Don’t automatically think you have to rush out to buy new furniture every time something breaks. Many mishaps in furniture can be easily repaired. Before rushing out to replace your broken furniture, ask yourself these two questions:
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What are the most common types of furniture repairs?
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What common furniture repairs should I know about?
Common Types of Furniture Repairs
Some of the most common types of furniture repairs involve upholstery issues or problems involving the wood structure including:
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Scratches
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Loose Chair Rungs
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Wobbly Chairs and Uneven Tables
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Loose Legs
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Wood Seams Splitting
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Loose Veneer
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Broken Drawers
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Broken Handles
How To Repair Furniture
Some furniture repairs are easy fixes. Others will require the help of a specialist. If you’re going to do it yourself, DIY, you will need the following materials and tools:
Materials needed:
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Wood glue or hide glue
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Clamps
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Drill
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Epoxy syringe or high-pressure injector
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Glue brush
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Dead blow mallet
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Sandpaper
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Nails
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Corner Braces
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Beeswax
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Paste finisher wax
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Nail-on glides
Here is how to fix some of the most common repairs:
Scratches
Even if you treat your furniture with kid gloves, scratches or damage from spills or water are bound to happen. Sometimes, the scratches can easily be buffed out. Other times, it may be necessary to completely sand down the finish and start fresh with a completely new coating.
Wobbly Chairs and Uneven Tables
Depending on what is making the chair wobbly or the table uneven, a repair may be as simple as inserting a nail-on glide to the bottom of the uneven leg. Or, it may involve repairing loose joints.
Wood Seams Splitting and Loose Joints
Wherever pieces of the wood meet is a vulnerable point for needing repair. Joints and seams tend to get the brunt of all the wear and tear. As furniture ages, sometimes the seams start to split or come apart. The best ways to fix splitting seams and loose joints are to first know what type of connection you are dealing with. Some common joints include:
- Dovetail
- Mortise and Tenon
- Dowel
The best way to repair splitting seams and loose joints is to sand down the area, apply glue, and then clamp it together until it is dry.
Loose Veneer
A lot of furniture, even solid wood, has a top layer of veneer. Over time, veneer tends to come loose. To repair this problem, use a syringe to insert glue and clamp it together or place something heavy on top until it is completely dried.
Stuck or Broken Drawers
If a drawer becomes stuck, check the runners. Sometimes, turning the runners over works wonders. Other times, drawers break at their corner joints which will require sanding and re-gluing.
Bottom Line
Even the most well-made furniture will show wear and tear and require repairs eventually. Before you put the dresser, table and chairs, or other pieces of décor out on the curb and look for brand-new furnishings, try first to repair the damage.