About TLC
FULL RESTORATION
At TLC we can carry out all sorts of restoration on your antiques and furniture, from traditional Upholstery and French polishing to Veneer and joint repairs. As well as hand stripping, staining, finishing and floor sanding.
Traditional Upholstery
Traditional upholstery is a craft which evolved over the centuries for the stuffing and upholstering of chairs, seats and sofas, before the development of synthetic fabrics and foam. At TLC we use all traditional fillings from hand fixed springs to horse hair fillings, lashings, wools, hand stitching, flock and wadding to restore and upholster your furniture by hand.
French polishing
The finish applied to antique furniture is just as important as the furniture piece itself. Stripping and re-finishing removes the original patina. If removed, it can never be recovered. Patterns of wear indicating the history and use are also lost during re-finishing. At TLC each piece is considered individually and the appropriate polishing or cleaning method is then applied whether that be wax or French polish.
Veneer & Joint Repairs
As veneer is only a thin layer of wood attached with glue to a solid base, it is very vulnerable and can be damaged. On antique furniture, the glue that holds the veneer is generally not water resistant. Prolonged exposure to water or a humid environment can soften the glue, letting the veneer blister, crack, or peel. Damaged veneer can be re-glued and chips can be filled with matching veneer. If the work is done properly the repairs will hardly show.
At TLC we not only just dosimple repairs but also involved and complex repairs to damaged or broken furniture. Such as: split and broken chair legs, smashed rails, split table tops, warped surfaces, white water marks and the replacing of broken cabinet glass.
Hand stripping
Old doors, fire places and staircases are mostly made from wood and have been painted or varnished over the years. The stripper is firstly painted on in a thick layer then left for five to ten minutes. The varnish is then scraped off in strips. Care is taken not to scratch or mar softwood or gouge through the veneers. Two applications are often required as older pieces have more stubborn paint or varnish. The piece is finally wiped down with clean rage and mineral spirits.
Staining
Once the furniture has been stripped, it is sanded down so the surface is evened out but not too much as to create flat spots or gouges where they do not belong. Once it has been sanded down the dust is swept off. The appropriate stainer is either selected or created as each job is unique. The stainer is applied carefully to the piece, any excess stainer is wiped off. By removing the excess, the grain of the wood will show through giving the furniture character. Depending on the type of stain used, the drying process can take a short amount of time, or quite a while.
Finishing
Once the stainer has dried in, any rough or uneven areas are lightly sanded down while taking care not to remove the staining. The piece is swept down of dust once more and a final coat is selected. This final coat depends entirely on the furniture itself and can either be French polish, oils, or modern lacquers.
Floor sanding & Finishing
TLC also offers a floor sanding and finishing service. Your floors can be sanded to remove the old wax and oils to be completely evened out into a flat surface. The floor can then be finished with staining and oils to give a professional finish.
