Furniture Repair & Restoration

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Restorations and repairs.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Looks may be deceiving. I have to say restoration specialist are a weird bunch, but we love what we do. Look for someone who is passionate about what they do. You can tell this by the glowing their eyes when the see the potential an old warn piece may have. And the smile when the complete a successful restoration than the customer loves.. Also ask for portfolios of there work .

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. If I was a customer in this day and age where everyone is worried about the human impact on our environment. I would want to know that the restoring, refinishing, reupholster and the repairing of furniture we already have and love has almost no environmental impact compared to buying new

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Wood Refinishing: Know what color stain or paint you would like to use and the finish. Gloss, semi gloss or satin.
Upholstery: Know what fabric you would like to use.
Color, texture..

These can be very time consuming choices. Know in advance.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Experience and the love of bringing old art back to life.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I like to teach and learn the history behind furniture and the expressions that people give when you repair or restore their prized possessions.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Can you fix it? Yes we can!

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. My dad and I once found an antique armoire in the trash. My dad from experience new that this armoire was made in Germany before WW2. It was a prized piece amongst the European Jews of the time. This piece survived the war and made its refuge in the US. To be thrown in the trash by some one who did not know what is was worth and the history behind it. Finally, in the Brooklyn neighbor hood where my dad had his shop before retiring to Puerto Rico. An old man from the Jewish community who when a boy fled Nazi Germany stopped in and bought the Armoire. It reminded him of his grandparents who had a similar armoire. Sorry to say that his Grandparents where killed, but at least he ahs something to keep their memory a live. This is my favorite story.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I wish my customers new that Real Restoration Experts are a hard to come by. And yes we are a dieing breed. The mass production of cheap ply wood and fiberboard furniture is ruining the environment and killing a time honored profession. Support your local restoration specialist.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. Following in my farther's foot steps.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. Two of my Customers had a custom made dinning room set. The chairs where falling apart. They where made of solid oak. This is very hard to find today. They bought this dinning set 40yrs ago. I fixed the chairs and restored some memories. I love this work

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I'm always looking into what finishing products my company can use that would have a minimal impact on our environment.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. A lot of our services can be done on site with the new green approved finishing products that are now available. Water base stains and finish have low VOC's(low volatile organic compounds) and do not leave a lingering odor. This means that there is a less turnover time for each project. We can do it in the customers home. This save us time and overhead and the customer money. In most cases the furniture can be put back to use the next day.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. My most recent project was the restoration and refinishing of an old oak round table that was converted into a coffee table. The couple who owners the table received it from the gentlemen’s grand parents.
The finish was warn to the wood and it had a lot of water marks and burns. The veneer on the legs where coming off and missing pieces.
They wanted to change the color and the wanted it to be varnished to gloss finish. They chose a low voc black cherry stain and I recommended a water locks, high gloss, Tung oil finish.
This project took about a week to finish do to the particular finish that the couple wanted. It takes 24hrs to dry per coat. The total cost material, pick up and delivery include came to $450. Money well spent, they where happy with the finished product.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Everything is according to the particular piece and the time that goes into fixing the piece. Fairly simple.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Read a lot.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. What profession would you have liked to be in?

None other than what I'm doing now. I would'nt be happy.