How to Conserve Antique Wood
It is becoming increasingly popular to salvage antique wood from barns and old houses. This wood can be a valuable material and add interest and character to new construction. It often consists of sizes and species that would difficult and very expensive to acquire today (such as oak, walnut and cherry). To be useful, antique wood needs to be properly conserved and stored until it is used in new construction or cabinetmaking. The most important factors to consider in wood conservation are humidity, light and pests.
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Things You'll Need
- Hygrometer (to measure relative humidity)
- Mineral spirits
- Orvus detergent (paste)
Instructions
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Control Environment
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Monitor humidity closely. The ideal humidity for wood is typically 45-55 percent but varies by climate. It's most important to keep it at a constant level and avoid rapid swings. Do not allow relative humidity above 65 percent, as mold can start growing. Wood can split when levels are below 35 percent.
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Use a hygrometer to monitor levels, and maintain proper humidity seasonally with HVAC humidity controls or with humidifier/dehumidifier units.
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Limit UV light exposure (especially sunlight and fluorescent light). Antique wood often has a nice patina that needs to be preserved, and prolonged exposure to UV light will bleach wood.
Control Pests
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Inspect regularly for pests. High humidity and moisture will facilitate mold growth and attract termites. Also watch out for powderpost beetles, carpenter ants and carpenter bees. Rodents are also harmful as they will gnaw on wood.
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Keep the area around the wood dry and clean to prevent pests by removing food sources.
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Use pesticides, if needed, for large pieces of wood such as flooring and timbers. Smaller pieces can be frozen to remove pests, particularly powderpost beetles. Wrap the wood in airtight polyethylene and freeze for two weeks. Allow it to thaw and freeze it for another week.
Storage and Cleaning
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Avoid storing wood directly on concrete, stone or brick floors. The wood will absorb moisture and lead to mold, rot and risk of termites. Also avoid storage in damp basements or outdoor sheds with no climate control.
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Do only limited cleaning. Don't use oils or other products like polishes, as they may actually hasten deterioration and ruin the antique patina.
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Do clean certain stains, but do not clean antique stains that are part of the character and patina of the wood. To clean stains, start with the least harmful material (spit, water or Orvus detergent) and work your way up to solvents (like mineral spirits) for tough stains.
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Use paste wax if you want to improve the wood's surface appearance. Thin layers of paste wax, like Renaissance or Johnson's, will not be harmful to the wood or patina.
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Tips & Warnings
If wood gets flooded, leave wood alone and first removed standing water. Use fans to increase ventilation to reduce risk of mold.
Conserving antique wood is very similar to furniture conservation.
Contrary to myth, old wood does not need to be "fed." Adding oil or other materials to wood will not help in its preservation and may actually be harmful.
