How to Make an Antique Into a Bathroom Vanity
To use antique wood furniture in the wet and humid environment of a bathroom you must spend some time preparing the wood. Adequate preparation will preserve the wood of the antique and enhance the beauty, restoring it to good condition and allowing its style and elegance to shine. Preparation of wood to be used in a bathroom includes stripping old stain, restaining, and sealing the wood. You must also decide if the vanity will have a sink attached to it or near it, as the amount of direct water to which your antique is exposed will determine the kind of finish you use. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Strip the antique of the original finish. Sand the finish down using a high-grit sandpaper, between 100 and 150 grit. Wipe down the surface after sanding with a damp cloth. Apply a chemical stripper to the finish. Use a "wash away" chemical stripper to reduce hassle during cleanup. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the chemicals. Allow the chemical stripper to sit on the finish. Begin to scrape off the old finish once it is soft and gummy and can be peeled back with a putty knife.
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Clean the chemical stripper off of the wood with water. Sand with 120-grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth to the touch, and then sand with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any residue.
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Apply a thin layer of oil-based stain. Although there are many different varieties of stain, oil-based is the best option for wood that will be in a bathroom. Apply a second thicker layer after the first layer has been absorbed into the wood but before it has dried. Use a rag to apply the stain and move the stain over the wood with the grain rather than against it.
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Remove excess stain with a clean rag and allow the wood to dry completely. Apply a very thin layer of finish to the dry surface. Apply evenly, allow it to dry, and then sand the surface with 400 grit sandpaper. Wipe down the surface with a dry cloth. This will seal the stain.
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Apply finish in several layers, sanding in between layers. Use a medium to high-gloss polyurethane as finish because it is water-resistant and long-lasting.
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Select a mirror with an elegant antique feel to compliment your restored antique vanity. Hang the mirror on the wall directly behind the vanity or attach it to the vanity itself. Avoid allowing excess water to sit directly on the wood and install an exhaust ceiling fan (if one is not already installed) to ensure proper ventilation and to reduce humidity in the bathroom.
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Tips & Warnings
When working with stain and finish always make sure there is plenty of ventilation.
Unless you are adept with plumbing, contract a professional to install a sink into the vanity if it does not already have one. Installing a sink will require a hole drilled in the back of the vanity. If you are considering the original value of the antique, as well as eventual resale value, you may wish not to drill into it in order to maintain the piece's integrity.
References
- Photo Credit armario image by Jaume Felipe from Fotolia.com
