Hire a professional furniture repair specialist

Take the piece to a professional furniture restorer or have one come to your home. Professional repair is the right choice for valuable, antique, or sentimental furniture, for structural damage beyond simple loose joints, and for anyone who wants a guaranteed, invisible result.

What a Professional Does

A furniture restorer will assess the root cause of the wobble (loose joints, cracked wood, warped legs, worn dowels), disassemble the piece properly without causing further damage, re-machine any worn parts, re-glue with appropriate adhesives, clamp precisely, and refinish any areas disturbed during repair. They have specialized clamps, jigs, and adhesives that most homeowners do not.

When to Choose Professional Repair

• The piece is an antique or has significant financial or sentimental value
• Multiple joints are loose and the piece needs full re-gluing
• Wood is cracked, split, or has structural damage beyond simple looseness
• Previous DIY repair attempts have failed or made things worse
• The piece has complex joinery (dovetails, blind mortises, steam-bent components)

How to Find a Restorer

• Search for "furniture restoration" or "furniture repair" in your area
• Ask at local woodworking clubs, antique shops, or upholstery shops for referrals
• Check reviews on Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau
• Request photos of previous work and ask about their experience with your type of furniture

Cost Expectations

• Simple chair re-gluing: $50-150
• Full chair disassembly and re-glue: $100-300
• Table stabilization: $75-250
• Antique restoration with refinishing: $200-800+
• Costs vary significantly by region and complexity

Tips

• Get a written estimate before authorizing work
• Ask whether they use reversible repairs (important for antiques)
• A good restorer will tell you honestly if the repair cost exceeds the furniture's value
• Pick-up and delivery may be available for an additional fee