Antique restoration to modern furniture, finished by hand so the natural beauty of the wood comes back.
What Block
A full range of traditional and modern wood finishing services, tailored to your piece.
Water rings and dull finishes restored to a high-gloss shellac surface with rubbing-pad application.
Sympathetic restoration of period furniture, we preserve character and patina while repairing damage.
“George restored our Victorian dining table and it looks better than the day it was made. True craftsmanship.”
Problem / Solution Block
The failure modes we see in quick-fix refinishing, and the method that avoids each one.
Spray-can lacquer that yellows and chips within months.
Hand-applied shellac that deepens with age and lasts decades.
Why Block
The business side, done properly: how we quote, communicate and stand behind the work.
Every job is priced in writing after inspection. The figure we agree is the figure you pay.
We arrive when we say we will, keep you informed, and leave your home spotless.
Comprehensive public liability cover is in place before any work starts.
A family workshop since 1992, the same people quote, do the work and answer the phone.
How Block
A simple, transparent process from start to finish. No surprises.
01
Call us or send a photo for a free, no-obligation quote at a time that suits you.
Our Work Block
Antique tables, staircases and heirloom furniture, restored by hand across Essex.
Explainer Block
A hand-applied finishing technique trusted for centuries, and still the way to bring out the natural grain 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.
| Job | From | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Dining table re-polish |
“George and his team restored our Victorian hallway table. The grain practically glows now. Worth every penny.”
“Had six dining chairs repolished and they look absolutely stunning. The colour match with our table is perfect.”
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.
Our full storyWe exist to preserve and restore period wood finishes for homeowners and businesses across Essex, with honest quotes and craftsmanship you can trust.
Written estimates after inspection, with no hidden fees.
Conservation standards followed, so a period piece keeps its character.
Independently vetted on workmanship and customer care before admission.
Assessed training in finishing, veneer work and structural repair.
Areas We Cover
We assess furniture, provide a free written quote and arrange specialist French polishers for on-site or workshop work.
Get a free, no-obligation quote today, send a photo and we'll do the rest.
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.
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.
Collection and return for smaller pieces; fitted furniture and staircases finished in place.
Written care notes with every job, and a light re-polish service years down the line.
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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.
Sympathetic, reversible restoration that protects value and provenance, we stabilise, repair and finish to the piece's period, and know when the right move is to leave well alone.
Listed buildings and period homes where the joinery is part of the fabric: panelling, balustrades and original doors finished with materials the building would recognise.
| £280 |
| 3–5 days |
| Set of six dining chairs | £360 | 5–7 days |
| Antique sideboard or dresser | £320 | 4–6 days |
| Writing desk or bureau | £240 | 3–5 days |
| Job | From |
|---|---|
| Water-ring or heat-mark removal | £90 |
| Colour matching, per item | £60 |
| Veneer repair | £120 |
| Staircase handrail, per flight |
“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, sourced from their Google Business Profile.
On-site or workshop collection with scheduled slots.
Shellac pad application, pumice pore-filling and buffing.
Master Polisher
Workshop Manager
Restoration Technician
There's a good chance we cover it, drop us a message and we'll let you know.
Get in TouchYes, 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.
| £450 |
| Writing desk or bureau |
| £240 |
| 3–5 days |