One of the most common causes of furniture damage is water.
Furniture water damage can range from small stains and rings to pieces that have been completely submerged in flood waters. Anytime water comes into contact with furniture it can cause damage.
Milky water stains on furniture are usually the result of moisture trapped beneath the finish. These marks are often caused by drinking glasses placed on furniture surfaces without a coaster beneath them. White marks can also be caused by moist heat. This is often the result of placing a hot pot on an unprotected table. To repair the marks, first make sure the surface is dry then rub the area with furniture polish. It this does not work, repair or refinishing may be needed.
Typically, good, solid, quality, higher-end furniture can be repaired even with extreme water damage. Better constructed, high-quality furniture with a decent finish will resist water damage better. Most pieces can be repaired but it depends on original quality and construction of furniture.
If water damaged furniture was low quality furniture or fake wood to begin with, the cost of the repair will most likely be more than the original cost of the furniture. Most of the time low end furniture cannot withstand water damage.
Although the best thing to do is protect your furniture from flooding in the first place, disasters happen and some times protecting furniture can be impossible. If your furniture has been damaged by flooding, the first thing to do is access the situation and be sure it is safe to enter the area that was flooded.
Check out this Flood safety guide by the EPA for helpful flood clean up tips.
Then it is important to dry up as much of the water as possible. Use portable fans to assist in the drying process. Moisture in wood can encourage mold growth so drying it is critical.
Once the furniture is completely dried, the damage can be assessed for needed repairs. If you have insurance, don’t forget to file a claim before the furniture is repaired.
Most importantly, don’t despair, Salpeck’s Furniture can restore your flood damaged furniture to like new condition.
When furniture has been completely submerged in water, we will have to refinish the furniture using the following steps:
Hand-strip the old finish stripped to bare wood
Make repairs, fill gouges and sand the surface
Apply sealer to wood to seal the pores
Apply stain of your choosing
Apply a finish coating to complete the process
The result is your furniture looking like new again!
Here are 5 tips to keep your furniture safe from water damage.
- Invest in high quality furniture with a good protective finish
- Properly maintain furniture with polish or paste wax
- During hurricanes or potential flooding dangers, move your furniture to higher ground
- Use coasters under drinking glasses
- Use trivets under hot dishes
If you need help repairing water damaged furniture, call Salpeck’s Furniture at 919-449-7902 or fill out our form and get a quote now.