Traditional French polishing, modern finishing

Floor sanding is just part of what we do. Please see our sister site Newell polishers. I am a fully qualified and apprentice trained French polisher with over twenty years of experience and I employ a small close knit team of French polishers who also happen to be good friends of mine. Whilst French polishing literally means to apply a finish to an item with shellac, it is also a generic term encapsulating the whole range of wood finishing both traditional and modern. Being French polishers means we can strip, stain and refinish almost any wood surface be it interior, exterior, architectural or furniture, modern or antique to virtually any colour or sheen level, you are only bound by your imagination.

We utilise the whole spectrum of wood finishing technology from hand rubbed oil and wax finishes, full shine French polish through to modern two part catalysed lacquers rated for severe use. We are as happy reviving original Chippendale chairs as we are stripping and refinishing modern furniture.

Period property and listed building conservation

Whilst we are fully competant at the application of modern finishes either by hand, brush or spray application our area of excellence resides in the sympathetic and sensitive repair, restoration and refinishing of ancient and older timbers including the careful and sometimes invisible matching of newer pieces, boards or panels. Please see our GALLERY for details.

Choose restoration and renovation NOT replacement

From an environmental viewpoint it is logical and sensible to restore and renew rather than cover up or replace, especially when you look past the very misleading globalised 'green' marketing hype. Please do not buy or replace perfectly good quality old wood with inferior quick grown substitutes, just pause and think for a second, even if you get inspiration from this site and do the job yourself.

Older wood is normally denser as it was more often cut on the quarter grain to improve its durability and reduce dimensional instability and normally was chosen more selectively giving rise to more characterful and beautiful figuring, that is before you even start to consider the developed patination. In short, older wood typically is harder, more durable, more stable and better looking that is before you take into account the undefinable magical quality of history. A little extra effort will reward you many times over when you see the results that can be achieved whilst at the same time preserving our national heritage and our environment, it really is a win, win, win situation. Just ask yourself one thing, how many of these modern tables or engineered floors will be around five hundred years from now to be lovingly restored?

The fact is even if several trees are planted for every tree felled, who is going to check on them to make sure they reach maturity? How long will it take for them to reach the maturity of the established forests they are decimating? A hundred years? Two hundred? Three hundred?

It's okay, the wood is from a sustainable source

Really? And what does 'sustainable' certified timber mean? I am sure there are a small handfull of honest and well meaning authorities and enthusiasts who ensure best practice but the sad fact is most timber comes from South America, Africa and Asia, developing countries where corruption is rife and timber export is worth millions. The ability to buy a solid Rosewood or teak coffee table from a cheap market shop for twenty or thirty pounds is outrageous, most dense hardwood species take from seventy to two hundred years to reach harvestable maturity, how can that be achieved for twenty pounds? Especially when you appreciate that the money paid for the actual wood itself does not amount to more than one pound out of that twenty.

If you have worn or damaged furniture or you would like doors, stairs, handrails, frames, skirtings, panels, built in units, tables, chairs or period antiques professionaly finished or restored then please contact us for a quotation.