Service Techniques For Water Damage Restoration Of Wooden Furniture

Storms and floods can come suddenly and unexpectedly. The hard part is, they can damage the home and ruin everything in their path. This includes valuable furniture and appliances in the home. Some of these articles are made of wood and could cost a fortune, particularly antiques or handcrafted items. It would be wise for homeowners to gain some knowledge in water damage restoration, particularly for this wooden furniture.

Water-damaged wooden furniture might be hard to recover, if the item has been submerged in water for a long time. Since wood is an organic matter, exposing it to moisture make it susceptible to bacterial attack which could lead to further deterioration and even decomposition. Water damage restoration should be done immediately right after the item has been removed from the water source.

Water damage restoration involves cleaning of the furniture surface from mud, dirt, and grime. This would be best done while the furniture is still wet and before drying. Use a mild detergent to remove the dirt using a soft brush or a sponge. Rinse it off with warm water laced with disinfectant. Doing so would prevent mold and mildew growth while the drying process is taking place.

After cleaning, the next thing an owner should do when performing water damage restoration is to dry out the wooden furniture. It should not be placed under the sun and left to dry out on its own. The abrupt thermal heating and drying from the sun could cause severe deformation that would totally damage the item. Aside from that, cracks might appear along the grains of the wood, resulting to separation after the drying process has been completed.

The best way to dry water-damaged wooden furniture is through air-drying. This damage restoration procedure might take a longer time than sun drying but this slow process is suitable in preventing warpage during drying. If the furniture has drawers, these should be drawn out, removed, and dried separately. Other movable parts should also be detached while the furniture is drying.

An alternative method in drying wooden furniture is to isolate it in a room with a dehumidifier or desiccant materials. They can remove moisture from the air and enhance the damage restoration process. The slow drying would also be ideal in preventing deformation.

After drying, inspect the item for any loose or detached parts. Parts of wooden furniture are joined by using glue, and the adhesive could have deteriorated while the item was exposed to water. The repair can be done in do-it-yourself mode, but if the owners have qualms in doing that, they could always consult a carpenter or a furniture maker.

Use wood glue or white all-purpose glue when repairing loose parts. This can be bought from the hardware store or even from an office supplies store. Before applying new glue, the old remnants from the previous adhesive should be scraped off. Clean the surface by sanding. After applying the glue, keep the parts in place by tying rope tourniquets across the item, making sure that the parts are not loose or moving while the glue is being dried.
Water-damaged wooden furniture can also have white spots. These are dried out minerals from the floodwater, which appears as cloudy film on the wood surface. To complete the damage restoration process, remove these white spots by rubbing it off with a soft cloth damp with turpentine or ammonia. The surface is then rubbed with a dry cloth. Finish this off by applying linseed oil (if not available, use olive or mineral oil) and rubbing it on the surface along the direction of the wood grain. To get a professional finish, apply wax and rub lightly to get a natural shine.
One does not have to be a real professional to perform proper water damage restoration to water-drenched furniture. Simple procedures can go a long way. The key here is to perform this process immediately. Prolonging the restoration process will allow the wood to deteriorate, making recovery next to impossible, resulting to more losses for the owner and his family.

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Comments

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 at 7:42 AM, by Jacques
This is a good article.Indeed water damage restoration is needed. It is good to have arizona water damage restoration in our area.In this way we are assured of the safety of our assets.

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 at 11:12 AM, by Water Damage Tampa
Water damage is the worst thing what can happen to you. There are some good companies who can help to limit the water damage and help you will the restoration.

Water Damage Tampa

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