Lloyd’s Woodworking · Hudson, Massachusetts
By Lloyd’s Woodworking Inc.
What Should I Check Before Buying Used Wood Furniture?
DIRECT ANSWER:
Before buying used wood furniture, inspect its overall stability, joints, drawers, doors, veneer, finish, underside, back, hardware and signs of water or structural damage. Previous repairs are not automatically a problem, but they should be understood before purchase.
THE FRONT MAY BE BEAUTIFUL.
LOOK UNDERNEATH.
Used furniture can offer tremendous quality.
It can also hide problems.
Take five minutes and inspect more than the polished surface.
CHECK STABILITY
Gently determine whether the piece:
Rocks
Wobbles
Twists
Sags
Moves at joints
Do not aggressively stress furniture you do not own.
OPEN EVERY DRAWER
Check:
Fit
Movement
Sides
Bottoms
Joints
Missing components
Odors
Signs of moisture
OPEN EVERY DOOR
Look for:
Sagging
Hinge damage
Alignment
Cracks
Missing hardware
Binding
LOOK AT THE VENEER
Check edges and flat surfaces for:
Lifting
Bubbles
Missing sections
Cracks
Previous patches
LOOK UNDERNEATH AND BEHIND
When permitted, inspect:
Construction
Repairs
Water staining
Hardware
Labels
Loose components
SMELL IT
Furniture can retain odors from:
Smoke
Moisture
Storage
Pets
Other environmental exposure
Some odors can be difficult to address.
Consider that before buying.
LOOK FOR WATER DAMAGE
Possible signs include:
Staining
Swelling
Veneer lifting
Finish changes
Joint problems
Mold or suspected biological growth requires appropriate caution.
ASK WHAT IS MISSING
Check for:
Hardware
Shelves
Keys
Drawer dividers
Leaves
Extensions
Trim
Decorative components
A missing component may be reproducible, but it still belongs in the purchase decision.
DON'T LET A BAD FINISH HIDE A GOOD PIECE
Ugly finish is not the same as poor construction.
A cosmetically tired piece may still have substantial underlying quality.
DON'T LET A BEAUTIFUL FINISH HIDE A BAD PIECE
The opposite is also true.
Fresh paint or polish can make structurally weak furniture look attractive.
Inspect construction.
Frequently asked questions
IS USED SOLID-WOOD FURNITURE WORTH BUYING?
It can be, but material alone does not determine quality.
IS DAMAGED VENEER A DEAL BREAKER?
Not necessarily. Evaluate the extent and repairability.
SHOULD I BUY A WOBBLY CHAIR?
Only after considering why it is loose and what repair may be required.
IS WATER-DAMAGED FURNITURE WORTH BUYING?
It depends on the extent of damage and intended use.
CAN MISSING FURNITURE PARTS BE RECREATED?
Potentially, depending on the component and available reference material.