Furniture Repair Services

Furniture repair in the UK covers everything from a wobbly dining chair (£40–£80) to full restoration of a Georgian bureau (£800–£3,000). Typical jobs and prices: £60–£250 for chairs, dining and occasional tables; £150–£500 for sofas and armchairs (excluding reupholstery); £300–£1,500+ for cabinets, wardrobes and antique pieces.

The decision tree is simple: any piece that originally cost £400+ new, or has sentimental / antique value, is almost always worth repairing. Flat-pack and high-street furniture under £200 is typically not — replacement is usually cheaper than the callout.

Common furniture repairs and typical prices

Wood vs upholstery vs metal — different specialists

Furniture repair isn't one trade. Choose by what's broken:

• Carpenter / cabinetmaker — joints, drawer runners, veneer, hinges, structural timber.
• French polisher / wood finisher — surface finish (lacquer, polish, oil), watermarks, scratches in finish.
• Upholsterer — fabric replacement, foam, springs, webbing.
• Antique restorer — period-appropriate techniques, gilding, marquetry, leather tops.
• Metal furniture specialist — wrought iron, steel, brass; welding, re-plating.

For mixed-material pieces (fabric chair with wood frame), a single furniture restorer may handle everything; otherwise, you may need to coordinate two trades.

Wood repair — what's involved

The most common woodwork repairs:

• Re-gluing joints — dismantle the joint, clean off old glue, re-glue with PVA or hide glue, clamp until set. £40–£80 per joint.
• Veneer repair — patches in matching veneer, glued and pressed. Invisible from arm's length when done well.
• Splits and cracks — clamped, glued, sometimes reinforced with butterfly key inlays for visible / structural splits.
• Surface refinishing — sand back, stain match, lacquer / oil / French polish to match existing finish.

Things people often miss

• "Restoration" vs "repair" — restoration aims to return the piece to original condition (period-correct techniques, finishes). Repair just makes it functional. Restoration costs 2–3× more but is appropriate for valuable antiques.
• Photograph the piece before — many restorers will document before/after; if not, take your own photos for insurance and for any future sale.
• Original hardware — keep all original hinges, handles, locks, and screws. Replacement hardware on antiques significantly reduces value.
• Climate impact — wooden furniture moves with humidity. Always factor in the room conditions; antique pieces moved to centrally-heated modern homes often crack from humidity drop.
• Insurance value — for valuable pieces, get a written valuation from the restorer. Useful for home insurance schedules and IHT planning.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth repairing IKEA / flat-pack furniture?

Usually no. Most flat-pack uses chipboard or MDF that doesn't hold replacement screws well, and the original cost is often less than a tradesperson's callout. Exceptions: real-wood IKEA pieces (Stockholm, Malm in solid pine) and the Pax wardrobe system, which have replaceable parts available cheaply.

Can my dining chairs be re-glued or do I need new ones?

Almost always re-gluable. Loose joints are the single most common chair fault and are textbook woodworker repair work. £40–£90 per chair, much cheaper than a new set.

How long does a typical repair take?

In-home repairs (loose joints, drawer runners, polish touch-ups): 1–3 hours, often same-day. Workshop repairs (refinishing, reupholstery): 2–6 weeks depending on the restorer's queue. Antique restoration can run several months.

Will repair affect my antique's value?

Sympathetic repair using period-correct techniques typically maintains or increases value (broken antiques are worth less than restored ones). Heavy-handed modern repair (wood filler, modern lacquer over French polish) reduces value considerably. Use an antique-specialist restorer for valuable pieces.

Do I have to take the furniture to the restorer?

For small repairs (loose joints, surface scratches), most restorers offer in-home service. For major work (refinishing, reupholstery), the piece typically goes to the workshop. Many restorers offer collection and delivery for £40–£100 each way.

How do I find a good furniture restorer?

Word of mouth is best. Otherwise: BAFRA (British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association) for antiques; the Association of Master Upholsterers for upholstery; local-area carpenter recommendations for general pieces. Always see examples of recent work before committing.

Want a local pro to handle this? A specialist furniture restorer will assess what's economic, give an honest "repair vs replace" call, and turn around most jobs in a couple of weeks. Worth doing for any piece you'd be sad to lose.