Antique Furniture French Polishing in Brentwood, Essex

Common Challenges

• Dulled grain and faded chatoyancy on heirlooms

  Older pieces lose surface sheen and chatoyancy. That dulling hides carved detail and makes timber look flat unless shellac layers are rebuilt carefully.

• Water rings and etching on kitchen cabinets

  Kitchen cabinets and wooden fixtures in Brentwood homes often show water rings and etching that penetrate finish and darken timber if left untreated.

• Risk of over-sanding losing original patina

  Well-meaning sanding or lacquer stripping can remove original patina and colour. Once removed, authentic finish and resale value are hard to restore.

How We Help

• Rebuild finish with shellac and pumice

  Pumice pore-filling and thin shellac pad layers restore grain contrast while keeping original surface character intact.

• Colour matched restoration for heirlooms

  We assess colour and use careful toning during shellac work to match original patina and avoid visible repair lines.

• Typically 6–10 thin shellac layers applied

  Multiple thin shellac layers are built by pad application to achieve depth and chatoyancy without heavy sanding.

• Choice of on-site or workshop work

  Small repairs and final rubbing often done on-site; larger restorations use workshop collection with controlled drying.

• Rebuild finish with shellac and pumice

  Pumice pore-filling and thin shellac pad layers restore grain contrast while keeping original surface character intact.

• Colour matched restoration for heirlooms

  We assess colour and use careful toning during shellac work to match original patina and avoid visible repair lines.

• Typically 6–10 thin shellac layers applied

  Multiple thin shellac layers are built by pad application to achieve depth and chatoyancy without heavy sanding.

• Choice of on-site or workshop work

  Small repairs and final rubbing often done on-site; larger restorations use workshop collection with controlled drying.