Furniture, whether it's an antique heirloom or a beloved contemporary piece, can suffer wear and tear over time. Accidents happen, and pieces can become damaged. The good news is that many common furniture issues are repairable with a bit of know-how.
In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of fixing some of the most usual issues with broken furniture to give your treasured pieces a new lease on life.
Materials You'll Need:
In our most recent blog, we have provided you a list of the tools we find invaluable for the repairing of all different types of furniture.
Common Furniture Repairs -
Let's look at some common furniture issues and how to repair them:
- Loose Joints:
Whatever joint it is, you will need to take it apart and clean it up. Then apply your wood glue to the joint and reassemble the pieces together. Use clamps to hold them together while the glue dries. Wipe away any excess glue that has appeared as although most wood glues do dry clear, you don’t want drips of glue showing. If the joint has actually broken, you will need to repair with either dowls or screws.
- Cracks or Splits:
Sometimes older furniture can develop cracks in the middle of a panel – decide whether to “embrace” the crack as this will have naturally occurred over the years due to changes in temperature / weather etc. If you decide you want to repair it, you can try clamping it back together to see if this is possible, if it fits snugly back together, release clamps and fill the crack with wood glue and clamp the pieces together again. This isn’t always possible, so try not to really force the pieces back together as it may cause even more damage. If this is the case, use your filler, apply generously and scrap off a little of the excess. Once the filler has dried, sand back to a smooth finish. We will cover this in more detail in a later blog.
- Damaged Veneer:
It may be possible to glue down any loose veneer using wood glue, but if the veneer is missing, use your wood filler and sandpaper to level the surface and then finish it to match the rest of the piece. If you have a lot of veneer missing, it is possible to remove all the damaged veneer using an iron, tea towel and scraper, and then you can replace the veneer fully.
- Chipped or Dented Wood:
Depending on the type of wood and the finish it has, it may be possible to dampen the area where it has been damaged. Wet the dent, apply wet cloth and iron on high ensuring you keep the iron moving. This may take quite a while to see a result, but always test on part of the furniture which won’t be seen. If this doesn’t work, then fill the damaged area with wood filler, sand it smooth, and then finish it as you wish. If the dent is small, it may be that it can be sanded out, alternatively, you may have to make the dent bigger before you fill so the filler has something to “grip” on to. We will cover this in more detail in a later blog.
- Wobbly Legs:
Wobbly legs are a common issue with furniture, especially chairs and tables. This problem not only affects the stability of the furniture but can also be a safety hazard. Before you start the repair, it’s important to determine the root cause of the wobbliness whether that be loose screws, damaged joints, worn out components like dowels, tenons, or the glue may have just deteriorated.
Start by turning the furniture upside down and inspecting the legs. Check for any loose screws or brackets. Use a screwdriver to tighten any loose screws. Ensure they are snug but avoid overtightening, which can strip the screw holes. If any screws or brackets are damaged or missing, replace them with new ones of the same size and type.
If tightening screws doesn’t solve the problem, you will need to disassemble the leg joints. Carefully remove the legs from the furniture piece and clean any old glue from the joints using sandpaper and a putty knife. You are likely to need to then reinforce the joints with either wood glue and / or dowels for extra support. If the original dowels are damaged or missing, replace them with new ones. Apply glue to the dowel holes and insert the dowels. Reassemble the legs and clamp tightly to hold the joints together while the glue dries. Place the piece of furniture on a flat surface and check for stability. Sit or apply gentle pressure to ensure there is no wobbling.
Tips and Considerations:
Take Your Time - Furniture repair can be a delicate process, so be patient and thorough.
Test Repairs - Before applying any glue or filler, test your repair techniques on a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture.
Be Safe - Always use the appropriate safety gear when working with tools and adhesives.
Ask for Help - For valuable or complex pieces, or if you're uncertain about the best repair method, please do get in touch… either I can advise if you are confident doing the repairs, or I would be happy to provide a quote for the work needed.
Finishing Touches:
After your repairs, don't forget to finish the piece to restore its appearance. This might include staining to match the wood's colour and grain or a full repaint for a fresh, updated look. We will cover this in the next few blog posts in the coming weeks.