F Bennett and Son

F. Bennett & Son Ltd is certainly one of the oldest french polishing companies remaining with offices and workshop in London. Using the hand skilled art of french polishing we prepare and treat wood to enhance the beauty of the natural wood.

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French Polishers

We are a French polishers based in London. As French Polishers, we understand that the logistics of having work completed in your home, commercial buildings or highly populated areas can sometimes do with just a little “polishing off.” We can provide you with this with a high quality service and great results, we are professional French polishers and take customer satisfaction very seriously and are pleased to say that all our clients are very pleased with our work.

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History Of French Polishing

Many people assume that the term French Polish/French Polishing refers to a material used in wood finishing but French Polishing is actually a technique. Using a fad/rubber (made up of a ball of wadding wrapped in fine cotton) many layers of shellac polish are applied in small circles and figures of eight to produce a rich coloured, high gloss finish. The rubber is lubricated using oil, this is to help the rubber flow over the surface and prevent the previously applied Shellac layers from lifting.

Shellac is a resin produced by the female Lac bug (Kerria Lacca), collected from the trees found in the dense forests of Thailand and India. Once the shellac is collected, it is processed into flakes, which when added to ethanol becomes liquid shellac. There are many different shellac finishes, not all are categorised as “French polish”. Records have been found, that reference the use of shellac from 3000 years ago, although the material was confined to the Far East until the early 1700, when traders introduced shellac in its natural state to Europe.

French Polishing became a dominant finishing process in the 19th Century throughout the Victorian era. During this time, French polishing was mainly used on expensive woods such as Mahogany. In the early part of the 20th century, French polishing was neglected due to the time constraints involved in mass production. Instead a new technique of spraying nitrocellulose lacquer was developed. Although spraying nitrocellulose lacquer is a quicker technique of furniture finishing, the surface is costly to repair when damaged. French polished surfaces enable the restorer to efficiently repair any damage and blend this into the original finish.

Today, a French Polisher covers many more aspects of wood finishing than just traditional French Polishing. Styles and trends determine the procedures and materials used in our modern world. The mass production of furniture, flooring, doors and all other forms of timber, means that many wood finishing trades have had to adapt.

French Polishing is now treated as a dying art. It is an art that few people have endeavoured to achieve and even fewer have mastered.

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Our Services

French Polishing

Using the hand skilled art of french polishing we can prepare and treat wood in order to give it a smooth finish and enhance its appearance. Traditional polishing methods are combined with the latest technology to provide heat and water resistant finishes for tables and wood surfaces. We can work on a variety of old or new, large or small furniture including dining & boardroom tables, panelling, bookcases, desks, staircases and doors etc, working in situ or off site depending on the clients needs.

Fire Retardant Finishes

To adapt to the ever changing business environments and the specifics of the client we are now able to use water-borne clear intumescent coating to achieve class o and class 1 surface spread of flame finish. We can now combine the old tradition of french polishing with the new technology to meet the current fire regulations.

Leather/Upholstery Work

Whilst french polishing is our specialty, we recover or undertake a full upholstery service. Our service caters for both large and small items and could also include securing all joints and re-springing or simply replacing foam in cushions or chair seats. Any pattern or material is offered to meet the needs of our clients and can even specialise in the construction of bespoke furniture.

Joinery

Over the years we have formed various partnerships which enables us to offer further specialist services to our clients which includes experience and quality in the manufacture of bespoke furniture and architectural joinery. With a workforce of joiners, cabinetmakers, wood machinists, polishers and veneer specialist at our disposal we can meet the specifics of every client.

Other specialist partnerships include, glass work, sign writing, flooring, and made to measure curtains, please contact us for further to discuss your specific details.

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French Polishing Knowhow

Using the hand skilled art of French Polishing London they prepare and treat wood to enhance the beauty of the natural wood.

Traditional polishing methods are combined with the latest technology to provide heat and water resistant finishes for tables and wood surfaces. They can work on a variety of old or new, large or small furniture including dining & boardroom tables, panelling, bookcases, desks, staircases and doors etc, working in situ or off site depending on the clients needs.

F Bennett and Son have an excellent history of maintaining a good relationship with their clients, some of whom they have worked with for many decades, their corporate client list includes, Shell UK Ltd, B.P. International, Bank of England, Grosvenor Estates, Schroder Investment Management Ltd, Lloyds TSB plc, Royal Chelsea Hospital and Deutsche Bank.

Based in the heart of Belgravia they are able to offer services to London and the surround counties.

Whilst french polishing is their specialty, they can also offer further specialist services that compliment their business.

If your looking for experienced and trusted french polishing experts then F. Bennett and Sons is an ideal choice.