Amateur repairs

If you cannot afford to spend a great deal of money on restoring your original woodwork, then it is possible to perform the repairs yourself. Of course, the results will not be comparable to those of the professional restorers, but if this does not bother you then there are a great deal of products available on the market to equip you for such repairs. There are various ways in which you can perform repairs to your wood:

• You can cut out the really badly damaged sections of wood, then cut out patches of wood and affix them in the place of the damaged wood. Then sand the surface so that the new wood is flush with the old. The patch will show, but if you are going to apply a finish over the top this may not always matter.
• Any problem areas can also be filled will putty, so as to prevent you from having to actually replace the wood. The putty will be stained and finished, usually with shellac, using a paintbrush and then the surface will be sanded flush with very fine grained sandpaper. Grain lines can then be drawn onto the wood using a pencil.
• Coloured hard waxes are available in burn-in sticks. These are melted with a soldering iron and mixed to produce the right shade of the wood. Then are then used to fill the holes and dents with. Although these sound like they will not produce a particularly accurate job, they are one of the most popular products available and can actually produce pretty good repairs.
• If you are using replacement wood to match the existing wood the most important thing to take into consideration when choosing which replacement wood to use is not the colour, as this can be changed, but the grain and cut of the plank from which the wood came.
• Using stains on the wood will make the grain more prominent, whereas pigments will obliterate it. If you have patched the wood then it may be best to use a pigment rather than a grain to finish your wood, so that the patch is less visible, or not at all visible.

Where can I find suitable products?

Most products are now sold over-the-counter at hardware shops or DIY centres. If you wish to get a more professional finish, many restoration companies are starting to sell their products so that people can perform the repairs themselves. These products will usually be of much greater quality, although this will be reflected in the price.

Types of Product

• Exopy Resins - this product can be used for bonding, filleting, fairing, filling, composite construction and coating. Most companies will provide a variety of resins to use. These work better than most adhesives, will dry clear in a short time, and are resistant to water, most soaps, oils, lubricants, fuels, diluted acids, alkalis, and most common chemicals.

• Liquid Wood - this product is an adhesive that can be used to rebuild, reinforce, water- and insect-proof wood by hardening it after penetrating. It can be used on rotted windowsills, frames, furniture, structural and decorative parts of the property, and floors.

• Wood Filler - this is used for large-scale damage to wood. It is an expoxy based resin that has high shock-absorbity and can be coated by most primers and paints.

• Wood Stopper - this product is like wood filler but is used for small scale damage, for example filling small holes etc. It is resistant and can be coated by most primers and paints.

• Burn-In Sticks can be used to fill holes within furniture repair. They are a very popular and effective method of restoration.

• Wood repair kits are also available. These will provide you with all the essential items needed for whichever type of repair you specify, and are often a cheaper way of buying products.

How much will it cost?

The cost of the restoration will depend on a variety of factors, including the extent of the damage, the type of wood, the type of finish that exists and will be applied, and if any replacement wood needs to be used. For a small piece of furniture that needs to have replacement wood fitted and total restoration, the average price would be around £300.

Things to take into consideration?

• You may not need to restore the wood – good cleaning and applying a new finish may be all the wood needs. Make sure you get the wood fully assessed beforehand to see the extent of the damage.
• If you are going to do the restoration or finishing yourself, make sure you use appropriate protection for your skin and clothes as the chemicals can often be harsh.
• Make sure that you keep the temperature cool in the room you are working in, so as not to distort or cause damage to the wood or chemicals.
• Get a few quotes from a variety of different companies before you choose which one to use. This means that you will get an accurate representation of what state the wood is in and what really needs to be done.
• It is often better for the wood to bring an old finish back to life rather than to apply a new one. Try to only refinish wood as a last resort.
• Surface preparation is the most important step in wood refinishing. Make sure that you remove all previous finish and sand the surface down so that it can be worked on.