Water-Damaged Knotty Pine

Assessing Water Damage

• Determine and eliminate the cause of the water damage. Inspect your knotty pine plank by plank. Remove accumulated water at the base of knotty pine planks, which are likely unfinished at the ends. Unfinished knotty pine plank ends can continue absorbing moisture. Check for signs of mildew and mold. Wear a mask when inspecting water-damaged wood, as it may contain toxic mold growth. Warped knotty pine planks may not be repairable. Contact a professional wood restoration service for learning whether or not your warped knotty pine planks can be restored.

Drying

• Water-damaged knotty pine must be dried thoroughly before it can be sanded, primed or refinished. Pine is a soft wood that quickly absorbs water. The raw pine core of your knotty pine planks may be waterlogged. Expose the planks to natural air, fans, and/or heat for drying them. Drying water-damaged knotty pine can take days or even weeks. When your knotty pine is dry, inspect it again for discoloration. Re-sand and prime stubborn discoloration where needed. Allow primed knotty pine surfaces to dry completely before refinishing.

Sanding and Priming

• Restoring water-damaged knotty pine requires refinishing. Sand away the finish on your knotty pine planks. Wipe them clean with a soft dry cloth to remove wood particles from sanding. Prime either discolored spots caused by water stains, mold and mildew, or the entire surface of each plank depending on the level of water damage. Priming all surfaces of knotty pine prevents spreading mold and repels future water damage.

Refinishing

• Knotty pine planking installed in the 1950s and 1960s was finished with oil-based shellac or varnish. Play it safe and select an oil-based finish most closely matching the original color of your water-damaged knotty pine. The appeal of knotty pine lies in its natural knots, wood grain and irregularities. This works in your favor as its textural appearance can conceal imperfections in matching or applying finish. Ensure that all surfaces of your knotty pine are covered including the ends of planks. This keeps moisture out of the soft inner core of knotty pine planks.