| Repairing Water Stains on Wood |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-611 |
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Brad Staggs shows how to repair those troublesome water-stains on wood floors that can result from over-watering a potted plant. Though it may not be possible to eliminate the visible stain completely, here are some steps that may make it almost invisible.
- Begin by sanding the water-stained area using 100-grit sandpaper and a sanding block (figure A) or orbital sander. Follow the initial sanding with 150-grit, then 220-grit, until you've removed as much of the stain as you can.
Note: Avoid using a belt sander -- heavy duty power-sanders used in carpentry. These may remove too much wood and ruin your floor.
- Vacuum up the wood dust.
- If you'll be re-staining with an oil-based stain, wipe the sanded area using mineral spirits and a clean rag (figure B). If you'll be using a water-based stain, simply use a clean rag moistened with water.
- If some of the water-stain is still visible, you may want to try using some wood-bleach (figure C) to lessen the stain.
Important: If you use wood-bleach, follow the instructions and make sure that you only treat the problem-area. Don't apply or spill bleach on other areas of the wood floor.
- Once you've sanded and removed as much of the water-stain as possible, you can now re-stain the area using wood-stain. If you're unsure of exactly which wood stain was used originally, you'll need to match as close as possible using a stain chart (figure D). You may need to mix two stains to achieve the right shade and tone.
Tip: Use a scrap piece of wood -- that matches the wood of the flooring, if possible -- to test the color of the stain once applied (figure E). Stains may look different once applied, and there may be variations depending on the type of wood to which it is applied. Observe the shading of the stain while it is still wet, as this is the way it will likely appear once a polyurethane coat is applied. Tip: When color-matching stains, err on the side of a lighter stain. You can always cover a lighter stain with a darker one, but if you apply a stain that is too dark, it will require extra work to fix the problem.
- Once the stain has dried, coat the wood with a water-based or oil-based polyurethane (figure F).
Recap: - Sand the area with sandpaper ranging from 100 to 220-grit.
- Clean area with mineral spirits or water.
- To match stains, start from lighter stains and proceed to darker.
RESOURCES :
HGTV's Complete Fix-It
Author: HGTV
Hardwood Floors: Laying, Sanding and Finishing
Model: 0942391624
Author: Don Bollinger
(1990)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
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