Restoring Antiques After Fire or Water Damage
Antiques are often a homeowner's most prized possessions. So it's good
to know how to care for them if you ever experience a fire or flood in
your home. According to disaster recovery and restoration experts at
Furniture Medic,
these tips will help you restore antiques after fire or water damage.
Water Damage Treatment
To dry your antiques after water damage:
- Dry out the piece completely by putting it in a slightly warm area
with a constant temperature of approximately 70 degrees F and steady
air circulation.
- Please note that if the location is too hot, the wood will dry out
too quickly and crack. If it's too cold, it will dry out too slowly
and allow mold to grow in the wood.
- Begin the drying process immediately or water will continue to seep
into the wood and cause further damage.
Water damage can cause white spots, black spots and surface buckling.
Here are remedies for each of these maladies:
Removing white spots
To remove white spots on your antiques:
- Rub with a damp cotton cloth and a buffing solution composed of a
50/50 toothpaste and baking soda mixture.
- Buff the area with another cloth.
- If this doesn't remove spots, a professional process will have to
be used. Schedule a
furniture restoration estimate from Furniture Medic.
Removing black spots
Black spots indicate that the water has eaten through the finish and
into the wood, where mildew is growing. The finish must be completely
removed and the wood must be treated with bleach to kill the mildew before
a new finish is applied. You may need professional help to remove black
spots. Schedule a furniture
restoration estimate from Furniture Medic.
Repairing buckled veneer
Water-damaged veneer can be treated this way:
- Using a hypodermic syringe needle, inject a water-based glue thinned
with 10 percent water between the furniture base and the buckled veneer.
- Clamp the veneer to the piece using a sheet of plastic and a block
of wood on top of the veneer. Let the glue dry well before removing.
Fire Damage Treatment
If your antique has suffered extensive scorching, it must be stripped
and entirely refinished. However, here are tips for small facelifts:
Removing small localized burns
To remove burn marks:
- Apply a professional refinisher to the spot with a cotton swab.
- Scrape the charred section off the piece with a penknife.
- Apply a clear finish or paint to the site in small doses until the
spot matches the antique piece's appearance.
Getting rid of smoke odors
You can get rid of smoke odors in your antique's interior cabinets or
drawers. Put small air fresheners inside the furniture, and the wood will
absorb the freshener's scent.
For expert assistance on antique restoration,
schedule a furniture restoration estimate from
Furniture
Medic.
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For expert assistance on antique restoration, schedule a furniture restoration estimate
from Furniture Medic.
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