Handrail Restoration
Handrail Restoration
How It Works
A family craftsman inspects the stair: checks newel posts, balusters, loose joints and original finish, photographs the work and recommends repair and finish options.
Why Choose Handrail Restoration?
Traditional craft, modern reliability
Forty years of family experience using time-honoured techniques — shellac burnishing and careful grain work — combined with modern adhesives and finishes for durable results.
Domestic, low-disruption service
Work carried out sensitively in your home with dust control, protective coverings and discreet scheduling to suit household routines and preserve historic patina where needed.
Comprehensive care for every stair
From tightening a loose newel to full bannister refinishing, the team handles structural joinery, stain-matching and finishing so you have one trusted craftsman for the whole job.
What we restore: Newel posts, handrails, balusters, spindles and the joins that hold them together. Typical work includes re-gluing mortise-and-tenon joints, replacing worn pegs or dowels, steam-straightening twisted timbers and sympathetically stripping failed finishes. For antique or listed pieces the aim is to conserve the original surface where possible; for high-traffic modern stairs the priority is a durable, low-maintenance finish.
Finish options and care: We match stains on-site and offer traditional French polishing for fine furniture-grade results, tough satin lacquer for everyday wear, or hard-wax oils for a matt, tactile feel. After completion you receive practical maintenance advice — where to avoid harsh cleaners, when to re-wax and how to deal with scuffs — so your bannister remains safe and beautiful. Serving homes across Surrey, including Guildford, Portsmouth and Corbyn, J Hardy French Polishing brings meticulous, family-run restoration to your stair.