HOW TO HIRE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an antique restorer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An antique restoration in Ireland costs €150–€900 per item, typically around €400. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an antique restorer in five steps
- Are you on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — textile Restoration — this involves the careful repair of antique textiles such as tapestries, quilts, and clothing.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — ceramics and Pottery Repair — restoration of antique ceramics, porcelain, and pottery includes repairing chips, cracks, and breaks.
- How does condition of the item change the price?What is already there often has to be removed first. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does materials required for repair change the price?Age brings small faults that each take a few minutes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the restoration process change the price?Complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI)
CIRI is a VOLUNTARY register today. The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed on 5 July 2022 and S.I. 429/2022 commenced parts of it on 29 August 2022; the Construction Industry Federation was appointed registration body on 16 January 2023. Registration is NOT yet mandatory: the divisions regulations had not been drafted as of a May 2025 Dáil answer, and CIRI itself projects mandatory registration from 2027. So being absent from CIRI breaks no law in 2026 — and being on it is still the only independent check of a builder that exists here.
Search the Construction Industry Register Ireland for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. ciri.ie →
a Certificate of Compliance on Completion
Issued by the assigned certifier and the builder, where the work needed a commencement notice on completion, before the building is occupied. It matters because it is lodged on the statutory register and is what a buyer's solicitor looks for; work done without one surfaces on sale.
Agree before the work starts that you will be handed a certificate of compliance on completion, and keep it with the house papers.
Insurance
Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — textile Restoration — this involves the careful repair of antique textiles such as tapestries, quilts, and clothing.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — ceramics and Pottery Repair — restoration of antique ceramics, porcelain, and pottery includes repairing chips, cracks, and breaks.
A good answer: What is already there often has to be removed first. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Age brings small faults that each take a few minutes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Artwork Conservation — this category focuses on the preservation of antique paintings, prints, and sculptures — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a antique restorer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it — clock and Watch Restoration — experts in this field repair and restore timepieces, addressing mechanical issues and restoring surfaces to maintain functionality and appearance.
Getting the quote right
- Condition of the item — what is already there often has to be removed first.
- Materials required for repair — age brings small faults that each take a few minutes.
- Complexity of the restoration process — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job.
- Artwork Conservation — getting this clear up front avoids a change to the price later.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- No a Certificate of Compliance on Completion is offered, or you are told you do not need one for work of this kind
- They will not talk about it: condition of the item — what is already there often has to be removed first
- They will not talk about it: materials required for repair — age brings small faults that each take a few minutes
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the restoration process — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job
- A price for the antique restorer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What an antique restorer costs: €150–€900 per item
The figures are for the job, per item, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Furniture restoration and Artwork restoration each carry their own band. Antique Restoration price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Antique restorers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstCondition of the item — what is already there often has to be removed first — that is what the antique restorer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneMaterials required for repair — age brings small faults that each take a few minutes — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the restoration process — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherArtwork Conservation — getting this clear up front avoids a change to the price later — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the antique restorer is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, restoration professionals should have specialised training and experience in antique care.
- Furniture Restoration
- This involves repairing and refinishing antique furniture to restore its original beauty.
- Artwork Conservation
- This category focuses on the preservation of antique paintings, prints, and sculptures.
- Ceramics and Pottery Repair
- Restoration of antique ceramics, porcelain, and pottery includes repairing chips, cracks, and breaks.
- Textile Restoration
- This involves the careful repair of antique textiles such as tapestries, quilts, and clothing.
- Artwork Restoration
- Specialists assess and repair paintings, drawings, and prints, focusing on cleaning and restoring colours while preserving the artwork's integrity.
- Metal Restoration
- Professionals clean, polish, and repair metal antiques, removing rust and restoring finishes to their former glory.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an antique restorer: questions people ask
The cost of antique restoration can vary widely depending on the item's condition, the materials needed, and the complexity of the work involved. Restoration professionals should have specialised training and experience in antique care.
The duration of antique restoration depends on the extent of the damage and the type of restoration required. Simple repairs may take a few hours, while more complex restorations can take several days or even weeks.
While general restoration services may suffice for minor repairs, it's advisable to hire a qualified specialist for valuable or intricate antiques. Specialists have the expertise to handle delicate materials and techniques specific to antique restoration.
Emergency or same-day restoration services are rarely available due to the intricate nature of the work involved. However, some professionals may offer expedited services for urgent cases, often at a premium price.
Yes, many restoration professionals offer package deals for multiple items, which can be more cost-effective. It's best to discuss your needs with the specialist to see if they can accommodate a combined service.
Out of scope work may include significant structural repairs or alterations that compromise the item's integrity. If your antique requires extensive repairs or involves materials like electrical or gas components, it's essential to consult a specialist who has the appropriate qualifications.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in home repairs & handyman
Antique restorers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022
- S.I. 429/2022 — Commencement Order
- Construction Industry Register Ireland
- Department of Housing — Building Control
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — FRENCH POLISHING ( Certain repair and related services ) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only