When Is Furniture Not Worth Restoring?

DIRECT ANSWER:

Furniture may not be worth restoring when deterioration is extensive, construction quality is poor, important material is missing, contamination creates serious concerns, the piece no longer serves a useful purpose or a suitable replacement better meets the owner's needs at a reasonable cost.

WE BELIEVE IN SAVING GOOD WOODWORK.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING SHOULD BE SAVED.

A good restoration decision can also be:

"No. This one doesn't make sense."

WHEN DAMAGE IS TOO EXTENSIVE

Multiple major problems can make a project increasingly complex.

WHEN THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION IS POOR

Restoration cannot turn every poorly constructed piece into fine furniture.

WHEN CONTAMINATION IS A SERIOUS CONCERN

Certain:

Flood

Sewage

Mold

Fire

Chemical

or biological exposures may require specialized evaluation beyond ordinary furniture restoration.

WHEN IT NO LONGER FITS YOUR LIFE

A piece can be perfectly repairable and still no longer make sense for the owner.

WHEN AN APPROPRIATE REPLACEMENT IS EASY TO FIND

If an equivalent replacement:

Fits

Functions

Meets quality expectations

Costs substantially less

and the original carries no special significance, replacement may be reasonable.

WHEN THE OWNER DOESN'T ACTUALLY WANT IT

Don't restore furniture because you feel guilty about letting it go.

Restore it because you want to preserve or use it.