furniture care
Furniture that comes to Stair Restoration for treatment is often damaged due to long term exposure to conditions that affect the surface and structure. Temperature, moisture, exposure to excessive sunlight, wood worm and the accumulation of dirt can cause permanent damage. Once a piece of furniture has been conserved, ideally it should be returned to a stable environment to minimize further deterioration.
A degree of sunlight over a long period can mellow the color attractively to an antique piece of furniture. However, excessive sunlight can damage a piece significantly by drying out the polished surface and the underlying timber/veneers. On sunny days, keep the shades drawn when rooms are not in use. Where possible, turn pieces of furniture around occasionally to even the fading process.
Antique furniture needs to be protected from fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity which can cause a great deal of damage and is costly to repair. Pieces of furniture which have survived for centuries can suffer major harm in just one or two winters of dry heat. Furniture should be positioned at least two feet from any heat source.
When furniture is subjected to low levels of relative humidity, the piece gradually gives up moisture from the wood to the dry surrounding atmosphere. The wood and veneers start to crack and split along the grain. This is aggravated when underlying pieces of wood used in the construction are laid at right angles to each other and then veneered on top. The carcass wood moves and the veneer consequently tears and lifts away. Operating humidifiers during the heating season can reduce the amount of potential damage; 50-55% relative humidity is ideal but this high number can be difficult to maintain. Place a hygrometer in several rooms to monitor the humidity level. These can be purchased from any hardware store.
Furniture should be dusted frequently with a clean, soft cloth. Once or twice a year apply a good quality paste wax. This will, over time, encourage a hard skin to form and build up a good surface color known as patina. Do not use spray polishes as they contain silicone which builds up a sticky surface. The removal of silicone from a surface is extremely difficult. The residue that is left on the surface can make French polishing repairs almost impossible.
Prevention is always better than cure. It is a good idea to make periodical inspections of furniture for lifting moldings and veneer (which will sound hollow when lightly tapped), loose joints and water damage. Look for fresh furniture beetle (woodworm) holes and dust, particularly around the months of May and June. Carefully store any pieces of veneer or moldings that may have come loose. This will help the piece of furniture retain its value and keep the cost of restoration to a minimum.