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CostAntique Restoration

How much does antique furniture restoration cost in Virginia?

There is no standard price: a loose chair joint, a veneer repair and a full finish restoration are different jobs, and the quote depends on the piece, the damage and how much of the original finish is kept. Get a written, itemized quote from two restorers who have seen the piece, and ask what each line includes.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Photograph the piece

    Photograph the whole piece, the worst damage, the underside and any maker's label or repair.

  2. Step 2: Write down what you know

    Note its approximate age, where it came from, the wood if you know it, whether the top is veneered and whether any surface is painted.

  3. Step 3: Ask for an assessment first

    Have each restorer see the piece in person or from detailed photos and tell you what is original, what is damaged and what needs repair before the finish.

  4. Step 4: Ask for an itemized written quote

    Ask each restorer to list structural repairs, cleaning, finish work, replaced or recreated parts, materials, pickup and delivery, and timing.

  5. Step 5: Ask how the work can be undone

    Ask whether the repairs are reversible and what happens to the original finish.[1]

  6. Step 6: Raise lead if the piece is painted and old

    Tell every restorer if the piece is old and painted, and ask how they will handle dust and stripping.[2]

  7. Step 7: Compare line by line

    Check that each quote covers the same work before choosing the lower one, and keep the quote.

  8. Step 8: Ask for an itemized invoice

    Ask for an invoice that lists what was done, and compare it with the quote.[5]

Antique furniture restoration has no standard price. A loose joint, a lifted veneer, a replaced leg and a full finish restoration are different jobs, and the quote follows the piece, the damage and how much of the original surface you want to keep. The reliable way to learn what yours will cost is a written, itemized quote from two restorers who have seen it.

What drives the price

What needs repair first. A restorer typically begins by working out what the piece is made of and what state it is in. A conservator's examination aims to determine the stability of the structure and the finish, and to identify the type of wood, finish, and adhesive and joinery techniques.[1] A sound piece needs little; one with failed joints needs structural work before anything cosmetic.

Cleaning. Careful cleaning is often the cheapest step. Conservators clean the object carefully by mechanical and chemical means,[1] and many pieces only need that.

Structural repairs. Structural repair aims at restoring structural integrity, but not necessarily appearance.[1] Good repairs are reversible: repairs are reversible so that they can be removed if necessary.[1] That care costs more labor than a quick glue-up, but it protects the piece.

Veneer. Veneered surfaces may split or buckle because the grain orientation of the veneer is different from that of the underlying wood.[1] Veneer repair is slow, detailed work and is often the line that surprises owners.

Missing parts. Restorers replicate missing elements when desirable with in-kind materials and techniques or modern ones,[1] and replacements should be documented in writing with accompanying photographs.[1] Matching a turned leg or a carved foot costs more than a plain part.

The finish. This is the biggest choice. If the existing finish is original, or at least appropriate, and salvageable, preservation is the preferred course,[1] which usually means cleaning and a light touch-up. By contrast, refinishing is preferred if the existing finish is either inappropriate or almost completely worn away,[1] and it costs more. When conservators do refinish, they use the least harmful means of finish removal, and a small area is usually left intact to document the finish history of the object.[1]

Three wooden dining chair frames with carved splats standing on a workshop floor
Photo: Shixart1985, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What else changes the number

Size and complexity matter: a plain table is cheaper to work on than a secretary with carving, inlay and fitted drawers. Whether the piece goes to a shop or the work is done at your home, how far it has to travel and how long it will be in the shop all appear in the price. Rush work usually costs more.

Do not let a low quote hide a different job. Poorly done repairs are another common cause of damage to wooden objects,[1] and a quote that skips the repair and goes straight to a coat of finish can leave you paying twice.

Lead and stripping on old painted pieces

If the piece is old and painted, tell every restorer. The EPA lists refinishing old furniture among the jobs that can put you in contact with lead.[2] The federal ban on lead paint covers furniture articles for consumer use that bear lead-containing paint, and applies to products manufactured after February 27, 1978,[3] so a piece older than that may have lead in its paint.

Stripping adds its own hazard. The CPSC advises that if work must be done indoors under low ventilation conditions, consider having the work done professionally instead of attempting it yourself.[4] A shop with proper ventilation is part of what you are paying for.

Quotes and paperwork

Ask each restorer for the same things in writing: the repairs, the cleaning, the finish approach, the materials, pickup and delivery, the timeline and what is not included. Compare them line by line, not by the bottom number.

Keep the quote and ask for an invoice that lists what was done. Virginia's Consumer Protection Act lists among prohibited practices misrepresenting that repairs, alterations, modifications, or services have been performed or parts installed,[5] and an itemized invoice is the easiest way to check the work against what you agreed.

Stop and call a pro if

  • The piece might be valuable or a family heirloom. Get an assessment before anyone strips, sands or glues it.
  • It is old and painted. Lead changes how it must be handled.
  • The structure is loose, the veneer is lifting or the wood is crumbling. Get a repair quote before you spend on a finish.
  • A quote is a single number with no detail. Ask for it to be itemized.

Getting help in Virginia

For what to do before the quote, read should you restore an antique or leave it original and how to clean antique furniture without ruining its value. For a plainer piece, see what furniture refinishing costs in Virginia. Browse more furniture repair answers, antique restoration requests or small repair services.

When you are ready, describe the piece once and local restorers can quote it.

Common questions

Why will no one quote a price over the phone?
Because the price depends on what is wrong and what has to stay. Structure, veneer, finish and missing parts are separate jobs, and a restorer has to see the piece to know which ones apply. A flat figure from a description alone is a guess.
Is a full strip and refinish always the expensive option?
It is usually the biggest single item, but it is not always the right one. If the existing finish is original, or at least appropriate, and salvageable, preservation is the preferred course in museum practice. That often means cleaning and repair, not a new finish.
How do I choose a restorer?
Ask for photos of earlier work on similar pieces, how they would approach the finish, and an itemized written quote. Check that the restorer has experience with the kind of piece and finish you own, and that they will tell you what is original before they touch it.
Can a bad repair lower the value of an antique?
Yes. Poorly done repairs are another common cause of damage to wooden objects, and irreversible materials can make later conservation harder. Ask whether the repairs are reversible before you agree to them.
What should an itemized quote include?
Each repair and finish step with its own line, the materials, who does the work, pickup and delivery, timing and what is not included. With that, you can compare two restorers on the same work.

Sources

  1. [1] Museum Handbook, Part I, Appendix N: Curatorial Care of Wooden Objects, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Checked October 27, 2026.
  2. [2] Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
  3. [3] 16 CFR Part 1303, Ban of lead-containing paint and certain consumer products bearing lead-containing paint, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Checked October 27, 2026.
  4. [4] What You Should Know About Using Paint Strippers, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Checked October 27, 2026.
  5. [5] Va. Code § 59.1-200, Prohibited practices (Virginia Consumer Protection Act), Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.