Structural repair is restoration work that addresses the physical soundness of an object or building, as opposed to its surface finish or decoration. On furniture it includes re-gluing loose joints, repairing broken legs, rails and stretchers, securing split boards, renewing worn drawer runners, replacing missing blocks and strengthening areas weakened by woodworm or old repairs.
Good structural repair aims to restore strength while removing as little original material as possible. Traditional cabinetmakers use animal glues, which are reversible with heat and moisture, and techniques such as splicing in new timber with carefully matched grain, rather than modern adhesives, metal brackets or screws that can cause further damage. In historic buildings the same principles apply to timber frames, roof structures, floors and staircases, where like-for-like repairs are generally preferred, particularly in listed properties where consent may be required. A sound repair that is honestly carried out need not greatly affect the value of an antique, but clumsy past interventions, such as nailed or screwed joints, iron plates or replaced legs, can reduce both value and stability. Buyers should look underneath and inside a piece to judge what has been done.
