforcement can
often be done by using a higher quality wood, better screws and connectors, or doubling up on existing
support pieces. In any case, be sure your machinations are invisible in the finished product. Most chairs are
designed to hide their support structure behind the decorative pieces. If you cannot do this, the chair will not
look nice when it is finished. Attempting to modify the decorative structure to hide support additions can be
difficult to accomplish.
Repairing the decorative structure can also be a chore. If the basic scrollwork is intact, then it can just be a
matter of refinishing. If not, the job can be nearly impossible.
Adding new upholstery to furniture can be challenging as well. Although the skills are similar to sewing
clothing, the skills and equipment requirements are at a much higher level. Still, it can be a fun and
challenging project. Just make sure to give yourself some months to reach completion.
If you are still interested in repairing you own furniture, then you are likely in for a satisfying project. If these
activities seem out of your interest, then be sure to check out a company that offers professional . They can
restore your treasured heirlooms to pristine condition, in spite of possible extensive damage.
Document Tags: furniture repair, cabinetmaking
Smith & Haines
http://www.smithhainesinc.com/
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