Furniture
Maintenance
Stair Restoration
Furniture that comes to Stair Restoration
for treatment is often damaged due to long term exposure to conditions
that affect the surface and structure of wooden objects. Temperature,
moisture, exposure to light, insects and the accumulation of dirt can
cause permanent damage. Once we have treated a piece of furniture we
like to be certain that it will be returned to an environment
that minimizes further deterioration to the integrity and value of the piece.
Light and UV radiation contribute
to the deterioration of the wood's upper most surface as well as any
applies finish. Protecting the original finish of an antique is most
important for retaining its value and history. A piece of period furniture
with a good original finish showing a rich patina accumulated over years
of good maintenance is preferable to a piece that had had to be refinished.
Exposure to light will alter the composition of a finish to the extent
that it no longer reflects the character of the wood's color or figure.
When finish becomes so compromised restoration becomes difficult
resulting in the loss of an original finish. For this reason it is important
to protect furniture from light damage by drawing shades or shutters,
and by installing UV blocking glass or film on windows. Rooms that are
not in use should have the furniture covered to protect it from unnecessary
light and dust exposure.
Dirt and dust on furniture
can be a potent source of deterioration because the chemical content
of grease, soot, dusts or stains many alter the nature of the finish.
Careful cleaning is important to insure that the activity or solvent
which removes the dirt does not adversely affect the finish. Routine
cleaning is important so that dirt does not accumulate on a surface
making cleaning more intrusive that necessary.
Temperature and relative humidity are factors which affect the inherent
properties of wood. No matter what the age and structure of a piece
of furniture it will always be affected by changes in seasons or location
where the fluctuation of moisture and temperature cause swelling and
shrinkage to the wood. A room containing valuable antiques should have
a hygrometer to monitor humidity and thermostat to control temperature.
Ideally we like to see furniture maintained in an environment that
has no major changes in a 24 hour period with temperatures between 60-70
degrees and a relative humidity at 45-55%. Furniture that is exposed
to heat and dampness during the summer months and then a cycle of cooler
dryer or even overheated months in winter will over time sustain damage
to both the finish and the structure. Even under the most stable conditions
wood is in constant motion. Extremes in temperature and moisture will
make the movement more dramatic as wood expands and contracts the result
is cleaving veneer, splitting tops and sides, and loosening of joints.
Applied finishes that cannot move with the wood will eventually crack
and craze.
The use of dehumidifiers and air conditioners during damp months and
humidifiers with lowering room temperatures during the dryer months
will help avoid extreme fluctuations in temperature and moisture. Furniture
located in over heated rooms or near a heat source will sustain damage
to the structure due to intense shrinkage. It is always good to at least
minimize changes that result in dramatic movement over time.
Monitoring temperature and moisture will also protect furniture against
mold and mildew which can ruin the reflective quality of a finish and
cause the finish and veneers to ten or cleave from the wood surface.
Furniture should never be stored where moisture is most evident as in
a basement where mold and mildew as well as insect infestation can proliferate.
Furniture that shows evidence of tiny holes and dust accumulation, the
result of insect activity, will have to be fumigated.
Restoration of a piece of furniture should be as minimal as necessary to
maintain clarity of finish and structural stability. With good housekeeping
practices antiques will sustain less damage over years, therefore minimizing
the intrusion of repair and retaining their value and history.
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Protect furniture from over exposure to light.
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Keep furniture in rooms where humidity and temperature are stabilized as much as possible.
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Don't use spray 'furniture polish' containing silicone which attracts dirt and damages the finish.
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Store furniture in cool dry places. Avoid locations like moist basements or hot attics.
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Plan a regular schedule for surface cleaning of antiques to avoid build of dust and dirt.
Stair Restoration is located in Claverack, New York just about 2 hours north of New York City. ...
