Wood repair in San Diego: 5 tips for repairing damaged wood in your home

The San Diego weather and the passage of time can start to make your home’s wooden parts look old and worn out. 

Most of the time, a good old-fashioned paint job can help cover up small blemishes in the wood and make your home look fresh again. Sometimes, however, the damage to the wood might become more extensive, and even a coat of paint might not be enough to hide it.

Of course, this doesn’t always mean that you’ll need to replace your home’s damaged wood parts completely; with a few small repairs, you can have them looking new again!

Let’s take a look at some easy tips for wood repair in San Diego 🙂

1. Fixing minor scratches

Minor scratches are a common issue you’ll see on wooden surfaces, especially on floorboards, which are likely to get damaged from years of shoes treading over them.

To patch up scratches, combine three parts canola oil with one part vinegar and mix it well. Next, using a small paintbrush, apply the mixture to the scratched area on the wood.

Let the mixture sit on the wood for a few hours and then wipe it away. Repeat the process as many times as you want until all the scratches are gone.

2. Repairing holes

Holes in wood can appear after small animals, such as woodworms or beetle larvae, bore into it. These kinds of damages are more extensive than scratches, but they can be fixed easily with some wood filler.

First, clear any debris from the hole, and then, using a putty knife, fill the hole up with wood filler, making sure not to apply too much pressure. Once the hole is filled, scrape off the excess filler.

Leave the filler to dry for at least 24 hours, and then use sandpaper to smooth down the area.

3. Removing watermarks

Water leaks can lead to very noticeable dark stains appearing on wood surfaces. To get rid of these unsightly stains, all you need is some petroleum jelly!

Take a dab of the substance onto a piece of cloth and rub it on the water-stained area in a circular motion. If the stain doesn’t go away, let the affected area sit for two hours and apply the petroleum jelly again. 

You could even use toothpaste to remove water stains—the non-whitening and non-gel variety. Apply the paste in the direction of the wood grain. Afterward, remove the paste and apply wood polish onto the area.

4. Restoring glossy wood surfaces

Wood surfaces may eventually lose their glossy finish over time, but this can be fixed with some coconut oil!

Start by cleaning the wood using a damp towel, and then rub a small amount of coconut oil in a circular motion. Leave the oil to set for about 15 minutes and wipe it away.

If the wood still doesn’t look glossy enough, try mixing half a lemon’s worth of juice with one-quarter cup of coconut oil and apply the mixture onto the wood. Wait for about two minutes and wipe the mixture away.

5. Getting rid of mold

Mold is a common sight in damp parts of a home. Not only is mold unsightly, but it can also release harmful spores, so it’s best to remove them immediately if you see any on your wood floors or sidings.

Before cleaning the mold, you should take a few precautions. Make sure to wear a surgical mask and a clean pair of gloves, and use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter on the mold-infected area to remove as many spores as you can.

Then, mix some dishwashing soap with warm water and apply it to the affected area, and use a soft brush to scrub the mold away. 

Speak to a professional for wood repair in San Diego

To truly make your home’s old wood surfaces look new again, you’ll need a professional touch. Look for a professional San Diego painting service that also specializes in wood repair. This way, you can get your home’s wood surfaces repaired, and even a nice paint job done afterward 🙂