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Stone benchtop repairLaminate benchtop repairFrench polishingTimber furniture repairKitchen cabinet and cupboard repairDoor, frame and skirting repairWall repair and making goodTile repairTimber floor repairMetal scratch and stain repairGlass scratch repairDefect rectification for buildersEnd of lease repairs

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Our technician colour matching a repair on dark timber wall panelling in a Sydney building lobby

Service · Sydney

French polishing and furniture restoration in Sydney.

We French polish and restore timber on site across Sydney. That includes antique furniture, dining tables, sideboards, doors, staircases, bars and wall panelling. First we repair the scratches, water rings and heat marks. Then we build a shellac finish by hand and colour match it to the rest of the piece.

Get a free quoteWhatsApp a photo
Insured and WHS-compliantWork guaranteedFixed written quote in one business dayRepaired on site, no rip-outSydney based, part of Caoba Group

What we repair

French polishing and restoration work we do.

Antique furniture restoration

We re-polish antique and inherited pieces with shellac, the finish most of them were first made with. We tell you before we start if the old finish can be repaired or has to come off.

Dining tables, chairs and sideboards

We strip or cut back the old finish, repair scratches and water rings, and build the shellac up by hand. On chairs we do the timber, not the upholstery.

Doors and door frames

We French polish timber entry doors and internal doors in place, without taking them off.

Staircases and handrails

We polish treads, balustrades and handrails on site, one section at a time, so you can still use the stairs.

Bars, reception desks and boardroom tables

We re-polish commercial timber that gets daily wear, after hours where the site needs it.

Wall panelling and joinery

We French polish fixed timber panelling and built-in joinery in place.

What we say no to

When French polish is not the right finish.

Some damage is not worth repairing, and we say so before you spend anything.

  • Outdoor timber. Shellac does not stand up to rain and sun. We use other finishes outside.
  • Kitchen benchtops in daily use with hot pans. We recommend a harder finish for those and can apply it.
  • A piece with rot or broken joints. We can polish it after a cabinet maker repairs the structure.

Repair or replace

Repair with usReplace
The finishShellac, built by hand in thin coatsSprayed lacquer or polyurethane
Repairs laterA scratch or ring can be blended back inA damaged spot usually needs the whole top re-coated
WhereDone on site, in placeOften taken to a workshop

On site

French polishing on site in Sydney.

Our technician treating a water ring on a walnut dining table before re-polishing
Our technician treating a water ring on a walnut dining table before re-polishing
Old finish stripped back on a timber edge before re-polishing
Old finish stripped back on a timber edge before re-polishing
Our technician colour matching a repair on an oak entry door
Our technician colour matching a repair on an oak entry door
See our before and after work

How it works

How we French polish, step by step.

01

Send us a photo

One photo of the whole piece and one close up of the worst mark. We quote from that.

02

Get a fixed written quote

A fixed price in writing within one business day, with the finish we recommend and why.

03

We prepare the timber

We strip or cut back the old finish, repair scratches, dents and water marks, and sand the timber flush.

04

We build the shellac by hand

We apply thin coats of shellac with a cloth pad. We build them up over several passes until the finish is even.

05

We check it and guarantee it

We inspect the finish in daylight, guarantee the work and give you care notes.

Where we work

A French polisher that comes to you, across Sydney.

We come to you for French polishing. We work across the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, City of Sydney, Inner South, Lower North Shore, Ryde and Parramatta, and further for commercial jobs. See every area we service.

Who does the work

We train in-house, on real jobs, and we check every repair in daylight before we leave. Read how we work.

Questions about French polishing

French polishing questions.

What is French polishing?

French polishing is a way of finishing timber with shellac. Shellac is a natural resin dissolved in alcohol. We apply it by hand with a cloth pad in many thin coats. The result is an even finish that shows the grain. It is the finish used on most antique furniture.

Do you restore antique furniture?

Yes. We restore the finish on antique and inherited furniture, like tables, chairs, sideboards and cabinets. We repair the marks and worn patches and re-polish the piece with shellac. If a piece has loose joints or broken parts, a cabinet maker fixes the structure first and we finish it after.

Can you French polish on site?

Yes. We do all our French polishing where the piece lives, in homes, offices, hotels and bars across Sydney. Staircases, doors and panelling cannot go to a workshop anyway. We cover the area, control dust and work in sections.

Can water rings and heat marks be removed?

Yes. White rings sit in the finish, not the timber, and we can usually lift them and blend the spot. Dark rings have gone into the timber and take more work. We treat the mark, then rebuild the finish over it. Send a photo and we will tell you which one you have.

How long does French polishing take?

A dining table takes more than one visit, because each set of coats has to cure before the next. Small repairs to an existing shellac finish are often done in one visit. We give you the number of visits in the quote.

How do I look after a French polished surface?

Use coasters and mats, wipe spills straight away and keep it out of direct sun. Dust with a soft dry cloth. Do not use spray polishes or products with silicone. Shellac can be repaired and re-polished, which is one reason we use it.

Do you French polish new timber?

Yes. New joinery, doors and furniture can be French polished. We also polish timber that was stained or lacquered before, once we strip it back. We tell you which finish suits the piece and how it will be used.

What affects the cost of French polishing?

The size of the piece, the state of the old finish and how many visits it takes. A full strip and re-polish takes longer than a repair to a finish that is still sound. We quote from a photo, so you get a fixed written price before we start.

Do I need French polishing or just a repair?

A repair fixes one mark, like a scratch or a water ring, and blends it into the finish around it. A French polisher builds a new shellac finish over the whole surface. Many pieces need both. Send a photo and we tell you which one your piece needs.

Can you match an old finish?

Yes. We mix the colour on site against the timber, so a repaired spot matches the rest of the piece. We also match the sheen, from satin to high gloss. Changing the colour of a whole piece means stripping it back first, and we tell you from a photo if that works for your piece.

Guides on this topic

Also repaired on site

French polishing? Send us a photo.

We reply with a fixed written quote within one business day. Free, and we tell you if it cannot be repaired.

Get a free quote

Next step

SEND US THE DAMAGE.

A clear photo is usually all we need. You get a fixed written quote within one business day.

Free. No obligation.

We use your details only to answer your enquiry. See our privacy policy.

Phone
+61 415 882 644
WhatsApp
Send a photo on WhatsApp
Email
info@caobafrenchpolish.com.au
Hours
Quotes within one business day. After hours and weekends on commercial sites by arrangement.
Where we work
Sydney, NSW. See the areas we cover
Response
Fixed written quote within one business day
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