Ask The Expert

Posted Thursday, November 22, 2001 12:00 am

By: Monte Leeper

Q.

Do you have a solution? I dug up my mother-in-law's porcelain top kitchen table. The bottom looks like a beautiful oak and has been restored, but restoring the porcelain top has me facing a brick wall! I called ceramic tile people and they cannot take off the porcelain and redo it.
Can you tell me how to redo a porcelain top? I hear it is almost impossible. Is this true or are you a miracle worker? Thank you.

A.
Let me see if I understand your question. First, you dug up your mother-in-law. After looking at her table, you faced a brick wall, then you called people made of porcelain for help. This sounds like the intro to "Lucy in the sky with diamonds," but I am sure you are hoping I can work miracles.

The first problem is that although porcelain is repairable, is it worth it? If you have a seamless, uniform table top, it can be filled and repaired by an epoxy process but will not be perfect unless the entire top is completely recoated. If you are referring to porcelain tiles with joints or seams, maybe it is best to remove the tiles and re-tile the top.

Furniture restoration can be very expensive due to the amount of labor involved. The restored oak "bottom" may be damaged by removal of porcelain, even under the most delicate method of removal. Unless the table is an heirloom, you may want to consider a glass overlay in one of many tints and types of edges, or replacing the entire top. Otherwise, save your money and get a beautiful new table for the same money and a lot less aggravation. Bon Appetit!

Readers are encouraged to send questions to: HERALD Homes, 379 Central Avenue, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559 Attn: Monte Leeper, Architect.

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