How To Fix Crumbling Particle Board: Step By Step Process Of Fixing Particle Board Water Damage

Step By Step Process Of Fixing Particle Board Water Damage

Particleboard is a kind of composite wood that is usually used to construct furniture, door cores, floors, as well as cabinets. The wood is composed or put together from sawdust or wood chips and glue. When particleboard gets wet, it can expand or even disintegrate. Manufacturers use particleboard, due to the reason that it is less expensive in comparison to plywood. Except if the water damage is significant, the particleboard can be fixed after getting wet. Particleboard that will be exposed to moisture needs to be treated with paint or waterproofing material in order to prevent further damage.

Step 1: Dry The Wet Area

The first step when it comes to fixing a water-damaged particle board is to dry the wet section. It does take a long time in order to dry naturally, so give some time & be patient. If you don't have enough time & want to speed up the process, then you can use a hairdryer in order to dry the wet area quickly. Simply direct the hairdryer to the wet section & take hold of it for a while in order to make sure that the particle board has a chance to dry evenly.

Step 2: Buff Off The Raised Area

As soon as the particle board has dried entirely, the surface may be uneven. Then, you will need to buff off the raised area using some sandpaper. Buffing the damaged area will be very helpful in leveling out your surface. When you buff the particleboard, the dried section will then be exposed. It is important to remove the damaged sections of the material. Medium-grit sandpaper should be used when you are looking to get rid of the damaged portions of the particle board. Finer grit sandpaper should be used when you are looking to buff the area to finish the repair. Buffing the areas help give the sheets a smoother finish. You are left with the option of finishing using a waterproof coating in order to make sure that you don’t deal with the raised wet problem again. If you opt to use a waterproof coating, you will need to set it aside to dry fully & then move on to the next step.

Step 3: Cut Out Damaged Areas Of The Board

After drying your waterproofed particle board, or sanding down your material, you will remove the damaged parts of the particle board. Cut out the swollen and damaged parts of the material, with the help of a knife. Any portions that have turned into a powdery texture or gotten wet need to be removed. Again, you need to give your board time to dry. Use a vacuum tool in order to suck out any powdery sections left on the particle board. Anything left can otherwise damage the particle material from the inside out.

Step 4: Add Wood Filler To The Holes

You need to buy a can of wood filler & mix it together, making sure to go through the instructions on the label provided. Use a knife or a scraper in order to apply the wood filler into the holes you have created. Use the tool in order to make sure that it is level with the rest of the board. Scrape any excess filler out in order to make sure that the entire particle board has an even surface.

Step 5: Sand The Area To Finish The Repair

As soon as your wood filler has dried, finish off using a fine-grit piece of sandpaper. This last sanding will make sure that the whole completed board is even as well as smooth. Now, it is time to follow up with another coat of waterproof seal. This will help keep your board from experiencing this damage again in the future.