Beautiful Wood Finishes, Crafted by Hand

Antique restoration to modern furniture, finished by hand so the natural beauty of the wood comes back.

Fully Insured
30+ Years
5-Star Rated

What Block

Expert French Polishing & Wood Restoration

A full range of traditional and modern wood finishing services, tailored to your piece.

French Polishing
Water rings and dull finishes restored to a high-gloss shellac surface with rubbing-pad application.
Antique Restoration
Sympathetic restoration of period furniture, we preserve character and patina while repairing damage.
Staircase Finishing
A hard-wearing, hand-polished finish that transforms your staircase and stands up to daily traffic.

Table & Desk Refinishing
Scratches, water rings and daily wear taken back to showroom quality.
Door Restoration
Interior and exterior doors stripped, repaired and beautifully finished.
Piano Polishing
Specialist shellac finishes restoring depth and clarity to pianos.
Colour Matching
Stains and finishes matched so repairs blend with the original piece.
On-Site Work
We come to you for staircases, fitted furniture and large pieces.
Insurance Repairs
Approved for fire, flood and accidental damage claims on all wood.

“George restored our Victorian dining table and it looks better than the day it was made. True craftsmanship.”

David Reynolds3 weeks ago

Problem / Solution Block

Where Rushed Work Goes Wrong

The failure modes we see in quick-fix refinishing, and the method that avoids each one.

Cheap lacquer

Spray-can lacquer that yellows and chips within months.

Hand-applied shellac

Hand-applied shellac that deepens with age and lasts decades.

No preparation

A single coat slapped on without proper surface preparation.

Layered by hand

Multiple layers built up over days, each rubbed and levelled by hand.

Generic stain

Generic stain that hides the grain and character of the wood.

Colour-matched finish

A colour-matched finish that enhances the natural grain and patina.

Why Block

Why Essex French Polishing?

The business side, done properly: how we quote, communicate and stand behind the work.

Written quotes, fixed
Every job is priced in writing after inspection. The figure we agree is the figure you pay.
Punctual & tidy
We arrive when we say we will, keep you informed, and leave your home spotless.
Fully insured
Comprehensive public liability cover is in place before any work starts.
Two generations
A family workshop since 1992, the same people quote, do the work and answer the phone.
Workshop or on-site
Collection and return for smaller pieces; fitted furniture and staircases finished in place.
Aftercare included
Written care notes with every job, and a light re-polish service years down the line.

How Block

From Enquiry to Finished Piece

A simple, transparent process from start to finish. No surprises.

Get a Free Quote

01
Get in Touch
Call us or send a photo for a free, no-obligation quote at a time that suits you.
02
We Assess & Quote
We examine the wood, agree the finish you want, and give a clear, honest written price.
03
Expert Finishing
We carry out the work on-site or in our workshop, keeping you updated throughout.

Our Work Block

A Few Pieces We're Proud Of

Antique tables, staircases and heirloom furniture, restored by hand across Essex.

Restored Victorian dining table
Hand-polished staircase
Refinished antique sideboard
Rebuilt oak library shelving
French-polished grand piano lid
Restored church pew ends

Audience Block

From Homeowners to Heritage Properties

We work with anyone who values quality wood finishing and authentic craftsmanship.

Homeowners
Inherited furniture, a tired staircase or a dining table that has seen twenty years of family life, we restore the pieces your home is built around, working in your house or our workshop.
Interior Designers
Bespoke finishing for client projects with exacting standards: colour-matched to a scheme, sample boards before committal, and deadlines treated as part of the specification.
Antique Dealers
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.
Heritage Properties
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.

Explainer Block

What French Polishing Really Involves

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.

Get a Free Quote

Pricing Block

Typical French Polishing Prices

A guide to common jobs. Every piece is different, so we always confirm a written price after we've seen it.

Furniture Restoration
Job From Typical turnaround
Dining table re-polish £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
Repairs & Finishing
Job From
Water-ring or heat-mark removal £90
Colour matching, per item £60
Veneer repair £120
Staircase handrail, per flight £450

Job	From
Water-ring or heat-mark removal	£90
Colour matching, per item	£60
Veneer repair	£120
Staircase handrail, per flight	£450

Job	From	Typical turnaround
Dining table re-polish	£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

“George and his team restored our Victorian hallway table. The grain practically glows now. Worth every penny.”

David Reynolds3 weeks ago

4.9(127+ Reviews)

This site was built for Essex French Polishing. All reviews are genuine, sourced from their Google Business Profile.

Shared About Block

About Essex French Polishing

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 story

Our Mission & Values

We exist to preserve and restore period wood finishes for homeowners and businesses across Essex, with honest quotes and craftsmanship you can trust.

Clear Quotes
Written estimates after inspection, with no hidden fees.
Flexible Delivery
On-site or workshop collection with scheduled slots.
Traditional Techniques
Shellac pad application, pumice pore-filling and buffing.

The team

George Hartley
Master Polisher
Daniel Hartley
Workshop Manager
Ruth Okonkwo
Restoration Technician

Accreditations & Guarantees

Membership
British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association
Conservation standards followed, so a period piece keeps its character.
Accreditation
Guild of Master Craftsmen
Independently vetted on workmanship and customer care before admission.
Qualification
City & Guilds Furniture Restoration Level 3
Assessed training in finishing, veneer work and structural repair.
Insurance
Public Liability Insured to 5m

Areas We Cover

French Polishing in Chelmsford

We assess furniture, provide a free written quote and arrange specialist French polishers for on-site or workshop work.

Don't See Your Area?

There's a good chance we cover it, drop us a message and we'll let you know.

Get in Touch

FAQ Block

Common Questions

Everything you need to know about French polishing and our services.

What is French polishing?
A traditional wood finishing technique using shellac applied by hand with a rubber pad. It produces a deep, warm lustre that modern spray finishes can't replicate.
How long does French polishing take?
Most single pieces take 2–5 days depending on size and condition. Larger projects like staircases may take a week. We'll give you a clear timeline upfront.
Do you work on-site or in your workshop?
Both. Smaller items are usually best done in our workshop for a controlled environment; staircases, fitted furniture and doors are done on-site.
Is French polish durable enough for everyday use?
Yes, with proper care a French polish finish lasts for decades. We also offer harder-wearing finishes for high-traffic surfaces like kitchen tables.
Do you offer free quotes?
Yes, all our estimates are free and no-obligation. Just give us a call or send a photo through the contact form.

Ready to Restore Your Wood?

Get a free, no-obligation quote today, send a photo and we'll do the rest.

Get a Free Quote

Job

From

Typical turnaround

Dining table re-polish

£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	£450

Job

From

Water-ring or heat-mark removal

£90

Colour matching, per item

£60

Veneer repair

£120

Staircase handrail, per flight

£450

Job

From

Typical turnaround

Dining table re-polish

£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

French Polishing

Antique Restoration

Staircase Finishing

Table & Desk Refinishing

Door Restoration

Piano Polishing

Colour Matching

On-Site Work