5 often overlooked causes of furniture damage

5 often overlooked causes of furniture damage

Furniture can be expensive to replace, so it’s important that you look after it. By understanding the common ways in which furniture gets damaged, you can take measures to protect your furniture. Obvious causes of furniture damage include drink spillages and general wear & tear. However, there are other things that can cause furniture to prematurely wear. Here are a few often overlooked causes to consider.

Sun damage

Exposing some types of furniture to direct sunlight can cause UV damage. This can cause fading, discolouration and can even weaken some materials. When placing furniture directly in front of windows, consider drawing the curtains on sunny summer days or cover up furniture to reduce damage. Alternatively, you can try using fabric UV protector sprays, which can provide a barrier against UV light. Just make sure to use a protector spray that is suited to the material.

Moving furniture

Furniture often gets damaged while moving it – particularly when moving it from one house to another without the help of professional movers. Carelessly knocking or dropping furniture can lead to small cracks, which can then become worse over time. Hiring removalists could help to prevent damage caused while moving furniture and help you to preserve it for longer. Want to invest in furniture that you can easily move yourself? Consider choosing lightweight furniture with castors or that can be easily disassembled.

Incorrect cleaning

Many people damage furniture by cleaning it incorrectly. For example, some materials like fabric and leather can be easily damaged by harsh cleaning chemicals or scourers. Other materials can be prone to moisture damage and therefore should not be soaked when cleaning them. When buying new furniture, check the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer. Specialist products may be worth buying to help clean some materials, but in many cases you can use DIY remedies.

Heat exposure

Some types of furniture can also be damaged by exposure to excess heat. Wooden furniture can often warp and crack when placed too close to a radiator or fireplace. This can be the result of the wood swelling and contracting, as well glue melting. Meanwhile, some materials such as fabrics and leather can shrink when exposed to heat, which can make them more susceptible to tearing. This is why it’s important to keep furniture away from heat sources unless it has been specifically designed to withstand a lot of heat.

Pest infestations

In some parts of the world, pests can wreak havoc on furniture. Termites and woodworm are two common pests that tend to target wooden furniture. If you notice evidence of these pests, it’s vital that you take steps to eradicate them, as they could quickly weaken the furniture and cause it to collapse and break. Boric acid is a routine chemical that can be used to remove insects from wood without causing damage to the wood itself. You can buy this in spray bottles from many online stores. If you have an infestation in your home, it may be better to call in a professional to fumigate your home, as pests may simply keep returning to furniture if the source isn’t eradicated.

[disclosure*]

You may approach the bench

Un-restored vintage work bench | H is for Home

In last Monday’s Get their Look post we featured a very nice relaxed kitchen which combined open shelving and contemporary fixtures & fittings with one-off vintage pieces. One such item was a lovely rustic work bench that took a prominent position in the space. As luck had it, we came across this old woodworking bench at auction the following day. With the potential that these items possess still firmly in our mind, we obviously couldn’t resist putting in a bid.

Vintage unrestored work bench showing the side attached vice

We already have a large work bench in our own kitchen, but you can never have too many! We’re confident that this one will look amazing after a bit of TLC. First off, it needs a good wash to remove the grime. Fortunately, there’s no horrible layers of grease, oil or tar – so that should be a very straightforward task with a bit of diluted wood wash. Then, we’ll let it dry thoroughly, make a couple of tiny repairs, then finally wax and polish. We can see that the wood has a lovely colour and grain beneath the dust and grime.

Vintage unrestored work bench showing the tool storage holes

The finished piece will be perfect for the kitchen or garden room. The holes along one edge are ideal for knives, wooden spoons or other kitchen utensils… trowels and dibbers if it ends up with a more horticultural re-purposing. There’s plenty of space underneath for boxes, baskets or sacks too. This one doesn’t have slats sitting atop the cross stretchers. We’ll probably leave as is, but they could easily be added if desired.

Here are some more examples of these old work benches given new leases of life!

Vintage workbench in a carpenter's studiocredit

Vintage wooden work bench upcycled as a sink islandcredit

Vintage wooden work bench upcycled into a kitchen islandcredit

Vintage wooden work bench repurposed into a dining tablecredit

DIY project: How to paint furniture

DIY project: How to paint furniture | H is fir Home

If your new year’s resolutions involve getting crafty or sprucing up your living space, you’ll be glad to know that giving new life to a piece of furniture is a weekend project with a low cost investment and high style returns. With a little patience and a few pro tips, you can turn a tired boot sale find or a hand-me-down you’re sick of looking at into a show piece.

Here’s what you need to do:

Painted 3-legged bedside table

  1. Remove any hardware and apply elbow grease

Before you paint, you must prep! Cleaning the piece thoroughly will ensure that any grease or dirt that could ruin your finished paint job is removed. If your piece is heavily soiled, most hardware stores will have products on hand designed especially for preparing wood furniture for painting.

Green painted chest of drawers

  1. Sand and sand again

Choose a medium grit sandpaper to remove the finish or any old paint or stain. A power sander works well for this job, but make sure to buy sanding sheets or blocks for any detail work. If your piece is older, be sure to wear a dust mask designed for painting and sanding; many old paints were lead-based and can cause lung damage if inhaled. That’s why we prefer Benjamin Moore paint.

Blue painted outdoor chairs

  1. Prime time

After removing any sanding dust with a tack cloth, it’s time to paint your piece with primer. There are plenty of great brush-application primers on the market, but if you have the space and equipment, a spray primer also works well and ensures an even application.

White painted dressing table

  1. We said sand again!

After your first coat of primer is dry, a light sanding with a fine grit paper will reveal any imperfections or areas which might need another coat of primer. This ensures an even application of paint and will give your finished furniture a professional result.

Light grey painted metal cabinet with drawers

  1. Paint time

When your piece is fully dry, apply 2-3 coats of paint, allowing drying time in between. You may also choose to sand lightly in between coats. Select a paint that gives a gloss or semi-gloss finish, as it will be more durable and easier to clean. Depending on the primer you chose, you can opt for either a latex or oil finish paint. Many older guides may insist on oil paint for furniture, but with the right primer and the right prep, latex paint will be very hard-wearing.

Pink painted chest drawer with button knob

  1. Finisher

Give your piece 24 hours to dry, then protect your finished work with a sealant or furniture wax. As with primer, you can choose a manual application or spray-on product. Allow another 24 hours to dry, and then proudly display your rejuvenated furniture in your home.

[disclosure*]