How To Fix Water-Damaged Swollen Wood Furniture

Water-damaged, swollen wood furniture…if you’ve ever finished a room in the basement of your home as we did once, you likely had to contend with moisture.

Whether it was a dehumidifier that ran often and had to be emptied every day during the summer, at least you dealt with moisture a lot.  Carpet is at risk, and so is upholstered furniture.  And remember that there is a wooden frame beneath that upholstery, too.

Now, if you also have kids, and you let them eat or drink in that downstairs room, you run a double risk.  Water and juice spills will haunt the furniture, and we all know that kids don’t like to clean up after themselves.  Damage will occur, or stains will be left, and you’ll be called upon to do your handiwork.

It’s not the end of the world.  The repair process is not that difficult, and with a little time and effort, that piece of water-damaged wood furniture will be back in use in no time, good as new, and repaired smartly enough so it’s not likely to happen in the future.

Why Does Wood Swell?

Wood swells because it is a hygroscopic material. This means that it absorbs water from the air. When wood absorbs water, the water molecules fill the spaces between the cellulose fibers in the wood. This causes the wood to expand in size. The amount of swelling that occurs depends on the type of wood, the moisture content of the wood, and the humidity of the air.

Some types of wood are more hygroscopic than others. This means that they absorb more water from the air. Softwoods, such as pine, are more hygroscopic than hardwoods, such as oak. The moisture content of the wood also affects the amount of swelling that occurs.

Wood with a high moisture content is more likely to swell than wood with a low moisture content. The humidity of the air also affects the amount of swelling that occurs. Wood is more likely to swell in humid air than in dry air.

Swelling can cause problems with wood furniture and other wooden objects. It can cause the furniture to warp, crack, or split. It can also cause the objects to become loose or difficult to fit together.

To prevent swelling, it is important to keep wood furniture and other wooden objects in a dry environment. If the furniture or objects do become wet, it is important to dry them as soon as possible.

 A Few Tips on Fixing Water-damaged Swollen Wood Furniture 

Here are some tips on how to fix water-damaged swollen wood furniture:

1. Dry the furniture as soon as possible. The longer the wood is wet, the more likely it is to warp or crack. Use a fan or hair dryer to help speed up the drying process. If the furniture is very wet, you may need to place it in a well-ventilated area or use a dehumidifier.
2. Remove any water-damaged materials. If the furniture has any fabric, upholstery, or other materials that have been damaged by water, remove them immediately. These materials can harbor mold and mildew, which can further damage the furniture.  Yes, they will have to be replaced, but if the “bones” of the furniture are repairable, it’s worth it to replace them.  It also offers an opportunity to restyle the piece or add to a new color palette in the room.
3. Repair any cracks or splits. If the furniture has any cracks or splits, repair them as soon as possible. You can use wood glue or epoxy to repair the cracks.
4. Sand and refinish the furniture. Once the furniture is dry and repaired, sand it down and refinish it. This will help protect the wood from future damage.  Later in this article, we mention sealing and finishing the furniture piece with oils and topcoats, both effective in preventing future damage from water/moisture and swelling.

Here are some additional tips:

• If the furniture is made of a softwood, such as pine, it is more likely to warp or crack than a hardwood.
• If the furniture is very valuable, you may want to consider hiring a professional to repair it.
• If the furniture is made of a delicate wood, such as ebony or rosewood, you may want to avoid using heat to dry it.

How To Repair Water Stains on Wooden Furniture

What if the damage isn’t so much swelling as it is a water stain on the wood surface?  A piece of furniture, a wood table, maybe?

No problem with that, actually.  The repair work is not that different from dealing with swollen wood.

1. Dry the furniture as soon as possible. The longer the water is in contact with the wood, the more likely it is to cause damage. Use a fan or hair dryer to help speed up the drying process. If the furniture is very wet, you may need to place it in a well-ventilated area or use a dehumidifier.
2. Remove any loose or damaged finish. Once the furniture is dry, use a soft cloth to remove any loose or damaged finish. You can use a furniture polish or a fine-grit sandpaper to help remove the finish.
3. Apply a wood filler. If the water stain has caused a dent or a hole in the wood, you will need to apply a wood filler. There are many different types of wood filler available, so be sure to choose one that is specifically designed for the type of wood you are working with.
4. Sand the filler smooth. Once the wood filler has dried, sand it smooth with a fine-grit sandpaper.  Use a clean cloth to remove any wood dust from sanding over the entire surface of the wood.
5. Apply a finish. Once the filler is sanded smooth, apply a finish to the furniture. This will help to protect the wood from future damage.

Here are some additional tips:

• If the water stain is very deep, you may need to apply a second coat of wood filler.
• If the water stain is on a delicate piece of furniture, you may want to consider hiring a professional to repair it.
• Be sure to test any wood filler or finish in an inconspicuous area of the furniture before applying it to the water stain. This will help you to make sure that the product does not damage the finish of the furniture.

Repairing Veneer on Furniture

If the water stain has actually lifted a veneer surface or a bubble has formed, there are a few more steps to follow, including the use of glue and the need for an injection needle.

Follow the initial steps of drying the wood surface fully – a fan or a well-ventilated, warm, dry room.  Use a needle to prick the top of the bubble; then, use the needle to inject a little wood glue into the side of the bubble.

Put a clean cloth over the bubble and then add weight to the cloth to press the bubble down.  The glue you’ve injected inside the bubble will hold the veneer down, and make sure you let it sit long enough for the glue to dry.

There will likely be a bit of glue that has come out of the first hole you pricked, so remove that excess glue with a little sanding.  Continue on with the process we outlined – sanding smooth, applying a finish, including a sealant, and you should be fine.

Using A Clothes Iron On Wet Wood Furniture

A common household iron can also be used in the repair process when you encounter moisture damage to wood furniture.  The process is easy as long as you follow some common sense steps:

1. Empty the water tank of your iron. You don’t want to introduce any more water and make the stain worse or create a new stain.
2. Set your iron to a low heat setting. You don’t want to burn the wood.
3. Place a clean cloth over the wet area. This will help to protect the wood from the heat of the iron.
4. Iron the cloth over the wet area for a few seconds at a time. Be careful not to leave the iron in one spot for too long, as this could damage the wood.
5. Check the area periodically to see if it is dry. If it is not, continue ironing until it is.
6. Once the area is dry, remove the cloth and buff the wood with a soft cloth. This will help to restore the shine of the wood.

Here are some additional tips:

• If the wood is very wet, you may need to repeat the process several times.
• If the wood is delicate, you may want to use a hair dryer instead of an iron.
• Be sure to test the iron on an inconspicuous area of the wood first to make sure it does not damage the finish.

We’ve actually used this technique with good success in the past.  It works well

How To Prevent Water Damage To Wooden Furniture Now and In The Future 

It would have been great to take steps before water damage harmed your swollen furniture, of course.  But, you can prevent future water damage with a few simple steps.  

Although it’s a bit outside of woodworking, there is an old Zen Buddhist expression that fits here: 

“If you are not happy with your present, look to your past; if you want to be happy in your future, look to the present.”

When you have the damage repaired, and the wooden furniture is back in shape, take the time to make sure water damage won’t occur again.  They are not onerous, are mostly common sense, and will save you from having to restore furniture again.

• Keep your furniture in a dry environment. This means avoiding areas where there is a lot of moisture, such as near the kitchen or bathroom. If you have to keep your furniture in a humid environment, you can use a dehumidifier to help reduce the humidity.
• Properly seal or finish your furniture. This will help to protect the wood from water damage. There are many different types of sealants and finishes available, so be sure to choose one that is specifically designed for wood furniture.  Finishing wood furniture with an oil can help, whether it is linseed oil, boiled linseed oil, or tung oil.  Additionally, a top coat of varnish or shellac will also seal the wood and prevent moisture from entering.
• Clean up spills immediately. If a spill does occur, be sure to clean it up immediately. The longer the water is in contact with the wood, the more likely it is to cause damage.
• Repair any damage immediately. If your furniture does become damaged by water, be sure to repair it immediately. This will help to prevent the damage from getting worse.

 A Video Demo With Needles

Just in case you thought we were kidding about an injection needle in woodworking, here’s a video showing how to use the needle to inject glue into a bubbled veneer on a piece of water-damaged wood. 

As we said, water-damaged and swollen wood furniture is not the end of the world.  In woodworking, there is almost always a way to be found, and these ways we’ve discussed are well within a woodworker’s comfort zone.  A little time, a little patience, a little work, and the furniture piece is back in use in no time.