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French Polishing In Colchester

French polishing for Colchester homes & furniture

What We Do

Services We Provide in Colchester

From spot repairs to full refinishes, we restore furniture and architectural woodwork using traditional French polishing methods.

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Colchester’s Own Grain

Restoring period woodwork the way it was originally finished

Colchester’s older terraced homes and listed properties hold a lot of original woodwork that responds well to traditional shellac finishing.

Many homes near the River Colne and around central Colchester were built with solid hardwood doors, staircases and furniture that were French polished from new. When those surfaces dull, scratch or lift, the right repair is to work with the existing finish rather than strip it back to bare wood. I assess the piece first, in your home or from photos, then agree the scope in writing before any work starts.

Pumice pore-filling and colour matching are part of every job, not extras added to the invoice later. For pieces that need more controlled conditions, I can collect from your Colchester address and carry out the work in the workshop, then return the piece once the shellac has fully hardened. On-site work is available where the room allows, damp spells common to the area are factored into drying schedules so the finish cures properly.

Spot repairs on a single scratched panel and full refinishes on a dining table or wardrobe are both within scope. If you have antique furniture or a character property with fitted joinery close to Highwoods Country Park or Duncan’s Gate, the process is the same: pad application in thin, stable layers until the depth and sheen match the surrounding wood.

A french polishing job seen in full

Local questions

Questions we get in Colchester

Does French polishing remove scratches from tables and doors?

Shallow scratches are filled during the pumice pore-filling stage and become invisible once fresh shellac coats are applied over them. Deeper gouges may need a small amount of stopping before polishing begins. Either way, the scope is confirmed in writing before I start, so there are no surprises about what the repair will cover.

Can you French polish over an existing French polish finish?

Yes. Shellac bonds directly to a previous shellac surface, which makes it straightforward to refresh or repair an existing finish without stripping the piece back to bare wood. If the old finish is a different product, lacquer or wax, for example, that layer needs to come off first, and I will tell you that clearly in the written quote.

Is French polishing suitable for homes in Colchester with high humidity?

Shellac is moisture-sensitive, so damp conditions are factored into the drying schedule rather than ignored. I time coats to suit the conditions on the day. For pieces in rooms prone to humidity, I can advise on aftercare steps that help the finish stay stable through Colchester’s wetter seasons.

Do you cover small repair jobs as well as larger pieces?

Yes. A single scratched door panel or a small area of lifted veneer is as valid a job as a full dining table refinish. The scope and cost are set out in a free written quote after I have seen the piece, either in person or from clear photos you send across.

Get Your Wood Finish Assessed

Every quote is free, written and comes with no obligation to proceed.

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