Antique Restoration

Many people will go to a tag sale, an estate sale or a yard sale, pick up an old chair and then stick it in their garage. They may not know the absolute treasure that they have sitting out there just waiting to be brought back to life.

If you have an eye for antiques and love to bring them back to their original beauty (only a little better) you may have a potential new career on your hand. A green restorer does bring new life to old furniture, only in a greener, more eco friendly way.

What are the skills that I need to have to get started in this business?

You need to know basic woodworking, finishing and repair techniques. You also need to know how to do these things in a green way. You need to know how to use non-toxic solvents to remove old finishes to both preserve the wood and be kinder to the environment. You also need to know how to refinish the woods using better techniques than was traditionally the case. Water based finishes and paints are better for the environment and easier on you as well.

What education do I need?

Besides the basic skills and knowledge of green techniques, there is no real need for advanced degrees or training.

What are the potential risks?

You should know that every restoration is not going to be one hundred percent effective. There will be times when an item is just too far gone to save and it will not be worth the time or expense to try. Being able to tell a client that an item is gone and there is no bringing it back is a tough skill to master but worth it in the end. You should also know the limitations of your own skills. If you are facing a Chippendale chair in pretty sad condition, do you really think you will be able to work on it without nervousness? Of course, if you do manage to pull it off, you will be walking on air.

Who is the competition?

Depending on the area, there may be a few or there may be many antique restoration companies. There may be other green restoration companies as well. You simply have to make sure that all of your clients think that you are the best and they tell all of their friends that.

What is the potential market size?

Again, depending on the size of the area, how many people have antique furniture and how many people really want to restore those items. There will be times where you will have so much work you will think you are never going to finish and then other times when you think you may never work again. It is simply the nature of the business.

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