Wednesday, October 31, 2012

How to restore rotted timber furniture

So you have had a piece of furniture for for years and just discovered it has a rotted section due to moisture when you put it in storage?
But wait! You don't need to throw it out or take it to a professional. It can be repaired in a few easy steps, restoring it to it's near original strength.

Items Required:
  •  Brush or Rag
  • Timber hardener
  • Gloves (optional)
  • Exterior timber filler
  • Putty knife
  • Sandpaper
  • Primer
  • Varnish
Steps to restore your furniture:
  1. Use a hammer and chisel to remove the damaged part of the timber stripping it back to raw wood.
  2. Drill out scattered holes for deeper damaged areas on angles to create a swisse cheese like affect. These angled holes help the timber filler to stay in place.
  3. Treat the timber with a timber hardener with a brush or rag, allow the hardener to soak into the timber and dry. It's best to wear gloves when applying the timber hardener.
  4. Use your putty knife to fill the timber filler into the holes and the chiseled area.
  5. Once it sets, sandpaper the furniture piece back to a smooth surface.
  6. Put a coat of primer on the freshly sanded furniture.
  7. Varnish the furniture.
 And there you have it, you can restore that damaged item back to a serviceable piece of furniture.

If the furniture is beyond fixing, you may want to consider getting a similar custom piece made from a reputable furniture maker such as Lifestyle Furniture Melbourne. They can custom make furniture to your specifications.