Is my piece worth fixing?
The following are some common questions that could help you determine if your piece is worth fixing; and furthermore, if you want to have it fixed. Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if it is a good idea to repair your object.
- Is it a one of a kind or rare piece?
- Does it have historical significance or sentimental value?
- Is it a part of a set? Things usually have a better value when they are a whole set.
- Will it be stabilized through restoration and prevent further damage?
Can I contact you about an estimate of the repair costs?
With a good description (what is it made of, how many pieces it is in, height and width of the piece, etc), simpler jobs are easier to estimate by email. It is very helpful if you can email or send a photo. If your item is in a number of pieces, and the damage is beyond a simple description, we can give you a range in estimate. It is best to see the piece in person for a proper evaluation, and then give you a final estimate. See the contact page for email addresses and telephone numbers, including our toll-free number. Three basic methods for repairing your antique exist.
They are:
- Glue only. Some pieces look great, glued properly back together again.
- Partial restoration. Glued and missing pieces filled to match. Great for those “in use pieces” such as plates, cups, platters, ect.
- Complete restoration. Your piece is glued, filled, painted to match and reglazed for that virtually invisible repair. Great for those “just for show” pieces.
Can glass really be glued back together?
Yes! The glue we use is a state-of-the-art epoxy resin. It dries crystal clear and has superior holding strength. It resists yellowing, and lasts for over 100 years, with proper care. We can also fill missing glass pieces and fabricate missing pattern pieces too. You can wash your piece, and even use it as well.
Advice for when a piece does break:
Be sure to find as many pieces as you possibly can, check the surrounding area where the piece broke. You’d be surprised where pieces end up, under chairs, or table, etc.
It is advisable to wrap the large pieces separately, so they do not bang into each other and cause further damage. Any smaller chips, or slivers, put them in a small container, small baggie, envelope, or whatever you have handy.
The more pieces that we can use, the better for the piece. If some of the pieces are too small to use, we can fill missing chips and slivers, that is not problem.
Shipping Your Piece:
Either have a professional mailing service pack your piece for you, or if you want to pack the piece yourself, A good rule of thumb is, “Be sure there is 4 inches of packing material surrounding your piece” And make sure the contents of the package do not shift. Please include in the package, your name, the return address where the piece will be sent back to, phone number, and email address, so we can contact you when your piece does arrive, and with a confirmed estimate for the cost of repairs.
Copyright 2008 © BrokenArts.com.
All Rights Reserved.