How to Prevent Wood Furniture From Cracking?

How to Prevent Wood Furniture From Cracking?

When you put excessive weight on wooden furniture, cracks can quickly appear on them.

Due to an increase in the growth ring, wood becomes dry and shrinks. The use of high-quality timber makes your furniture more durable and resistant to damages.

How to Prevent Wood Furniture From Cracking? You can prevent your wooden furniture from cracking by keeping them away from sunlight, pests, and moisture. Cracking in wooden furniture is also controlled by fixing the panels in parallel positions to stop its expansion from different sides.

I recommended that check the quality of wood instead of its style while purchasing furniture.

Apply sealer material at the sides of it to stop it from cracking. In addition, it stops the airflow between the gap and saves it from drying.

Protect your wooden furniture from sunlight

Sunlight is the leading cause that damages the wood and causes discoloration in it. 

It contains lignin that keeps them strong, but it is affected by UV light that makes them weak.

Therefore, keep them away from the sunlight and in a shady place. Sunlight coming from the window of your room and also affects them.

Therefore, covers your windows with dark curtains to stop sunlight. 

You can also use window films to protect them from direct sun exposure.

Use a varnish coating that is made of eggshells; it protects your furniture from UV light.

Lacquer has cellulose resins that protect them from damage. You can also paint your tables to protect them from the heat that is coming from the sunlight.

Use of dehumidifiers on wooden furniture

At room temperature, the humidity of wood is around 52% to 58%; therefore, take care of your furniture.

If you do not maintain room temperature, then it expands and starts to break. To protect it from temperature fluctuations that come due to changes in environmental conditions.

I use dehumidifiers to reduce the humidity in the room and stop the wood from damage. Do not put wet clothes on them for drying. I always use dehumidifiers during the rainy season to decrease the moisture content in the room.

Use an exhaust fan during cooking and bathing to maintain the humidity level. 

When humidity increases, furniture swells about 1 to 3 inches, and cracks appear on them. Due to this condition, it breaks.

Due to low humidity than ideal conditions also make them weak. It is better to place it in stable environmental conditions. This also helps to remove excess oil from the furniture.

Do not put on a wet cloth

Do not put dry the clothes on furniture because it absorbs moisture and easily cracks. Also, do not keep them in the basement; otherwise, it starts aging more quickly.

Fix the wood parts properly; otherwise, it starts to damage. It absorbs moisture, and you cannot stop this process. 

Avoid keeping a flower vase directly on the table because it contains moisture.

You cannot use cotton fabric or table mats because it soaks up the water. Always use waterproof mats or rubber mats to protect your table from wet stains.

Do not put a wet jug and cup on the table because it damages its surface.

Keep wooden furniture away from the heater

Wood is flammable; therefore, keep your furniture away from the heat; otherwise, it catches fire. Also, do not put it near vents because it can cause heating and it starts to break. Instead, rehydrate them regularly to prevent cracking.

Keep it at a safe distance from the heaters; otherwise, heat can damage the wood. 

You can touch these panels because their temperature is about 55 to 60 degrees Celcius. You should keep them about 18 to 20 inches away from heaters.

Space heaters heat your room at high temperatures and damage your furniture badly. Keep them about 5 to 6 feet away from space heaters.

Do not put hot pans directly on furniture; otherwise, heat stains produce that looks bad. Instead, you can use table covers and mats to put hot things on it.

Do not keep furniture in an open environment

The natural beauty of wood is lost when you keep it outside the house. Instead, you can use oil paint to protect them from harsh weather conditions.

Cover it with plastic sheets, and also use water sealant to protect furniture from the rain. Keep the plants away from them; otherwise, the moisture from plants damages them.

Due to changes in environmental conditions, the growth remains to continues in timber. 

Do not keep dark color furniture in the open air because it fades the shade of the furniture.

Do not use glue to fix the perpendicular parts; otherwise, it starts to crack. Set the blocks in that position so that they all expand in the same direction.

Do not fix your wood panels in the cross-grain situation; otherwise, it starts to expand from every side and break.

Protection from wood pest

These pests live inside wood and weak it from time to time.

Termites chew the wood to eat cellulose and damage your furniture. This destructive insect eats the tables and forms long grooves in them.

Carpenter ants are black and live in wet wood. If moisture levels in the house increases then, the termites’ growth also increases.

Beetles are wood-destroying insects; they lay eggs on the timber and destroy the quality of chairs.

Remove leaks from your house so that it does not affect the furniture. You can use insecticidal spray that kills these pests.

Use of linseed oil

Linseed oil is a natural oil that prevents the wood from drying and increases its water resistance capacity. You can use this by adding it in oil paint and also apply its direct coating on furniture.

It also reduces the aging process and maintains its structure hard. 

How do you fill cracks in the wooden furniture?

The wood starts to become crack when its particle starts to separate. Due to dryness, it shrinks, and split occurs in them that cause this issue.

Use of resins

Polyesters resins are set into the wood and make a strong bond with them.

It is sticky, flexible, and easily bends when it becomes shrink. You can select the color of resins with your furniture so that it looks the same and beautiful.

Add resins to the disposable bowl and mix it with a stick or old brush. Use tape or plastic bags to cover the corners; otherwise, resins move out from the sides of the furniture.

Now pour them on the crack line slowly so that it fills the empty surfaces.

Now wrap it with a plastic bag, tape the plastic bag, and leave it for 1 to 2 days. You can also use this when using furniture outside.

Open the bag to check that the cracks fill from all sides. Now use a bandsaw to remove excess resins from the wood.

Use of wood filler and wood putty

Wood putty uses to fill small holes, cracks and also repair the sides of the furniture. Wood filler fills the gap between them, and it becomes hard after drying. 

This filler contains sawdust is also called wood dust. Mix the filler with water for indoor use and mix with petroleum for outdoor use.

Add filler paste in the bowl and mix it well with a stick. Mix it well so that it gives a uniform texture that is desirable to fill the wood.

You can use petroleum paste, then apply it quickly; otherwise, it becomes harder within seconds.

Take the paste with the knife, apply it to the surface, and remove the sides’ extra filler. Then, press it on the furniture to fill the gap between them.

Now tap the paste with the finger to make its surface uniform. Finally, scrap it with a stick or knife to remove any residues that remain outside.

Now leave it to dry for about 1 to 2 hours. After this, use the cloth to clean the surface to remove extra dust.

Use a damp towel to remove a large amount of dust. Now color the filling space with the color that matches the furniture.

Maintain the gap between the woods while making furniture because it needs someplace for expansion.

Use of Shellac sticks

It is easy to apply on the cracks than any other method. This is because Shellac comes from the excretion of beetles.

Melt it with the iron and pour it on the table to fill the gap. Now press it with a knife and dry it for about 30 to 40 minutes. Finally, clean it with a cloth to remove extra Shellac.

Apply this to equalize the surface and press it with a finger. Then, you can use the towel or blade to remove excess wax from it.

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