How to Start a Restoration Business
People who own, collect or resell fine antiques value their intrinsic craftsmanship, quality materials and history. Therefore, they are likely to seek out someone who is able to restore antiques to their optimum condition, and perform the restoration without negatively affecting the items' market value. Starting a restoration business means you will need to familiarize yourself with a wide range of materials and construction methods. You'll also need to develop contacts in the antiques business so you can make yourself available to dealers and their clients. You will want them to think of you when their valuable items require TLC to regain or maintain their original beauty and value.
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Things You'll Need
- Mild dish detergent
- Warm water
- Linseed or mink oil
- Soft brushes, paintbrushes or toothbrushes
- Chemicals for removing rust and stripping wood
- Strong glue
- Rags
- Sandpaper
- Computer
- Business cards
Instructions
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Learn about antiques and their construction. Familiarize yourself with the many kinds of materials you will be handling: wood, metal, ceramics, glass and fabric, as well as paint, paper and canvas. You should also research the ways in which these materials need to be treated to restore them to their original beauty and function. You will have to learn enough to know when an item is better off being left alone--with its patina intact--rather than cleaning it or refinishing it. You will also have to learn when a simple cleaning will enhance an item, as opposed to a full-scale refinish.
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Gather the materials you will need for restoration. You will not only want to have a place to work on the antiques you are restoring, you will also need a stock of chemicals and substances that will constitute your practice. For example, for working on wood furniture you will need sandpaper, an oil (such as linseed or mink), furniture-stripping chemicals, wood stain, varnish and turpentine. By keeping a complete supply of these materials on hand, you will avoid using valuable time to run to the hardware store every time you begin a project.
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Develop contacts in the antique business. The people who generally use the services of a restorer are antique dealers who want to improve an item in order to sell it at a profit, or their clients, who buy an item and want it refurbished for their own use or enjoyment. The best way to accomplish these connections is to visit antiques shows and flea markets and strike up conversations with dealers. You could ask permission to leave your business card at their table. You could also promote your skills by speaking to your friends and neighbors, and advertising online and in your local newspaper.
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Know when to contract out to a professional. Highly valuable pieces of art and certain antiques are better off being restored by a trained professional. You can usually obtain a detailed analysis and estimate from a museum curator, furniture expert or restoration specialist. Sometimes, these experts concentrate in one distinct area, such as wood carving or oil painting. By obtaining an estimate of the cost from them, you can price your restoration services accordingly. One of the most important skills in restoration is deciding the best avenue to take to ensure the value of a piece is retained.
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Tips & Warnings
Visiting flea markets helps you learn about antiques, as well as affords opportunities to find materials you can use in restoring other objects.
To retain the patina on metal, use only warm water and a soft brush to clean off any dirt.
Store antiques and collectibles away from sunlight to minimize fading.
