From antique restoration to modern furniture finishing, we bring out the natural beauty of wood with traditional French polishing techniques.
What Block
A full range of traditional and modern wood finishing services, tailored to your piece.
Water rings or dull finishes on furniture restored to a high-gloss shellac surface with rubbing-pad application.
Feature Showcase Block
The parts of the work that make the difference, and what each one means for the finished piece.
Every coat is worked into the grain with a rubbing pad rather than sprayed on, which is what builds the depth you can see across a room. It takes several sessions and cannot be rushed, but the finish lasts decades rather than months.
Why Block
Finding reliable, skilled craftsmen shouldn't be a gamble. Here's what sets us apart.
We turn up when we say we will, keep you informed, and leave your home spotless.
Every piece is finished by hand using traditional techniques for an unmatched result.
Clear quotes with no hidden extras. The price we agree is the price you pay.
Problem / Solution Block
Not all finishes are created equal. Here's what separates hand-applied French polishing from mass-market alternatives.
Spray-can lacquer that yellows and chips within months.
Hand-applied shellac that deepens with age and lasts decades.
How Block
A simple, transparent process from start to finish. No surprises.
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Call us or send a photo for a free, no-obligation quote at a time that suits you.
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Our Work Block
Antique tables, staircases and heirloom furniture, restored by hand across Essex.
Explainer Block
A hand-applied wood finishing technique trusted for centuries — and still the best way to bring out the natural beauty of timber.
French polishing is a traditional finishing method using shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol, applied in thin layers with a cotton pad known as a rubber. Unlike spray lacquers, each coat is worked into the grain by hand, building a depth and clarity that synthetic finishes cannot replicate on period hardwoods.
The process begins with surface preparation — stripping old finishes, repairing damage, grain-filling where needed, and colour-matching stains so repairs disappear into the original timber. The shellac is then built up over several sessions, each layer rubbed back and levelled before the next is laid on.
A completed French polish is warm, deep and naturally tactile, and lasts decades with proper care. We provide full aftercare guidance with every job, and a free assessment before any work starts — call us, or send a photo of the piece through the enquiry form and we will come back to you.
Pricing Block
A guide to common jobs. Every piece is different, so we always confirm a written price after we've seen it.
Get a free, no-obligation quote today — send a photo and we'll do the rest.
Shared Locations Block
We assess furniture, provide a free written quote and arrange specialist French polishers for on-site or workshop work.
David Reynolds · 3 weeks ago“George and his team restored our Victorian hallway table. The grain practically glows now. Worth every penny.”
Shared About Block
A family-run French polishing workshop restoring period wood finishes across Essex. We assess each piece in person or from photos, agree a written price, and hand-finish every job using traditional shellac techniques.
Sympathetic restoration of period furniture — we preserve character and patina while repairing damage.
A hard-wearing, hand-polished finish that transforms your staircase and stands up to daily traffic.
Scratches, water rings and daily wear taken back to showroom quality.
Interior and exterior doors stripped, repaired and beautifully finished.
Specialist shellac finishes restoring depth and clarity to pianos.
Stains and finishes matched so repairs blend with the original piece.
We come to you for staircases, fitted furniture and large pieces.
Approved for fire, flood and accidental damage claims on all wood.
Repairs are matched to the original timber before any polish goes near the piece, so a mended veneer or a filled scratch disappears into the surface instead of announcing itself in daylight.
Staircases, fitted furniture and doors are finished in your home, worked in sections so the place stays usable. Smaller pieces come back to the workshop where the temperature and dust are controlled.
You get written care notes with every job — what to dust it with, what to keep off it, and how to have a dulled area re-polished later without stripping the whole piece back.
Two generations of French polishers with the skills to handle any piece.
Every job is covered by comprehensive public liability insurance.
We come to you for fitted pieces, or finish smaller items in our workshop.
A single coat slapped on without proper surface preparation.
Multiple layers built up over days, each rubbed and levelled by hand.
Generic stain that hides the grain and character of the wood.
A colour-matched finish that enhances the natural grain and patina.
Sympathetic restoration that preserves value and authenticity.
Listed buildings and period homes that require specialist care.
We examine the wood, agree the finish you want, and give a clear, honest written price.
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We carry out the work on-site or in our workshop, keeping you updated throughout.
There's a good chance we cover it — drop us a message and we'll let you know.
“Had six dining chairs repolished and they look absolutely stunning. The colour match with our table is perfect.”
“Restored the original banister in our 1920s semi. The neighbours keep asking who did it. Can't recommend highly enough.”
“Our piano hadn't been touched in forty years. The finish is now so deep you can see your reflection in it. Astonishing work.”
“Quick to quote, tidy, and the desk came back looking better than the day I bought it. Genuine old-school craftsmanship.”
“They colour-matched a repair on our oak dresser so well I can't find it any more. Polite, punctual and clearly masters of the trade.”
This site was built for Essex French Polishing. All reviews are genuine and verified by Google.
Shellac pad application, pumice pore-filling and buffing.
Yes — with proper care a French polish finish lasts for decades. We also offer harder-wearing finishes for high-traffic surfaces like kitchen tables.
Yes, all our estimates are free and no-obligation. Just give us a call or send a photo through the contact form.