The wilderness survival guide

Wooden furniture damaged by floods can best be salvaged through slow drying and proper repair.

Submerged Furniture

1. Take furniture outdoors and remove as many drawers, slides and removable parts as possible. Drawers and doors will probably be stuck tight. Do not try to force them out from the front. After allowing to dry for a brief period, use a screwdriver or chisel to remove the back and push out the drawer from behind.

2. After you have removed movable parts, clean off mud and dirt, using a hose if necessary.

3. Take all furniture indoors and store it where it will dry slowly. Furniture left in the sunlight to dry will warp and twist out of shape.

4. When furniture is dry, reglue it if necessary. You will need woodworking tools and clamps to reglue some pieces. Before you start, decide whether you have the time, equipment and ability to do the work. Consult an experienced cabinetmaker if necessary. To reglue loose joints, thoroughly clean joints of old glue so the area will be as clean and free of glue as possible. Use a white all-purpose glue, following directions on container. Hold parts together with rope tourniquets or suitable clamps. To prevent damage from ropes or clamps, pad contact areas with cloth  protection.

Damp Furniture — Removing White Spots

Furniture that has been submerged in flood waters will frequently exhibit mildew or mold which can be removed with warm soapy (mild detergent) water and a soft cloth. White spots or a cloudy film may develop on damp furniture that has not been submerged. To remove white spots:

1. If the entire surface is affected, rub with a damp cloth dipped in turpentine or in a solution of 1/2 cup household ammonia and 1/2 cup water. Wipe dry at once and polish with wax or furniture polish.

2. If color is not restored, dip 000 steel wool in oil (boiled linseed, olive, mineral or lemon). Rub lightly with the wood grain. Wipe with a soft cloth and re-wax.

3. For deep spots use a drop or two of ammonia on a damp cloth. Rub at once with a dry cloth. Polish. Rubbing cigarette ashes, powdered pumice, or a piece of walnut into spots may help remove them.

4. If spots remain after all efforts to remove them, the piece should be stripped of the old finish and refinished.

Veneered Furniture

Thoroughly dry furniture. If veneer is loose in just a few places, carefully scrape glue under loose areas.

1. Press veneer back in place. Place wax paper over affected area and heat with warm iron, remove iron and place weights on the area.

2. If veneering doesn’t stay in place or is bubbled, carefully slit the loose veneer with a razor blade, apply a good quality glue. Weights are applied after covering glued spots with wax paper to prevent excess glue (which may spurt out when pressure is applied) from gluing the weights to the furniture. Repairing badly damaged veneered furniture requires special skill and tools. Unless you are an experienced woodworker, don’t attempt the job yourself. Take the furniture to a cabinetmaker or have your dealer return it to the factory for repair. If insurance allows part value on flood-damaged furniture, it may be financially worthwhile to apply the money to new articles, rather than pay for extensive repairs.

STRAIGHTENING WARPED FURNITURE BOARDS

Slightly warped furniture boards, as in table or dresser tops, usually can be straightened if they are made of solid wood. However, do not attempt to straighten severely warped parts, veneered parts (veneer usually separates) or parts with an elaborate grain, such as curly maple. If such pieces are worth salvage expense, send them to a reliable furniture repair shop Get a cost estimate before leaving the piece for repair. To straighten slightly warped boards:

1. Remove the warped board from the furniture.

2. Strip the board of its old finish. A clean board will straighten better than a finished board. You may have to strip the entire piece of furniture to attain an even finish when the board is straightened, refinished and replaced.

3. The principle of warp removal is to add moisture to the dry side (concave) and remove it from the wet side (convex). You can do this by:

a. Placing the board with the wet side (convex) down on a radiator or heat vent in the winter.

b. Placing the wet side (concave) up in the direct rays of the sun. With either method keep the concave side moist with damp cloths and place bricks or other weights on top of the board and leave it for several days or until board is straight.

4. Clamp board in a flat position when it has straightened. Place clamps no more than 12 inches apart. Use small pieces of wood or pads between board and clamps to protect the board. Loosen clamps and move them slightly once or twice a day to prevent splitting. You may place several boards in the same clamps. Insert small wooden blocks between boards for air space.

5. Stand on end and leave in the clamped position until thoroughly dry. This will take from several days to several weeks.

6. Paint or refinish as desired. Apply the finish to both underside and top of board. This will keep the board from absorbing moisture and from eventually re-warping.

DRYING BOOKS AND FAMILY PAPERS

Dry books and papers slowly:

1. If books and papers are damp, sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder between pages to absorb moisture. Leave powder on for several hours and then brush off.

2. Books that have sustained water damage should be placed on end with pages separated.

3. When pages are partially dry, pile and press books to keep pages from crumpling.

4. Alternate drying and pressing until books are thoroughly dry. This helps prevent mildew. Use a fan to hasten drying.

5. When books are nearly dry, apply low heat with an electric iron. Separate the pages to prevent musty odors. This is a tedious process which you may want to use only with valuable books.

6. Some chemicals such as parachlorobenzene may help stop mold growth. Books can be placed in closed containers with moth crystals to help stop mold growth. Contact your County Extension Office for recommendations.

7. When books are thoroughly dry, close them and use C-clamps to help retain their shape.

8. Books and papers may be frozen until you have time to work with them. Freezing is very effective in controlling mold growth.

9. Even if books and papers appear to have dried successfully, they may disintegrate because of materials in the flood water. As a precautionary measure, photocopy important documents or papers.

10. An excellent source of information is the publication, “Procedures for Salvage of Water- Damaged Library Materials” by the Library of Congress available at your local library.

AVOIDING FRAUDS DECEPTION

When the hurricane has passed, it is time to survey the damage and begin to clean up. Often the homeowner is devastated when he/she views the damage that has occurred. Trees may be down and probably there is roof or other structural damage. The homeowner knows that unless repairs are made promptly, additional damage may occur or the residence may be uninhabitable until repairs are made. For the homeowner this is a stressful period and a time when he/she may be easily victimized by unethical workmen who attempt to take advantage of those needing or wanting to get home repair work done quickly. It is very important for hurricane victims to be cautious about employing unknown people to remove trees and do repair work. Every agreement and credit contract should be read carefully and evaluated before it is signed. Shoddy workmanship and price gouging are common occurrences associated with crisis situations.

TREE REMOVAL

As soon as the hurricane has passed workers usually appear with chain saws. Many are individuals anxious to make a “fast buck” removing trees and other damaged property. Before agreeing to have any tree work done contact your local tree services. Tree removal requires considerable skill. A felled tree can cause damage to the home or to a neighbor’s home. Also, there is the potential for a tree cutter to be injured. Local tree services are licensed, insured and experienced. They carry liability insurance eliminating the potential for the homeowner to be sued in case of an accident. Ask for an estimate of the cost for work needing to be done and a time schedule for the work to be completed. Find out if the trees will be removed from your propertyafter they are cut. If possible get an estimate from more than one tree service. Have all details of the agreement written into a contract and signed by the company and the homeowner. If considerable damage is done by a hurricane, tree service companies from throughout the region may come to the area to help clear away the devastation. This can be an asset if there is more work to be done than the local companies can handle. Before employing one of these companies ask to see its license and evidence of liability insurance. Get all pertinent information in a written contract before employing a company and before the work begins. Be very wary of employing any unknown individual who appears with a chain saw. Tree removal is a high-risk operation that requires skill. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property you may be sued for damages. In spite of the risks involved, if you decide to employ an independent tree cutter, draw up a written contract that clearly spells out the work to be done. (Example: number of trees to be cut, stump height or treatment, what is to be done with the cut trees and by whom, beginning and completion date of work and amount to be paid and when. NEVER pay for work before it is done. Include a statement about who is responsible for expenses in case of an accident. This should include what happens if the worker damages your property accidentally and who pays if the worker is accidentally injured.

This statement is no assurance of protection but it may help.) Remember, if a company comes to your door and solicits your business, you have three business days within which to cancel the contract if you change your mind provided the work has not been done. You must be given the name, address and telephone number where the company can be reached for cancellation.

HOME REPAIRS

If damage to the home occurs from a hurricane, the homeowner should immediately contact his/her insurance company, if the home is insured. The insurance company may require specific procedures be followed to collect for repairs. If the homeowner is responsible for arranging for the repairs there are certain precautions to follow. Florida has specific laws, The Home Improvement Sales and Finance Act and Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, that are designed to protect consumers from home repair con-artists. Take the time to investigate the quality of work and reliability of the home repair (or improvement) contractor or the workman that you are considering hiring. Shoddy work will only increase your loss and frustration. In Florida home improvement contractors must be registered with the state. Ask to see this license. Always get any agreement in writing and signed by both parties before work begins. Verbal agreements can be misunderstood and usually are unenforceable.

In Florida “home improvement” contractors include those doing construction work, roofing, siding, plumbers, electricians, swimming pool, heat and cooling equipment. State law requires all home improvement or repair contracts to be in writing and they shall carry the following information:

• Approximate date for beginning the work and the completion date unless a specific disclosure states that no completion date is provided. (You should always require a completion date be given.)

• A description of the work to be done. (Always require this to be detailed, describing the materials and grades to be used as well as the repairs to be made.)

• All financing information required by state and federal laws.

• Any warranty agreements.

• Name and address of contractor and person for whom work is to be done. Never sign a completion certificate until all work is satisfactorily done. Also, never pay a home repair contractor or a workman for work before it is done. If considerable work is to be done you may divide the cost for the work to be done into several payments, example, pay one half of the cost when the job is half completed. If a mortgage is to be placed against the home to pay for the work that is to be done even more stringent state regulations exist. These include allowing either party to cancel the contract within 72 hours (3 working days) after signing the contract. In case of an emergency where work is needed immediately, an exemption to the three-day rule is permitted if both parties sign the statement. Unless work is to begin immediately, (the day of the signing or the following day) it is not wise to sign this exemption.

LANDLORDS AND TENANTS

If you are renting a residence that is damaged by a hurricane, you have special rights and responsibilities. Repairs are the responsibility of the landlord. You should immediately notify the landlord of any damage to the property and you should make reasonable effortsto help protect it from any additional damage. The landlord is responsible for having the residence repaired and returned to livable condition. If repairs are not made within a reasonable time, the tenant has the right to have the rent reduced or in some instances terminate the lease and move.

REFERENCES

• Fair Trade Practices Act. Chapter 73 – 124.

• Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices

Act. Rules and Regulations, Home Construction

and Improvement. Chapter 6.

• Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

Chapter 73 – 330.

• Home Improvement Sales and Finance Act. Chapter

69 – 44.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The chapter entitled “Home Clean-Up and Renovation” was furnished by the Family & Consumer Sciences Department of the University of Florida.

Extension Specialists included:

• Nadine Hackler, Professor, Clothing and Textiles.

• Marie S. Hammer, Associate Professor, Home Environment.

• Mary N. Harrison, Professor, Consumer Education.

• Nayda I. Torres, Associate Professor, Family and Consumer Economics.