Restoring and caring for your antique wooden pieces

Antique timber furniture is classic. It’s guaranteed to enrich any space with style and timelessness. However, when you’re dealing with older pieces that may have significant wear and tear, looking after them usually requires a delicate touch. From cherished family heirlooms to trendy vintage finds, restoring and caring for antique wooden pieces ensures their beauty lasts for generations.

Below, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to help you breathe new life into your beloved antique wooden furnishings.

Sad IE Sept Blog Image 1

1. Take a look at the piece and determine the condition: Before starting your restoration work, take some time to carefully examine the piece in question. Look for signs of damage like scratches, cracks, dents, dings, wood rot, or loose joints. If the piece is particularly valuable or has historical significance, we recommend consulting a professional before attempting any work on your own.

2. Give the surface a clean: Antique pieces can naturally accumulate grime as the years go by. It’s part of their charm, after all! Gently clean your piece with a gentle wood cleaner and water, avoiding harsh chemicals that may cause damage. Use a soft cloth or brush to carefully clean, focusing on detailed areas like carvings. For heavily soiled pieces, opt for a wood soap to remove dirt without stripping the wood’s natural oils. Avoid soaking or oversaturating the wood with water as excess moisture can warp or damage the surface.

Sad IE Sept Blog Image 2

3. Remove the old finish if needed: If the finish is damaged or flaking, you might need to strip it. Start by applying a paint or varnish stripper with a brush, and let it sit as directed. Then, gently scrape off the softened finish using a plastic scraper to protect the wood. After that, sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper (220 or higher) for a smooth finish. For delicate pieces, it’s best to hand sand for more control and to avoid damaging the wood. As always, if you’re unsure of how to proceed with your restoration, we recommend contacting a qualified professional.

4. Make your repairs to the wooden piece: After stripping the old finish, check again for any structural issues within the piece. You can use a wood glue to fix loose joints or broken parts, clamping them until the glue dries. For deeper scratches or gouges, fill them with Sadolin’s Stainable Woodfiller. Sadolin Stainable Woodfiller is an easy to mix and use two pack woodfiller. Specially formulated to accept woodstains therefore providing the perfect match to your wood or woodstain. When cured, Sadolin Stainable Woodfiller may be worked as wood. Use for large surface defects. Minor cracks can be reinforced with a good wood adhesive. Once the repairs are done, give the surface a light sanding to smooth out any excess filler.

Sad IE Sept Blog Image 3

5. Refinish and beautify your antique timber piece: After you’ve finished making repairs and you’ve given yourself a nice clean slate, it’s time to refinish your piece. Sadolin’s range of quality woodstains and varnishes offer excellent protection to keep your timber looking beautiful for longer. If needed, apply a primer first. Then, using a brush, evenly apply the woodstain along the grain. Once dry, you can apply a Sadolin varnish for extra protection. Apply multiple coats of varnish for pieces that get frequent use or are in high traffic areas.

Caring for your antique wooden pieces is a labour of love. The above steps will help you bring new life to your treasured furnishings and help them last for decades to come so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. Call into your local Sadolin stockist for everything you need for your next timber project.

Your nearest Sadolin store