Repairing Water-Damaged Woodwork

Technical Procedures Disclaimer

Prior to inclusion in GSA’s library of procedures, documents are reviewed by one or more qualified preservation specialists for general consistency with the Secretary of Interior Standards for rehabilitating historic buildings as understood at the time the procedure is added to the library. All specifications require project-specific editing and professional judgement regarding the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers are to serve as a general guideline and do not constitute a federal endorsement or determination that a product or method is the best or most current alternative, remains available, or is compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards. The library of procedures is intended to serve as a resource, not a substitute, for specification development by a qualified preservation professional.

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We’ve reviewed these procedures for general consistency with federal standards for rehabilitating historic buildings and provide them only as a reference. Specifications should only be applied under the guidance of a qualified preservation professional who can assess the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers serve as general guidelines and do not constitute a federal endorsement nor a determination that a product or method is the best alternative or compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards.

PART 1---GENERAL

1.01 SUMMARY

  1. This procedure includes guidance on repairing woodwork stained from minor water damage.
  2. See 01100-07-S for general project guidelines to be reviewed along with this procedure. These guidelines cover the following sections:
    1. Safety Precautions
    2. Historic Structures Precautions
    3. Submittals
    4.  Quality Assurance
    5. Delivery, Storage and Handling
    6. Project/Site Conditions
    7. Sequencing and Scheduling
    8. General Protection (Surface and Surrounding)

These guidelines should be reviewed prior to performing this procedure and should be followed, when applicable, along with recommendations from the Regional Historic Preservation Officer (RHPO).

PART 2---PRODUCTS

2.01 MATERIALS

  1. Wood stain
  2. Wood bleach: Solution of sodium perborate, hydrogen peroxide or proprietary mixture suitable for oak.
  3. Wood filler, colored to match wood
  4. Sandpaper: Extra fine grit
  5. Mild cleaner such as "Murphy's Oil Soap" or approved equal.

PART 3---EXECUTION

3.01 PREPARATION

  1. Surface Preparation:
    1. Mask all adjacent surfaces and protect other exposed surfaces in the work area.
    2.  Fill any splits in existing wood and sand smooth prior to sealer application.

3.02 ERECTION, INSTALLATION, APPLICATION

  1. Select an inconspicuous area on which to test materials and application for each method type required. Test area must be approved by the Contracting Officer.
  2. After each test area has been prepared, receive approval from the Contracting Officer before commencing general application.
  3.  Check area with a moisture meter to verify that wood does not have moisture on surface.
  4.  Sand stained areas to bare wood.
  5.  If bare wood is stained, apply wood bleach to remove stain. Minimize flow of bleach onto areas not stained. Allow to dry and sand wood lightly to remove chemical residue.
  6. Fill wood if required and apply stain of color to match existing.

3.03 ADJUSTING/CLEANING

  1. Wash woodwork with mild detergent and water.
  2. Dry immediately with clean cloth.
  3. . Finish to match historic finish.