Why is it necessary to learn how to restore wood furniture with water damage that has been water-damaged? As a result of water-damage, your furniture may become swollen, warped, cracked, stained, or even shrink.
Drying the furniture completely before doing anything else is a notable fix for furniture that has been harmed by water. A spoonful of baking soda and toothpaste can be used to treat it very quickly.
Here are 3 excellent suggestions that, if you choose to proceed, might help you keep your swollen wood furniture intact.
What Causes Wood Furniture to Bubble Up?
Your furniture’s beauty can be easily diminished by swollen wood, which gives it an old-fashioned, worn-out appearance. However, knowing the cause of your wood’s swelling will assist you in maintaining your wood furniture and help you save money over time.
Unless a waterproof sealant is applied, wood will naturally absorb water. Wood shrinks, swells, and bubbles up as a result of airborne moisture (humidity). Thankfully, it is possible to get rid of these bubbles.
Obviously, avoiding getting water-damaged on furniture is the best way to prevent swollen pieces. You have no control over this far too frequently—through accident or nature, especially when it comes to something like a dinner table, upon which we constantly place drinks.
Read More: How to Clean Teak Wood Furniture
How Water-Damages Wooden Furniture?
When exposed to water or excessive moisture without protection, wood, a natural material, can become prone to mold growth and rot. As the moisture content rises, wood may expand and move. In some cases, the wood finish on wooden furniture can leave watermarks on the surface. Be aware that light watermarks indicate that the stain is still on the surface, while dark watermarks indicate that water has already penetrated through the wood finishing.
The way that different kinds of wood react to water-damaged varies. Because of the moisture, a wood veneer, for example, may uplift from the glue joint, whereas man-made woods, like MDF, may crumble and disintegrate. No matter what kind of wood furniture you have, it’s important to arm yourself with knowledge and practical advice so that you can avoid further trouble when you experience water damage, both for you and your furniture.
How to Fix Water-Damaged Swollen Wood Furniture
No kidding Sherlock, here’s my first piece of advice: wipe up any water-damaged as soon as it touches your wooden furniture. To have the best chance of saving the wood, you must act quickly—preferably before the water is absorbed by the wood. Even if it’s too late, there is still a chance that repairs can be made. Some options are listed below.
1. Let Your Furniture Dry Out
Before attempting to repair a piece of furniture that has been damaged by water, let it dry. Attempting to speed up this process could cause the wood to crack, so be patient.
Place the object in a warm, dry area after wiping off any leftover material. To avoid moisture, if at all possible, bring (or keep) the furniture inside. Humidity in the air can make things significantly worse.
2. Sand the Wood & Apply Furniture Oil
You can sand a piece of furniture by hand, with sandpaper, and a hand-sanding tool. Inconsistencies in the wood will be eliminated, and the surface will be evened out. Wipe off any leftover material before you begin to sand.
Once you’ve finished sanding, make sure the wood is even and smooth throughout by brushing off any dust that has accumulated.
Finally, rub some furniture oil into the wood furniture piece. It has been applied to some oil; wipe it off. After you’re finished, the surface shouldn’t have any oil left behind.
3. Use An Iron
It is simple to deal with swollen wood furniture by using an iron to cure water-damaged. It should be simple because most people are aware of safe ironing techniques.
Set your iron to a low temperature and cover the swollen furniture with a wet cloth. For a short while, keep the iron pressed against the rag. Avoid keeping the iron stationary for an extended period of time as this may cause the wood to suffer additional damage. Repeat the procedure or try one of the other approaches if the issue persists.
Seek Professional Restoration
You can perform this do-it-yourself fix and use these recommendations and tips to expertly restore your water-damaged furniture if the project is within your skill set, but occasionally the work may be too challenging or complex for you to handle on your own. Consult a professional to restore your prized wooden furniture if the water damage is beyond your level of expertise.
Professional services for water-damaged restoration and repair are provided by some businesses. When repairing and locating other damage, experts in this field are thoroughly trained in the proper restoration processes.
Because they have the necessary knowledge, modern tools, and equipment, hiring a professional water-damaged removal company can save time and money.
Why Does Wood Furniture Swell Up?
Wood is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs moisture from the air and expands in humid conditions while losing moisture in dry conditions and contracting.
Furniture made of wood is prone to swelling when near water. Wood starts to swell and warp when exposed to high levels of moisture and humidity, like after a storm or flood.
As a result of daily and seasonal variations in the relative humidity of the atmosphere, the wood experiences changes in its moisture content, resulting in swelling and subsequent shrinking.
Final Thoughts
Wood furniture is particularly difficult to restore after being exposed to water. Choosing which pieces you can salvage and which ones you need to throw away may require you to make some difficult decisions.
You can decide which items you can salvage, clean, and restore with the aid of a restoration expert. But the more your furniture will be damaged, the longer you wait to involve them. Make a call to them as soon as you can.
FAQs
Can Wood Be Recover from Water Damage?
Fortunately, applying oxalic acid to the wood’s surface in many instances can reverse this kind of damage in a seemingly magical manner. While leaving the wood’s natural color untouched, oxyalic acid removes the gray color from oxidized wood.
Can Wet Wood Be Repaired?
The majority of the time, replacing the wood is not necessary to treat wet rot. This technique will assist in repairing the rot and strengthening the wood, whether you have rotten decking or a rotten door frame. As soon as the area is dry, begin by removing easily removable wood that is crumbling.
How Do You Fix Water-Damaged Wood Without Replacing It?
Products like Bondo and Minwax are examples of wood fillers because they are made to be multipurpose fillers for cracks, holes, and rotted wood. Their application is straightforward, they dry quickly, and they shouldn’t shrink after drying.