HOW TO HIRE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a furniture polisher in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A french polishing in Ireland costs €150–€700 per item, typically around €350. 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 a furniture polisher in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers furniture polisher work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — musical Instrument Care — musical instruments, particularly pianos and violins, benefit significantly from French polishing.
- How does condition of the wooden item change the price?Poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the work required change the price?A fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does furniture Restoration change the price?It decides whether a specialist is needed at all. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?New Furniture Finishing — french polishing is also popular for finishing new wooden furniture, providing a high-quality, glossy finish that highlights the wood's natural beauty — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a furniture polisher job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PAINTERS AND DECORATORS. Anyone may trade as one, and the quality is almost entirely in the PREPARATION, which is also the part that is invisible once the job is finished and the part a cheap quote leaves out. Two real hazards sit behind it: paint in a home built before about 1980 may contain LEAD, which must not be dry-sanded, and work above a step-ladder is work at height under HSA rules.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
What preparation is included, written room by room — filling, sanding, caulking, priming and how many coats; a quote that says only 'two coats' has not priced the preparation; The paint by NAME and finish, not 'trade emulsion' — coverage differs, and the published spreading rate is how you check the quantity is plausible; For a home built before about 1980, how they will test for and handle lead paint; dry sanding it is the thing not to do; How they protect floors, furniture and fittings, and who moves what; Public liability — the routine claim here is paint on a carpet; Whether the price includes making good small damage, or whether that is extra.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; ask the limit, because a spoiled floor is the usual claim. 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: No register covers furniture polisher work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — musical Instrument Care — musical instruments, particularly pianos and violins, benefit significantly from French polishing.
A good answer: Poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It decides whether a specialist is needed at all. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: New Furniture Finishing — french polishing is also popular for finishing new wooden furniture, providing a high-quality, glossy finish that highlights the wood's natural beauty — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a furniture polisher job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; ask the limit, because a spoiled floor is the usual claim — surface Repair — this technique is ideal for repairing scratches, dents, and other surface imperfections on wooden items.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the furniture polisher starts, and an itemised invoice after — furniture Restoration — french polishing is often employed in the restoration of antique furniture, bringing back the original lustre and depth of the wood.
Getting the quote right
- Condition of the wooden item — poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts.
- Complexity of the work required — a fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one.
- Furniture Restoration — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all.
- Surface Repair — damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote.
- 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 will not talk about it: condition of the wooden item — poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the work required — a fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one
- They will not talk about it: furniture Restoration — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all
- A price for the furniture polisher before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the furniture polisher has begun
What a furniture polisher costs: €150–€700 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 Cabinet finishing each carry their own band. French Polishing 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
Furniture polishers 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 wooden item — poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts — that is what the furniture polisher is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the work required — a fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfFurniture Restoration — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSurface Repair — damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the furniture polisher is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, shellac is sensitive to heat and liquids; discuss maintenance and care tips with your professional.
- Furniture Restoration
- French polishing is often employed in the restoration of antique furniture, bringing back the original lustre and depth of the wood.
- Surface Repair
- This technique is ideal for repairing scratches, dents, and other surface imperfections on wooden items.
- New Furniture Finishing
- French polishing is also popular for finishing new wooden furniture, providing a high-quality, glossy finish that highlights the wood's natural beauty.
- Musical Instrument Care
- Musical instruments, particularly pianos and violins, benefit significantly from French polishing.
- Cabinet Finishing
- Applying a French polish finish to kitchen or bathroom cabinets for a sleek, high-end look.
- Wood Surface Refinishing
- Refinishing worn wooden surfaces, such as tables or floors, to enhance their appearance and longevity.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a furniture polisher: questions people ask
The duration of a French polishing job can range from a few hours to a full day, depending on the complexity and size of the piece being polished. Larger or more intricate items may require additional time for proper finishing.
Emergency or same-day French polishing services may be available, but they can come at a premium price. It’s advisable to check with local professionals for their availability and any additional fees associated with urgent requests.
Yes, many professionals offer discounts for booking multiple jobs together, such as polishing different pieces of furniture in one visit. This can be a cost-effective way to enhance the appearance of your furniture.
French polishing is primarily focused on the finishing of wooden surfaces, so any structural repairs or extensive wood restoration should be handled by a specialist. If the furniture has significant damage or requires repairs beyond polishing, it’s best to consult with a qualified woodworker.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PAINTERS AND DECORATORS. Anyone may trade as one, and the quality is almost entirely in the PREPARATION, which is also the part that is invisible once the job is finished and the part a cheap quote leaves out. Two real hazards sit behind it: paint in a home built before about 1980 may contain LEAD, which must not be dry-sanded, and work above a step-ladder is work at height under HSA rules.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and put right if it is not. Say what is wrong in writing first.
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