How Cane Chair Restoration Works: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cane chair restoration sounds like a specialist art — and in many ways it is — but the process is more straightforward than most people expect. Here’s how it works when you send a chair to us.

Step 1: Assessment

Before any work begins, we assess the chair. This means looking at the existing cane, checking the frame for damage, and identifying what kind of weave pattern was originally used. Most traditional cane chairs use a standard hexagonal pattern, but some have more complex designs. We’ll let you know if anything unusual affects the price or timeline.

Step 2: Removing the old cane

The old cane and any remaining spline (the strip that holds it in place) is carefully removed without damaging the groove in the frame. This takes patience — rushing it can split the wood.

Step 3: Preparing the frame

The channel and groove are cleaned out and any rough edges tidied up. If there’s minor damage to the frame, we’ll flag it at this point.

Step 4: Weaving the new cane

New natural cane is soaked until pliable, then woven through the pre-drilled holes in the frame using the original pattern. This is the skilled part — keeping tension even across the whole seat is what separates a good result from a great one.

Step 5: Finishing

Once the weaving is complete, a spline is tapped into the groove to secure the edges, and any excess cane is trimmed. The finished seat is left to dry fully before being returned.

Interested in getting a chair restored? Request a quote here. Prices start from £30.