Real Wood and “Fake” Wood: Can My Furniture Survive Water Damage?

Water damage in your Tulsa home can be devastating– emotionally and financially. Next to the home itself, the next most valuable thing you own is likely the furniture inside, and it may still be possible to rescue some of it. Consider the value of the piece versus the extent of the damage. Your best resource is a full service restoration service from a professional team like Decor Construction.

Evaluate the Damage 

Survey the damage as quickly as possible. In warm and wet conditions, mold can begin to grow in as little as 48 hours. As soon as it is safe to get back in your home, inspect your furniture for what might be salvageable versus what cannot be saved. Bring a camera along to photograph everything, because you will need to file a report for insurance.

Unfortunately, water damage may not be restricted to furniture that has been sitting in water; excessive moisture in the air can also cause damage to furniture. Upholstered furniture that has been sitting in water for too long may be impossible to salvage. Dirty water can foster severe health hazards: growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew.

Salvaging Lightly Damaged Wood Furniture

Quality wood furniture may fare better after a flood, especially if it hasn’t been sitting in water for too long. Your solid wood furniture will need to be cleaned and dried at the very least. If it has been exposed to water for a long period, the joints or veneers may have to be re-glued.
With solid wood furniture, the first step is to clean and dry it so that you may be better able to assess the damage. Moisture in wood furniture can also encourage fungus and mold growth, so drying it is crucial.

Lightly damaged veneers can be glued back on. Cream wood restorers might restore the finish on wood furniture. Even light mildew can be treated, if addressed early enough. 

Heavily Soaked Wood Furniture

For heavily damaged wood furniture that was exposed to water for a longer time, the team at Decor Construction might expedite drying by removing all parts that can be easily disassembled: back panels, drawers, and doors. After cleaning, the furniture will be dried in a ventilated place away from the sun.

Salvaging furniture is a tricky proposition, but if you are able to deal with it soon after the flood, you stand a good chance at saving at least some of our furnishings, especially the most expensive solid wood pieces.

Alternative Engineered Wood Products

Furniture made from manufactured products such as plywood or medium-density fiberboard is probably a total loss. And it is somewhat inaccurate to say that MDF is not real wood, since the material is fabricated from hardwood and softwood byproducts that are bound together with resins and waxes and pressed into sheets under high temperature and pressure. MDF is “wood” to the same degree that plywood is. But these structures are vulnerable to water damage.

In typical furniture or cabinets, the main cabinet box is made of medium-density fiberboard.  It is finished with a papery top layer or melamine foil laminate for the veneers on the exposed sides.The problem is the edges of the construction; water can easily wick into the “board” and weaken the adhesive. Swelling will soon be followed by crumbling furniture.

A Solid Construction Team in Tulsa

When your home and wooden furniture suffer water damage, Décor Construction has the expertise to restore your life. Décor Construction is a licensed general contractor with years of experience with residential remodels, multi-family construction, and reconstruction services. Contact us for help with all your restoration or reconstruction needs.