Furniture scratch repair in Exeter
Professional furniture scratch repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
20-40 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Scratches in wooden furniture touched up with colour-matched filler and blended in. Won't make them invisible, but you'll struggle to notice them.
When Furniture Gets Battle Scars
Moved something across the table and left a white scratch? Kids dragged toys across the cabinet? Dog's claws on the wooden floor? Scratches happen. But they don't have to be permanent reminders.
💡 Pro tip: Fresh scratches are easier to fix than old ones that have got dirt and grime worked into them. Don't leave it for years.
Quick Touch-Up vs. Proper Repair
There's furniture pens from Argos, and there's doing it properly:
| ✅ Proper Repair | ❌ Furniture Pen |
|---|---|
| Scratch cleaned and prepped | Just coloured over dirt |
| Filled if needed, then coloured | Only works on surface scratches |
| Sealed to protect the repair | Wears off in weeks |
| Blended to match grain | Obvious brown line |
Furniture pens have their place (light scratches on dark wood), but for anything you can catch your nail on, it needs filling.
What You Get
🔧 The Service
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Clean | Scratch cleared of dirt and old polish |
| Fill | Deep scratches filled with colour-matched filler |
| Blend | Colour adjusted to match surrounding wood |
| Seal | Protected so it lasts |
📦 You're Left With
- Scratches way less obvious
- Smooth surface (no catching your sleeve on it)
- Properly sealed repair
- Furniture looking loved not battered
Pricing Guide
| Job | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single scratch | 15-20 mins | £60 |
| Multiple scratches same area | 30-40 mins | £60 |
| Deep gouge or large area | 45-60 mins | £60-85 |
£60 minimum (first hour). Multiple scratches in same visit makes sense.
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ House sale coming up - viewers notice scratched furniture
✅ Recent accident - something dragged across the table
✅ Rental property - damage needs sorting before moving out
✅ Nice furniture - worth repairing not replacing
Why Choose Us for Furniture scratch repair in Exeter?
Scratches blended to match surrounding wood
Proper colour-matched filler used
Professional finish that lasts
Saves replacing expensive furniture
What to Expect
Step 1: Clean & Assess
Get the scratch clean so I can see exactly what we're dealing with. Surface scratch or deep gouge makes a difference to the repair method.
Step 2: Fill & Match
If it's deep, fill it first with colour-matched wood filler. Then blend the colour to match the surrounding wood tone and grain pattern.
Step 3: Seal & Protect
Once the colour's right, seal it so it doesn't wear off or get dirty. Should last years if done properly.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to have a go yourself? Here's when you can:
🔧 When DIY works
- Very light surface scratches
- Dark wood (easier to blend colours)
- Scratches in inconspicuous areas
- You've got patience and a steady hand
📐 How to touch up scratches
- Clean the scratch thoroughly with white spirit
- Get furniture touch-up pens in matching colours (try Screwfix)
- Fill deep scratches with wood filler first, let dry completely
- Apply colour in thin layers, building up gradually
- Blend in direction of wood grain
- Seal with clear furniture wax when colour matches
⚠️ When to call a professional
- Scratches on light wood (colour matching is hard)
- Deep gouges that need significant filling
- Scratches on antique or valuable furniture
- Large area of damage
- Laminate "wood effect" furniture (very hard to match)
💡 Pro trick: For tiny surface scratches on dark wood, a walnut (the nut, not the filler) rubbed into the scratch can darken it enough to hide it. Old furniture restorer's trick.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🪵 Real wood vs. veneer: Scratches in real solid wood can be sanded and refinished. Scratches through thin veneer reveal the cheaper wood underneath - harder to hide but I can fill and colour them.
Multiple pieces? If you're touching up scratches on several items, do them all while I'm there. Same materials, same visit, much more cost-effective.
Exeter's older furniture (and we've got some beautiful antique pieces in Devon houses) sometimes needs a light hand. I won't sand down a Victorian table unless you specifically want that - sometimes scratches add character.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you actually make scratches disappear?
Not completely - I can't make them invisible. But I can blend them in so they're way less obvious. On dark wood with the right filler, you'd really struggle to spot them. On lighter wood or deep gouges, they'll always show a bit but much better than they are now.
What types of scratches can you fix?
Surface scratches in the finish are easiest - just need touching up. Deeper scratches into the wood need filling first, then colour-matching. Gouges and dents are trickier but can still be improved. I'll be honest about what's achievable when I see it.
Do you have to match my exact wood colour?
I'll get as close as possible. I carry a range of wood filler colours and can mix them. Might not be 100% perfect match but it'll be close enough that you won't notice from across the room.
How long does the repair last?
Properly done, years. It's not just slapping some filler in - I prep it, fill it, seal it. The filler is permanent. The only time it fails is if the area gets wet repeatedly or something hits the exact same spot again.
Can you fix scratches on laminate furniture?
Laminate is trickier because it's printed pattern not real wood. I can fill and colour it but it won't blend as well as on real wood. Sometimes a furniture touch-up pen from Screwfix does the job just as well on laminate.
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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