HOW TO HIRE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a furniture restorer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A furniture restoration 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 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 — antique Restoration — antique restoration is dedicated to preserving the historical integrity of vintage furniture while making it usable.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — upholstery Repair — upholstery repair focuses on renewing and replacing fabric or padding on furniture pieces.
- How does condition of the piece change the price?Years of use leave more to put right than a recent job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does materials used change the price?The finish you pick decides which materials the job needs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the repairs required change the price?What is already there often has to be removed first. — 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 — antique Restoration — antique restoration is dedicated to preserving the historical integrity of vintage furniture while making it usable.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — upholstery Repair — upholstery repair focuses on renewing and replacing fabric or padding on furniture pieces.
A good answer: Years of use leave more to put right than a recent job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The finish you pick decides which materials the job needs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: What is already there often has to be removed first. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Wood Refinishing — wood refinishing involves stripping, sanding, and applying new finishes to restore the original beauty of wooden furniture — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a furniture 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 — woodworking Repairs — this service covers custom repairs and modifications for wooden furniture, catering to unique design needs.
Getting the quote right
- Condition of the piece — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job.
- Materials used — the finish you pick decides which materials the job needs.
- Complexity of the repairs required — what is already there often has to be removed first.
- Access to the furniture — awkward access adds time before any work begins.
- 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 piece — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job
- They will not talk about it: materials used — the finish you pick decides which materials the job needs
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the repairs required — what is already there often has to be removed first
- A price for the furniture restorer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What a furniture restorer 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. Reupholstering and Refinishing each carry their own band. Furniture 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
Furniture 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 piece — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job — that is what the furniture restorer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneMaterials used — the finish you pick decides which materials the job needs — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the repairs required — what is already there often has to be removed first — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAccess to the furniture — awkward access adds time before any work begins — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the furniture restorer is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, any specific design requests — the more intricate the work, the slower it has to be done.
- Wood Refinishing
- Wood refinishing involves stripping, sanding, and applying new finishes to restore the original beauty of wooden furniture.
- Upholstery Repair
- Upholstery repair focuses on renewing and replacing fabric or padding on furniture pieces.
- Antique Restoration
- Antique restoration is dedicated to preserving the historical integrity of vintage furniture while making it usable.
- Reupholstering
- This involves replacing the fabric on chairs, sofas, and other upholstered items, giving them a fresh look and improved comfort.
- Refinishing
- Refinishing involves sanding down and applying new finishes to wooden furniture, restoring its original colour and gloss.
- Caning and Weaving
- This involves repairing or replacing the caned or woven seats of chairs, restoring both function and aesthetic appeal.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a furniture restorer: questions people ask
The cost of furniture restoration can vary widely based on the type of restoration needed, the materials involved, and the complexity of the work. Look for professionals with relevant qualifications in furniture restoration and upholstery.
The duration of furniture restoration depends on the extent of the damage and the type of restoration required. Simple repairs may take a few hours, while more extensive work can take several days.
While many furniture restoration tasks can be handled by general professionals, complex restorations, especially those involving antique pieces or specialised techniques, may require a qualified specialist. It's important to assess the specific needs of your furniture.
Emergency or same-day furniture restoration services are not commonly offered due to the detailed work involved. However, some professionals may accommodate urgent requests depending on their schedule and availability.
Yes, many furniture restoration professionals offer discounts for booking multiple jobs at once. It can be a cost-effective way to have several pieces restored simultaneously.
Furniture restoration typically does not cover structural repairs or modifications that require specialised skills, such as electrical or gas work. If your furniture requires such services, it's best to consult a qualified specialist.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in home repairs & handyman
Furniture 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