Can my flood damage furniture be restored after "The Great Flood" of 2016?

I have been driving around Ascension Parish this week after the “Great Flood of 2016”, and its heartbreaking to see everyone’s lives tossed to the front of the street. Pile after pile of hard earned money having to be put in the garbage. I couldn’t help but see beautiful pieces of furnishings in those piles. It made me wonder if these items could be salvaged. I know many people have more going on with trying to get their lives back in order but what if you could save grandmas solid wood hope chest or that antique cypress hutch? So, I did some digging around, and I found out IT CAN BE SAVED!!! I am relieved that I can share some helpful tips to keep those treasured pieces.

(The follow information came from http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/chap05/d05-22.pdf)

Flooded Wooden Furniture

Wooden furniture damaged by floods can best be salvaged through slow drying and proper repair.
Submerged Furniture
1.Take furniture outdoors and remove as many drawers, slides and removable parts as possible. Drawers and doors will probably be stuck tight. Do not try to force them out from the front.

2.After allowing to dry for a brief period, use a screwdriver or chisel to remove the back and push out the drawer from behind.
After you have removed movable parts, clean off mud and dirt, using a hose if necessary.

3 Take all furniture indoors and store it where it will dry slowly. Furniture left in the sun to dry will warp and twist out of shape.
́ When furniture is dry, re-glue it if necessary. You will need woodworking tools and clamps to re-glue some pieces. Before you start, decide whether you have the time, equipment and ability to do the work. Consult an experienced cabinetmaker if necessary. To reglue loose joints, thoroughly clean joints of old glue so the area will be as clean and free of glue as possible. Use white all-purpose glue, following the directions on the container. Hold parts together with rope tourniquets or suitable clamps. To prevent damage from ropes or clamps, pad contact areas with cloth protection.

Damp Furniture — Removing White Spots

Furniture that has been submerged in flood waters will frequently exhibit mildew or mold which can be removed with warm soapy (mild detergent) water and a soft cloth. White spots or a cloudy film may develop on damp furniture that has not been submerged. To remove white spots:
± If the entire surface is affected, rub with a damp cloth dipped in turpentine or in a solution of 1 2 cup household ammonia and

1 2-cup water. Wipe dry at once and polish with wax or furniture polish.

2 If color is not restored, dip 000 steel wool in oil (boiled linseed, olive, mineral or lemon). Rub lightly with the wood grain. Wipe with a soft cloth and re-wax

3 For deep spots use a drop or two of ammonia on a damp cloth. Rub at once with a dry cloth. Polish. Rubbing cigarette ashes, powdered pumice or a piece of walnut into spots may help remove them.
́ If spots remain after all efforts to remove them, the piece should be stripped of the old finish and refinished.

Veneered Furniture

1.Thoroughly dry furniture. If veneer is loose in just a few places, carefully scrape glue under loose areas.
± Press veneer back in place. Place wax paper over affected area; heat with warm iron. Remove iron and place weights on the area.
If veneering doesn’t stay in place or is bubbled, carefully slit the loose veneer with a razor blade and apply a good quality glue. Weights are applied after covering glued spots with wax paper to prevent excess glue (which may spurt out when pressure is applied) from gluing the weights to the furniture.
Repairing badly damaged veneered furniture requires special skill and tools. Unless you are an experienced woodworker, don’t attempt the job yourself. Take the furniture to a cabinetmaker or have your dealer return it to the factory for repair.
If insurance allows part value on flood-damaged furniture, it may be financially worthwhile to apply the money to new articles, rather than pay for extensive repairs.
Straightening Warped Furniture Boards
Slightly warped furniture boards, as in table or dresser tops, often can be straightened if they are solid wood. However, do not attempt to straighten severely warped parts, veneered parts (veneer usually separates) or parts with an elaborate grain, such as curly maple. If such pieces are worth salvage expense, send them to a reliable furniture repair shop. Get a cost estimate before leaving the piece for repair. To straighten slightly warped boards:
± Remove the warped board from the furniture.

2 Strip the board of its old finish. A clean board will straighten better than a finished board. You may have to strip the entire
piece of furniture to attain an even finish when the board is straightened, refinished and replaced.

3 The principle of warp removal is to add moisture to the dry side (concave) and remove it from the wet side (convex). Do this by:
– Placing the board with the wet side (convex) down on a radiator or heat vent in the winter.
– Placing wet side (concave) up in the direct rays of the sun.
With either method keep the concave side moist with damp cloths, place bricks or other weights on top of the board and leave it for several days or until board is straight.
́ Clamp board in flat position when it has straightened. Place clamps 12 inches apart or less. Use small pieces of wood or pads between board and clamps to protect the board. Loosen clamps and move them slightly once or twice a day to prevent splitting. You may place several boards in the same clamps. Insert small wooden blocks between boards for air space.
*Stand on end and leave in the clamped position until thoroughly dry. This will take from several days to several weeks.
*Paint or refinish as desired. Apply the finish to both underside and top of board. This will keep the board from absorbing moisture and from eventually re-warping.

As gut wrenching this flood has been for so many, maybe these tips will help you salvage some treasured keepsakes. I look forward to see how all of the affected parish’s thrive after this. The people of South Louisiana are the most resilient people I have ever known, and I’m proud to be here.

#YOURrealestatewhisperer