Apprenticeship training course

Furniture restorer (level 3)

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Information about Furniture restorer (level 3)

Furniture restorers repair and protect pieces of modern and old furniture, returning them as closely as possible to their original condition.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Historical techniques and materials for furniture production still in use today.
  • Common project management methods and tools.
  • Types of furniture restoration report, including the range of formats, scope, purpose and goals.
  • The importance of remaining impartial and how to present balanced opinions and conclusions which are objective and without bias.
  • Types of furniture care instructions commonly provided.
  • Health, safety and environmental management and risk assessment including Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA), Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008 and manual handling.
  • Tools and materials used for furniture restoration.
  • Traditional methods used to restore furniture pieces.
  • Glues – types, properties, preparation, uses and application.
  • Furniture assembly techniques including cramps and cramping techniques.
  • Joints used in furniture restoration.
  • Basic furniture finishing techniques.
  • Techniques used to create different decorative effects. For example, patinas, distressing, rag rolling, shabby chic, stipple feathering, liming, crackle, grading, scumble, French polishing.
  • Problem solving techniques: diagnostics, root cause analysis, 6 thinking hats, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control), PDCA (Plan Do Check Act). Fault finding techniques: root cause analysis, 5 Whys’, fishbone, half-split.
  • Common furniture restoration faults, snags and issues and how to rectify them.
  • Basic Continuous Improvement (CI) techniques e.g. the 5S Kaizen approach.
  • Current digital collaboration and communication platforms.

  Skills

  • Conduct assessment of furniture pieces to be restored to establish date or period, materials and finish used and repairs required.
  • Use appropriate project management tools and techniques to identify milestones, targets and deadlines.
  • Specify furniture restoration requirements for work to be completed.
  • Record information.
  • Build a complete and accurate picture of original techniques and materials used in producing furniture items to be restored.
  • Research information on furniture pieces to be restored and necessary equipment and techniques for restoration.
  • Agree furniture restoration work to be carried out with internal or external customers.
  • Present conditions and options reports to internal or external customers.
  • Prepare comprehensive reports on the furniture restoration work undertaken.
  • Provide customers with advice on mitigating further damage to restored pieces.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Review and select techniques, procedures and methods to undertake furniture restoration tasks.
  • Ensure resources (whether physical, financial and or human) are used efficiently.
  • Set up, operate and monitor furniture restoration machinery, tools and equipment.
  • Maintain work area in a clean, tidy, organised state and free from hazards.
  • Carry out structural, surface and finishing repairs to furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Re-make and repair joints to furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Replace fixtures and fittings to furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Replicate and restore furniture components.
  • Remove, make, re-lay, and patch veneers to furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Re-upholster furniture pieces or components.
  • Store furniture restoration materials, tools, and equipment safely in the approved locations.
  • Prepare surfaces for finishes and apply finishes using effective techniques and appropriate tools for the kind of materials and type of surface on furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Create decorative effects to meet furniture restoration requirements.
  • Identify and report faults, snags and issues. Carry out rectification work where required, following a root cause analysis.
  • Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques to problems.
  • Carry out required maintenance responsibilities within acceptable timescales.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Use digital collaboration tools to meet with, share and collaborate with colleagues and customers.
  • Communicate (written and verbal) using appropriate digital tools and techniques.

  Behaviours

  • Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
  • Focus and pay attention to detail.
  • Take personal responsibility for sustainable outcomes in how they carry out the duties of their role by reference to environmental good practice.
  • Take ownership of work.
  • Demonstrate patience, persistence and determination in completing their work.
  • Work well with others, demonstrating respect, professionalism and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion when working with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Demonstrate a flexible approach to the task, adapting to issues arising in an innovative way when appropriate.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Creative and design
• Qualification level: 3; Equal to A level
• Course duration: 36 months
• Maximum funding: £13,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Craft technician
  • Furniture guilder
  • Furniture conservator
  • Furniture restorer
  • Historic interiors conservator

View more information about Furniture restorer (level 3) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.