It is time to restore if your piece if it has broken parts, does not function properly, or the finish is weak and lacks protection, and/or simply to beautify, i.e. changing the appearance. This is rather self-evident and a personal decision according to how much the piece is valued. This decision is generally made before I receive a call for consultation. There are times I am asked if the piece is worth restoring. Because heirlooms take on a value of their own due to their sentimental value this becomes a hard question to answer. Through a collaboration process with you, the customer, I am able to decipher how much the piece means which in effect reflects the amount of work to be done and the cost. If I don’t think it’s worth it I will tell you and why. Through open dialogue decisions are made and agreed upon and thus a plan is established. Communication is paramount throughout the project. The relationship can become very personal; a good thing for new friendships are made.

The most important reason to restore an heirloom is to preserve and protect it from moisture, ultra-violet rays, and chemicals in the atmosphere. Wood is like a sponge when it is raw and exposed to the elements for it will swell, cup, and warp becoming disfigured; it needs to be sealed! Sealing wood very much slows down expansion and contraction and may very well stop it if is completely encapsulated. The optimum moisture content of the wood itself should be about 8% prior to finishing to assure minimal movement. Any exposure allowing moisture to enter will affect the wood adversely. Prolonged exposure to the sun, being ultra-violet rays, drastically affects the properties of the wood; in concert with moisture wood fibers break down at an exponential rate. Atmospheric conditions, being that of pollutants in the air, also accelerate the oxidation process of decay. The point of all of this is to make sure you preserve and protect your family heirloom by restoring it properly.

There are many finishes out there on the market that are used to protect and beautify. To keep it simple, there are two types of finishes, build finishes and penetrating finishes and both are used to protect and beautify. Examples of build finishes would be the varnishes, polyurethanes, and lacquers. These finishes form a topical layer on the surface as a means for protection and they are not all created equal. Penetrating finishes are many and varied and come in the form of stains, dyes, oils, and waxes which are designed to soak deep into a wood substrate sealing its fibers to prevent moisture from entering. These finishes are often times colored and then encapsulated with a clear-coat of varnish, polyurethane, or lacquer. Beautifying a piece generally occurs simultaneously during the preservation and protection process. A predetermined “look” is decided upon prior to the onset of any finishing. Here again communication and a clear understanding of what is to be expected is paramount between me and my customer.