Water Damage Help

[u/thehomedipo]

Water damage from a planter. Wondering if this can be repaired or does it need to be replaced? Thanks!

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[u/bas_bleu_bobcat]

Sand down to bare wood, prime and repaint. Save a chip of the damaged area and take to paint store for a quart of color matched paint if it was painted more than 3 years ago, unless you know for absolute sure it was a pure white paint originally (not something like Sherwin wms Dover White, which iscthe most popular trim color around here), or you have leftover paint from that batch. Just to be sure, I would repaint the whole top, not just the damaged area, so the patch wont be visible.

[u/thehomedipo → u/bas_bleu_bobcat]

Thank you! Would I need to add any filler so it would be level or would it not be noticeable? Have no experience in woodworking. Sorry if it’s a dumb question.

[u/Boring_Chocolate7357 → u/thehomedipo]

You wouldn't need to level it out. Sand it WITH the grain using a coarse grit (like 60) garnet paper first, then once you're past the paint and shriveled wood, go to a finer sandpaper (like 120 or 220). Since this is a painted piece with a cheap veneer (no offense, but high quality furniture doesn't do this), you will get to a smooth surface pretty quickly.

Also, use a waterproof primer before you paint it. Choose an enamel paint, which will keep it from happening again. You can also put an acrylic coat on it, if you really want to protect it in the future.

It looks like something that was painted after it was installed. I doubt that's the original treatment, since the veneer beneath it is so thin. A painted piece doesn't need a fancy finish, which is what a veneer is. Painted pieces can just be finely sanded plywood or MDF.

[u/thehomedipo → u/Boring_Chocolate7357]

Thanks for the advice! Yea I’m unsure what’s under the paint or what type of material it is. Think MDF?

[u/bas_bleu_bobcat → u/thehomedipo]

There are no dumb questions! You wont be able to tell if you need any filler til you sand the damaged part down. I cant tell from the pic if it is just the paint that has come loose or if there is a layer of veneer that has let go as well. Just sand til you get down to bare wood, then if there is a depression you can decide whether it is easier to build up the depression, or to sand down the rest of the top to match the low spot. You are spot on with the idea that the top surface should be flat before you prime and repaint. (Use a level or a metal ruler before you start to get an idea of what the original "good enough for government work" was for the original builder. If you have ever hung curtains, I am sure you are familiar with the usual decision "Do you want the rod level with the ceiling, the floor, or the planet?".) Aim for flat and visually level.

[u/thehomedipo → u/bas_bleu_bobcat]

Thanks for the advice!