Fremont Furniture Co

Are You Sitting on a Treasure? Utah Antique Furniture Restorations

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:10:44 +0000

Looking into Utah Antique Furniture Restorations? Is your family heirloom a valuable antique crying out for professional restoration services? While only an expert can knowledgably appraise your furniture, there are some easy ways you can determine if what you have is a true antique. Follow the hints below, and of course, when it comes to Refinishing Old Furniture Utah, you can trust the experts at Freemont Furniture Co.

The most obvious giveaway to antique furniture is the joinery – or the places where wood pieces are joined together. Machine-cut furniture wasn’t available until 1860. If the piece in question has drawers, pull one out and closely examine the points where the front and back are fastened to the sides. If a joint was dovetailed by hand, there will only be a few of them, and they won’t be totally even. If your piece has many dovetails and they are immaculately spaced and cut, that would indicate that this work was done by a machine – and that would date your piece to sometime after 1860.
Now examine the bottom, sides, rear of the drawer. If you find straight nicks, cuts or saw marks, it’s probably a very old piece, but if the marks you see are round, that means the wood was cut with a circular saw, making it more recently built.
Pieces can also be dated by their finish. Shellac was at one time, the only clear surface finish available. Modern varnish wasn’t created until the mid-1800s. If your furniture is shellacked, oiled or waxed that probably means it was built before then. To test if your own piece, dab a hidden spot with denatured alcohol; if the finish dissolves, that means it’s shellacked.

Evenness is another sign that your piece was made by a machine. The rungs, slats, spindles, and rockers on handmade furniture are rarely symmetrical. Antiques were never perfectly cut, because they were made by hand. Newer pieces are even and square, because they are cut on machines.

Now identify the wood that your piece is built from. Furniture built before 1700 is most often made from oak, while furniture made later was often created from mahogany and walnut. In North America, pine has always been commonly used, due to its availability.
If you’ve examined your piece and determined it’s not a priceless antique, but rather just a piece you simply love, look no further for your Utah Furniture Restoring needs.

Safely Moving Antique or Refurbished Wood Furniture Utah

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:57:50 +0000

Worried about moving your antique or refurbished wood furniture Utah? Whether it’s a room-to-room move, or cross-country, you’ll want to read our tips for making sure that your investment gets where it needs to go safely. Having a transfer plan will avoid costly and upsetting damages.
Before handling any antique or refurbished furniture, always check for loose or damaged joinery. Chairs should only be carried by the seat rails – never the backs, top rails or arms. Tables should be lifted by the apron or legs rather than the top which could pull loose from the base. Also, before moving remove shelves, doors and drawers. Marble tops and glass should be removed prior to moving and stored and transported vertically.
Large items should be transported on their back or top, rather than their legs – especially during long haul vehicle transport.
When moving an antique, wrap with several layers of protection such as a variety of bubblewrap, thin foam wrap, cardboard, shrink wrap and mover’s blankets. Go slow – quick moves often lead to damage.
When padding antique furniture pieces with legs, start at the top and then drape with more pads to tape around the legs. Padding on furniture without legs should start with bottom pads and be draped upwards. Be sure that all pads are tightly secured so that they can’t break loose. Use mover’s plastic tape to secure the paddings but never allow the sticky side of the tape to touch the finish.
When moving furniture with wooden casters or delicate claw feet, if possible remove and reattach when placing in the new location.
We hope these tips will save your furniture from needless damage. If it’s too late and your Refurbished Wood Furniture Utah has already been nicked or damaged during a move, we can help restore it to its former glory.

Caring for Antique or Refurbished Wood Furniture Utah

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:03:13 +0000

Whether you’ve invested in professional Utah antique restorations, or are just looking for ways to care your precious antiques, there are many things you can do to extend the life of your furniture.

First and foremost, applying polishes can dramatically alter current and future value. The old wives tale that antique furniture needs to be slathered with oil to keep from drying out is untrue. Wood does not dry out from a lack of oil. Furniture oils may give a temporary, enhanced appearance, but oils leave a residue that attracts dust and cause build-up. The very best way to maintain a luxurious finish, is by applying a thin coat of a high-quality paste wax. Paste wax protects without permanently altering wood. Wax may harm surfaces with a deteriorating finish though, so if you have any doubts about the condition of your furniture, consult our Utah Furniture Restoring experts for advice on your particular situation.

Another danger to your furniture which is often overlooked, is the environment in which it is stored or displayed. UV light is the enemy of antique furniture. Sunlight eats away at finishes, wood and especially fabrics. Store antique furniture away from direct sunlight, and diffuse light with curtains whenever possible. Temperature and humidity swings can also have a negative effect furniture, so avoid areas in front of vents, radiators and fireplaces. Heat can cause shrinking which loosens joints and inlays, while high humidity can cause mold growth or insect infestation.

Speaking of insects, wood and upholstery make inviting homes. Powderpost beetles eat their way along the grain inside wood furniture and leave bore holes upon maturity when exiting. If you see fine sawdust appearing under your furniture, get your pieces down to a company experienced in Utah antique furniture restorations right away so that infestations can be controlled before major damage is done.

Care of antique furniture can have a dramatic effect on longevity. If you have a piece you feel is already damaged, and are considering Refinishing Old Furniture Utah, consult our restoration experts to recapture your furniture’s original beauty.

Refinishing Old Furniture Utah – Antique, Vintage or Used?

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:30:28 +0000

When deciding on Utah furniture restoring you might ask yourself, “Is this piece worth refurbishing? Well, the answer is yes. Whether the furniture in question is a valuable antique, a vintage collectible or just a family heirloom with sentimental value – in all three cases, refinishing can bring any furniture back to life, but it never hurts to know what it is you’ve got on your hands.

Antique
To be classified as antique, a piece must be at least 100 years old. This is the definition accepted by experts, even those who appear on popular appraisal television shows. Some dealers claim that anything over 50 years old is an antique, but if you’re looking to make a hefty sale, you’ll find that most set the standard at a century old or more. Here at Utah antique furniture restorations, we understand the level of expertise which goes into restoring antiques, while still retaining their value.

Reproduction
To make matters even more confusing, there are antiques which were originally made as reproductions. Reproductions are furniture built in the style of antique pieces. During the 1870s and 1880s, reproductions of Colonial era furniture were very popular. Now, these pieces are technically antiques but they started out as reproductions. During the 1930′s, French Provincial style pieces were in vogue. Because these were reproductions, not originals they now fall in the “vintage” category. Oftentimes, reproduction furniture is of higher quality than antiques!

Collectible
Collectibles are objects less than a hundred years old which have a speculative value. When demand is high, collectible pieces will fetch a high dollar amount. When demand is low, you might not even be able to give the same piece away for free.

Vintage
Furniture is classified as vintage when it is generally regarded as classic – with demonstrated enduring appeal. For example, today, Mid-Century Modern furniture is both vintage and collectible, but not antique.

Used
If a piece of furniture is not antique, collectible or vintage, it is simply considered used. Just because it doesn’t carry a label such as “antique” doesn’t mean it isn’t of value. Whether you’ve got an ancient antique or just an old family favorite that needs care, when you seek Utah furniture restoring, look for a company that takes great care and pride in their work, regardless of the market value of the piece.

Using A Utah Antique Furniture Restorations Company

admin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:55:55 +0000

Many people enjoy collecting antiques and displaying them throughout their home. Because antiques can become easily damaged, many people use the services of a Utah antique furniture restorations company. This can make it possible for favorite furniture pieces to be repaired so that they look as good as new.
As antiques are passed down from one family member to another, they encounter normal wear and tear. This can also be the case with furniture that is purchase at yard sales, flea marketing, and antique shops. While the furniture piece may look special and historical, some individuals choose to make some changes in order to preserve the natural look of the furniture. This can be a great way to make sure that the piece of furniture fits in with the look of a home. This is why many people take advantage of Utah furniture restoring companies in order to improve their furniture.
A furniture repair Utah company can also help make a piece of furniture more useable. In some cases, a piece of furniture may have broken pieces or unsafe parts that make it challenging to use. A repair company can do repairs such as sanding and additional piecework in order to not only make the antique look better, but also function better. This can make a homeowner more happy because he or she will be able to take advantage of the antique.
If you are worried about preserving the look of your antique, you should have no fears about working with a trusted wooden furniture repair in Utah company. This is because professional repair companies have experience preserving each antique so that it retains some of its original beauty and look. Professional repair men and women are able to craft each piece of work in a way that allows it to look even better while also keeping some if its original beauty.
If you are wondering how to repair wood furniture in Utah, you should know that it is not a simple fix that you can attempt on your own. You may make the mistake to repaint the antique in a way that damages to the piece of furniture and makes it unusable. It can also be difficult to correctly make repairs that include woodwork and sanding. Do not attempt to do work that should be done by a professional. Instead, work with a Utah furniture repair company so that you get the results that you are looking for.
If you have collected antiques and are looking for a way to repair and improve your furniture items, consider working with a Utah antique furniture restorations company. With professional help, you will be able to have furniture that looks great and functions in all the ways that you are looking for.

Fix Wood Furniture In Utah – And Help Preserve The Environment

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:48:56 +0000

You may want to know how to fix wood furniture in Utah if you have inherited some old pieces from a relative, or if some pieces in your own home have seen better days. Nowadays there is an increased emphasis on going green, so you may be interested in understanding how to repair wood furniture in Utah in an eco-friendly way. Wood is a precious resource given to us by mother nature, and we should preserve it and treasure it, not regard it as a throwaway item.
The pieces you have inherited may need restoring or just refinishing. A piece requires refinishing if there are deep gouges and cracks going down to the wood, or if there are unsightly patches where the finish has flaked off. If this is the case, you need to understand about refinished furniture in Utah. The first step in refinishing is to remove the old finish, and to do this in an eco-friendly way, you need to find removers that are not lye or methylene chloride based, so that they do not give off the toxic fumes that the old strippers did. You can then sand down the wood, and apply your new stain. If you are painting instead of staining, you need to make sure you use low VOC paints, such as those from Bioshield, who manufacture their paints from renewable resources.
If it is an antique piece, it will probably need more than just applying new stain. An important part of Utah antique furniture restorations is making sure the piece is protected from future wear and tear. The most effective way to do this is to apply several layers of polish – but avoid using traditional polishes, which contain toxic materials. Best of all is a beeswax polish, which will turn your piece of furniture into a thing of beauty.
Utah furniture restoring can involve more than refinishing and polishing. It can include dealing with all the blemishes and signs of wear and tear that have defaced the item over the years – or centuries. For instance, in order to fix wood furniture in Utah, you may need to repair cracks, splits, burn marks or water marks, or replace missing pieces like pulls or handles. Ideally, of course, the aim is to restore the piece to its original condition, but if this is not possible, you are aiming to make it fully functional and attractive to look at.
Utah furniture restoring really helps the environment. Every time you restore a piece of furniture, you avoid the demand for a replacement piece of timber, and so help to conserve the forests. You can do this too by ensuring you use reclaimed wood for every new piece of furniture you want to make for yourself. This will help to preserve the outdoors for future generations.
Antique furniture was created many years ago from beautiful old trees. These resources must not be discarded, but cared for through Utah antique furniture restorations. They will not only beautify our homes, but help us preserve the beautiful trees we still have.

Furniture: The Stuff That Really Matters

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:48:36 +0000

It’s easy to get caught up in accumulating things. In a world like ours where advertisements for stuff can follow us even to the bathroom, it can be very hard to avoid the temptation to just buy now and buy more later. Everything becomes replaceable and easy to throw away and having a home can just be this race to redecorate even when the furniture isn’t even that old yet.
There is nothing wrong with buying things, but the continuous cycle of buying temporary things can become a source of stress, not to mention a financial hole that will need to be filled constantly. Investing in pieces that will last is a more practical and ultimately more rewarding experience. Buying durable pieces that can be passed on can be rewarding; committing to owning permanent possessions is good for the environment (less waste) and it can propagate the wonderfully sentimental process of passing on and maintaining family heirlooms.
For beautiful classic pieces, look for refinished furniture in Utah. Big pieces like dining tables or desks usually have a history behind them and having them restored can be like bringing back a piece of the past. Wooden furniture in particular has a lot of character and can really make a difference in a room.
For unique furniture, Furniture Restorers in Utah can be your best friend. They can take a beat-up wooden table and put the shine back into it in such a way that it can become a show piece. They can even Restore Leather Furniture to its former glory with environment-friendly solutions.
Instead of throwing away old furniture, try to fix them up first. Many antique shops and professional restorers Fix Wood Furniture in Utah. As long as a piece has a great structure and is made from quality material, it can be fixed, even when it looks like it’s ready to retire. For pieces that have history and character, flea market finds can be easily brought back to sparkling life with Furniture Repair Utah. Missing parts can be replaced and the surfaces can be sanded down. If a piece speaks to you or seems to have a potential, give it a chance to live again and have it restored.
A lot of good pieces go to waste simply because owners don’t know how to take proper care of them. Wood and leather in particular can need a lot of care. Exposure to direct sunlight and heat can make the leather fade or even deteriorate. Harsh cleaners and polishes can also damage living wood, melting away the surface and taking away the luster. Polishes made with natural ingredients can be more effective, not to mention better for the skin should there be accidental contact.

Refinishing Old Furniture Instead Of Spending Money On New Furniture

admin — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:35:26 +0000

With so many going green, wood furniture made of strong wood should be on the list of renewable resources. The art of Refinishing Old Furniture and other wooden items starts with scraping off the outer parts that are old and worn in order to bring out a cleaner and renewable inner part for you to work with. You really have to remove the old finish, which you may find a little messy, before you can redo it again. People often worry about damaging the wood in the process of scraping off the old finish but you will find that the wood is actually stronger inside and secured from any outward danger, which is actually the whole point of the refinish in the first place, and removing the old finish will not spoil the wood.

There is basically two ways you can go about removing old finish on the furniture before you think about refinishing it; one way is to sand it with paper and the other way is through the use of chemical strippers, which may come in handy when dealing with a particularly obstinate finish. The strip process can be modified by using heat guns in case you need extra efficiency in particular areas. Of course, you still need some equipment and technical knowledge for both procedures, but it is not difficult.

Sanding paint can sometimes be a little tricky especially if you do not have the experience and it can in fact result in you damaging or disfiguring the wood. However, this is rather extreme and can only happen in the event that the person sanding it fails to realize the importance of keeping it smooth and constant. Pressing the sand paper too deeply of using it roughly on edges and such like areas could have negative results and therefore, it depends on which process works better for that particular piece of wood.

A person doing antique furniture restorations using the sanding procedure would obviously require at least some basic information on what to do and which sanding equipment to work with, so they do not spoil the furniture in the process. If you have been looking for a renowned company for refinishing Old Furniture in Utah, or you come from the same state and are in need of some professional assistance in general wood restoration, Utah Furniture Restorations would be the place to go. They have reclaimed wood for many Utah residents.

Due to the dynamics of the whole process, it is important not to get involved in a refinishing venture with your precious furniture and antiques before gathering all the right information and having the right professionals involved. With luck, you can manage a nice refinish but it definitely requires professional help to guarantee the best results.

Refinishing Old Wood Furniture in Utah is not just about scraping off or painting over an old finish, it is more than that. Utah Antique Furniture Restorations take pride in the knowledge that your furniture will come out looking better than it ever did after their professionals are finished with it. So before you take sandpaper to your favorite antique, consult these professionals.

Refinishing Old Furniture in Utah is what we are all about and when you involve us in your quest to renew your furniture, we will do our best to provide with beautiful furniture with a new finish. The only thing you have to do is bring us all of your old furniture. Remember to come and checkout our Utah Furniture Restoring services. Wood is more delicate than people think. It requires good care to keep it looking its best.

Craftsman Of Fine Furniture In Utah Offers Advice

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:35:27 +0000

Old furniture carries a bit of history with it and should never be discarded simply because its looks have faded or it requires repair. Craftsmen put much of their souls into the furniture they built in the past, perhaps building custom pieces for their own families that were meant to last generations. Furniture in Utah specializes in restoring these classic pieces to new appearance and function. Wood is a living substance produced by the earth and takes many years to grow. It is tragic to discard perfectly good material when it can be restored, reupholstered and refinished for less than the price of quality new furniture.

You can get expert refinished furniture in Utah restored by experienced professionals who value beautiful heirlooms and will take great care to revive their original beauty. Your own furniture carries a bit of your family’s history and should be maintained where possible for future generations. You could do the work yourself if you are handy, but it is usually best to rely on the skilled artists at the Furniture Repair Company in Utah who have spent many years devoted to restoring the beautiful woods produced by the rich earth. They offer complete repair and restoration services and have restored valuable pieces in the past for individuals, businesses and governmental agencies. They can gut a ratty old sofa that was sturdily crafted originally and repair, reupholster and refinish it to create a beautiful showpiece for your home. If you discover an interesting table, chair or antique desk at a thrift shop or yard sale, you can have it reclaimed by these caring craftsmen.

When you take delivery of your restored antiques, it is important to maintain their beauty with proper care. You should avoid harsh cleaners and silicone-based polishes because they can damage the wood. Environmentally friendly paste waxes with lemon oil will bring out the luster of your furniture beautifully. Remember that direct sun can damage furniture and cause the finish to fade. Excess oil will damage your finish rather than preserve it. Living wood gets its moisture from the ambient air, not from oils or polish. If the surface of a piece has deteriorated, then avoid waxing, which can cause further damage. Proper sanding and refinishing will properly arrest the damage and restore natural beauty.

Repainting Furniture Utah should examine any pieces before you authorize any painting work. If a piece is an antique, it may well be more valuable with the original paint. If the experts decide the old paint does not add value, then they can beautifully repaint any furniture to coordinate with your other furnishings. Damaged discolored wicker items may seem a lost cause, but these craftsmen are experts in refinishing wicker furniture in Utah.

They recommend that you reuse old woods, which retain character and beauty. They can turn scrap lumber from old buildings into beautiful tables or install gorgeous hardwood floors. Knotholes and other seeming imperfections in wood actually add natural beauty. New furniture can be very expensive if it is good quality, but you can enjoy the benefits of elegant pieces in your home by having furniture professionally restored, repaired, reupholstered and refinished. Your antique piece can be the center of attention in your home when you care enough to reclaim a bit of history by using the fine services of Furniture Repair Utah.

Furniture Restorers In Utah Restore Value Of Precious Wood

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:05:10 +0000

Wood is a living, breathing medium that requires some care to maintain its beauty. Furniture restorers in Utah have this mantra ingrained in all their actions to help you restore your cherished pieces to a pristine condition. The beauty of natural wood transcends generations. Well-crafted furniture can be passed on from generation to generation. What some people would throw away can usually be brought back to beautiful service. These craftspeople of some small renown have restored some very famous pieces in over 40 years of woodworking expertise and will bring their hand crafted philosophy to bear on your restoration project.

What you will discover in Utah wooden furniture repair is a deep commitment to the American tradition of superior artisans performing a service for families and history. They firmly believe that well-made furniture should be maintained and passed on for others to enjoy. Working from a small town in Wayne county Utah in the high mountain desert, they follow a centuries-old tradition of fine workmanship at a reasonable price in the belief that if you charge fair prices you will never lack work.

Your heirloom pieces can be restored to their original luster by taking the necessary time and care to properly reclaim each individual piece. The finest techniques for wood refinishing will revitalize old wooden furniture. Craftsmen from generations past built sturdy furniture because they knew a fine wooden piece might reside with a family for several lifetimes. There are many methods of furniture repair wood that can rejuvenate even the most damaged pieces. Signs of age and family use can be erased, including scuff marks, water rings, dents and deep gouges to the wood. Broken furniture can be repaired and water damage reversed. Even burned pieces come sometimes be returned to a “like new” condition.

Proper care of your beautiful pieces is important to preserve them so they can remain family heirlooms. Wood lives and breathes and you will receive advice on how to properly care for the finish to maintain the showroom beauty the restoration process will produce. Paste wax will give great protection and beauty to the finish of a fine antique or piece of furniture. The earth produces a great bounty for those who respect its output and beautiful woods of all types celebrate this bounty with tangible products that are as gorgeous as they are functional.

Furniture restorers in Utah work with other mediums as well. They restore leather furniture to health, and can take on any woodworking project that requires the touch of an artist. Dining room tables, sideboards, wardrobes, desks, bookcases, chairs, display cases and antiques can all be restored in meticulous detail with historical accuracy. They have restored some remarkable furniture over the years including being awarded the contract for the Salt Lake City & County historic building restoration. Whether a major historical job or a small preservation of a cherished family treasure, these artists stick to their principles of fine craftsmanship at a fair price.

They also produce some original work for sale that is hand crafted for quality and permanence. They blend French Country materials with eastern white pine to produce unique pieces that will grace your home with flair and superb function. If you need wood or leather furniture restoration, they will lend you their professional expertise to extend your furniture’s life to the next generation.