How to Repair Wood Furniture Buckled from Water

Water can be very damaging to wood surfaces, and so the best practice is to keep water spills and moisture to a minimum. Sometimes, however, the damage is done before you can act. If you have wood furniture buckled and misshapen due to water damage, you can flatten the wood and make the furniture usable again. The wood may revert to its buckled state, however, and you may need to continue treating the wood.

Towel
Clothes iron, hot plate or food warmer
Electric blanket
Clamps
Steaming towel
Plastic sheet

Instructions

- 1
  Run your hand over the piece of furniture to find the exact position of the buckling or warping. Concentrating your efforts on the section of wood that buckled or warped gives you the greatest chance of success.
- 2
  Place a towel on top of the furniture's warped area. Lay a hot clothes iron on top of the warped portion covered by the towel. The iron's heat helps to reduce moisture in the convex part of the buckle. Instead of a clothes iron, you may place a hot plate or food warmer on top of the furniture to warm it and reduce moisture.
- 3
  Wrap the warped or buckled area in an electric blanket if using a hot clothes iron, hot plate or food warmer did not repair the wood. Clamp the electric blanket in place, and turn on the blanket. The heat from the electric blanket, coupled with the clamping, can reduce or eliminate warping and buckling.
- 4
  Lay a steaming towel over the concave side of the buckle. Wrap the towel-covered area in a plastic sheet to reduce evaporation. This procedure introduces extra moisture to the wood and helps to smooth out the concave side of the warped area.

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