How Much Does Furniture Restoration Actually Cost?

A basic restoration on the reference chair, touch-up polish, a standard joint repair, and foam and fabric replacement can costs about ₹4,700. A fuller restoration full melamine matt repolish, extra structural support, dense cane weaving, and premium fabric costs more. The biggest factor in the final price is usually not the finish or the fabric. It is how many craftsmen are involved, and how well their work is coordinated.

Cost Breakdown, Tier by Tier

Polish: Touch-Up vs Melamine Matt

A touch-up polish means light scraping and refinishing worn areas. It costs about ₹1,000 per chair. A full melamine matt repolish means stripping the piece back to bare wood before refinishing. It costs about ₹2,500. The right option depends on the condition of the existing finish, not personal preference — ask your restorer to check the finish before quoting.

Joint Repair: Standard vs Extra Support

Tightening or re-gluing a loose joint costs about ₹700. If the chair needs extra structural support or leg reinforcement, expect about ₹1,200. The difference depends on whether the joint only needs tightening, or the wood around it needs strengthening too.

Cane, If Your Piece Has It

Cane replacement is priced per square foot. A standard weave costs ₹600 per square foot. A denser or coloured weave costs up to ₹1,200 per square foot. The total depends on how much cane the piece needs — a cane seat alone costs less than a seat and back together.

Cushion and Fabric

Foam replacement and cushion base repair cost about ₹1,000. Fabric is priced separately. Thadi’s Ikat range costs ₹600–1,200 per metre, and the reference chair needs about one metre. Always check if fabric is included in a quote — a lower quote that excludes fabric can cost more in the end.

Why Restoration Quotes Vary So Much

A full restoration can involve four different craftsmen: a carpenter, a polisher, a cane weaver, and an upholsterer. Explaining exactly what you want to each of them, and making sure nothing is lost between them, is usually the biggest difference between quotes — not the material costs. Add transport between craftsmen working from different locations, and the coordination cost adds up quickly.

That coordination is what we handle at Thadi. One conversation, one point of contact, across every craftsman your piece needs.

Is It Worth Restoring, or Buying New?

For solid wood furniture in sound structural condition, restoration is usually the cheaper option. Restoring a chair often costs a few thousand rupees. A comparable new solid wood chair can cost ₹15,000 or more.

Restoration is usually not worth it for furniture built from veneer over MDF or laminate, since the structure underneath often cannot be repaired. If you suspect termite damage, get the piece assessed first.

When It’s About Memory

Many pieces come to the workshop because they belonged to a grandparent or have been in the family for decades. In these cases, the cost of a new piece is rarely the deciding factor. The real question is whether there is enough sound material left to rebuild.

Solid wood can often be repaired, even after serious damage. Engineered material usually cannot. Once the base material fails, there is very little left to restore.

What’s Right for Your Piece?

• Solid wood with good joints — restoration is usually the better choice, and rarely costs close to replacement.

• The reference chair above — budget about ₹2,700–4,700 in labour, before cane and fabric where needed.

• Veneer over MDF, laminate, or suspected termite damage — get the piece assessed before you spend on restoration.

• Sentimental furniture — focus on whether the structure can be rebuilt, not on the cost comparison.