Rent a workshop & contribute to demanding restoration projects
Antique furniture often has not only material value but also sentimental value. Whether it’s an inherited dresser, an antique table from a flea market, or a beloved chair from childhood—many people want to preserve these special pieces and restore them to their former glory. But before you take the plunge into restoration, a legitimate question arises: How much does it actually cost to have old furniture restored?
Furniture Restoration Costs – What Factors Affect the Price?
The cost of restoring furniture can vary widely—depending on its condition, materials, construction, and the desired result. Generally speaking, five main factors influence pricing:
Here's how ZRW Berlin calculates the cost of your furniture restoration
At ZRW Berlin, we focus on providing transparent and customized cost estimates. Before a quote is prepared, we conduct a thorough analysis of the piece of furniture—either in our workshop or at your location. This involves assessing not only its external condition but also its construction, materials, any previous repairs, and the effort required for a professional restoration.
We develop a transparent quote based on the combination of the piece’s condition, restoration goals, and technical requirements. We always take into account your preferences, the historical integrity of the piece of furniture, and technical feasibility. Factors such as original materials, hardware, or special surface treatments are also listed in detail. This way, you not only receive a realistic price estimate but also a high degree of planning certainty for your restoration project.
Cost of Having Old Furniture Restored: How to Hire Us
Step 1: Submit a request
Would you like to have old furniture restored or have a scientific analysis performed on your furniture? If so, please feel free to contact us. Please also send us photos that show both the overall view and close-ups of your item.
Step 2: Schedule an appointment to view the furniture
We’ll schedule an appointment with you to conduct an on-site inspection of the item. Photos or descriptions alone are not sufficient to realistically estimate the cost of furniture restoration. Philipp Westebbe, a certified restorer (Univ.) and carpenter and owner of ZRW Berlin, will be happy to visit you in Berlin and Brandenburg to personally inspect the item that needs restoration.
Step 3: Get in-person advice on-site
During an on-site visit in Berlin or Brandenburg, we’ll assess the restoration needs, take photos, and work with you to determine the scope of services during a consultation. Of course, we’ll take your wishes into account and advise you on appropriate measures. We’ll agree on the restoration goal together at the end of this consultation.
Step 4: How much will the restoration cost?
Within a few days, you will receive a comprehensive restoration plan and a detailed cost estimate from us via email. We charge a one-time fee of 150.00 euros (net) to cover our travel to the on-site appointment, our in-person consultation, our return trip, and the subsequent cost estimate for your planned furniture restoration. If you wish to hire us after receiving our cost estimate, you must sign it and return it to us. If you accept our offer, the cost estimate serves as a fixed price for the agreed-upon restoration. This means you will not incur any hidden or additional costs.
Step 5: Schedule a pickup or on-site repair
We will pick up your item professionally at the agreed-upon time within Berlin or Brandenburg. We guarantee safe transport to our central restoration workshop in Berlin. If you prefer, you’re also welcome to bring smaller pieces of furniture and wooden objects to our central restoration workshop in Berlin yourself. Of course, we carry out work on built-in woodwork and restoration projects directly at your location—for example, if you’d like to restore a wooden floor, as well as for parquet, wooden flooring, wall paneling, wooden ceilings, or cultural monuments.
ZRW Berlin: Your Antiques Are in the Best Hands
With us, you’re not just investing in a service—you’re investing in preserving the value of your heirloom. We guarantee a transparent process in which you’ll receive a detailed estimate of the restoration costs involved. Trust in our expertise, which ensures that your antique furniture is in the best and most competent hands with us.
Please feel free to contact us for a no-obligation consultation—we’ll take the time to address your needs and assess your piece of furniture. We look forward to hearing from you!
Cost of Restoring Antique Furniture – Do you have any questions?
The cost of restoring antique furniture depends on various factors, such as the condition of the piece, the materials used, its size, and the scope of the work. Simple surface treatments start at around 150 euros, while more complex restorations—such as those involving antique cabinets or dressers—can cost several hundred to over a thousand euros. For an accurate cost estimate, we recommend a personal assessment by a professional restorer.
When restoring wood and furniture, we select replacement or supplementary materials—such as wood, hardware, leather, etc.—in a way that meets aesthetic, historical, and technical quality standards. If wood needs to be replaced, it comes either from the material collection at my ZRW Berlin or from well-known veneer and lumber dealers in Europe.
When restoring chairs, costs are incurred for carefully sanding down old layers of varnish or paint, re-gluing loose joints, and repairing or replacing seat surfaces, upholstery, or wickerwork. Material costs, such as wood glue, sanding materials, varnishes, or high-quality fabrics for upholstery, are also factored into the calculation.
The cost of restoring a table is generally lower than that of a cabinet, since tables are usually simpler in design and have fewer complex components. The costs of restoring a cabinet are generally higher, as cabinets consist of many individual parts, such as doors, hardware, and interior fittings. For both types of furniture, an individual assessment by ZRW Berlin provides planning certainty and a realistic price estimate. Please contact us!
Most historical pieces of furniture are truly unique, even if they are not necessarily unique in terms of historical evaluation. Furniture produced by craftsmen from the time of industrialization onwards, i.e., from the Wilhelminian era (Gründerzeit), are generally no longer rarities, as they were already produced in large quantities. If only very rare individual pieces of such furniture remain on the market, these can also be considered a rarity.
If the furniture in question is a rarity, special measures must be taken. This usually leads to a higher time requirement, which in turn leads to higher costs. Normally, the hourly rate is up to 50% higher than for a standard restoration. Should I calculate a restoration based on the rarity factor, this will be discussed in advance. Especially with rarities, there is often a higher material cost, as custom-made parts become necessary or partners must be consulted.