The building I roughed-in last summer was exposed to the elements for several weeks, and much of the framing turned ‘black’ or darkly stained during this time. I’m only concerned about the floor joist beams, as they are to be left exposed once finished. What causes this discoloration and can it be removed? I’ve been told to use bleach, but been told by others that it has to be sanded out…I tried scrubbing a small area with a 1:4 bleach solution today and it took out some of the staining, but not all…any suggestions?
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There are products made to remove water stains from wood but I can't name one that will be certain to work.
If I were faced with this problem I'd start by asking this questions on the "Knots" message board (link above). After getting advice over there, I'd experiment with the two most often recommended products.
oxcyolic acid (sp?) isn't it???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Oxalic is correct, I believe. I was thinking of oxygen bleach, sodium percarbonate, as a first step but I don't have enough experience with any of those chemical products to say what's best, so that's why I referred him to Knots.
Thanks for your reply. I dodn't see any link to the 'knots' message board...where is this again?Shawn
http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Kilz (or other stainblocking primer) and them paint them. Unless the natural look is what you're after.
he ain't gonna paint no new exposed timber joists!!
be or I'd personally hunt 'em down and shoot 'em.
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Click here to visit the beginning of Breaktime
I don't know he has timber joists, I thought it might be just 2x floor joists exposed in the basement.
oh....ok.
Don't let it happen again.
Click here for access to the Woodshed Tavern
Click here to visit the beginning of Breaktime
You two shut up. If I have to pull this van over and take off my belt..........http://grantlogan.net/
But you all knew that. I detailed it extensively in my blog.
See the trouble you got us into now, Ollie.
Click here for access to the Woodshed Tavern
Click here to visit the beginning of Breaktime
You started it.
shawncal,
You're on the right site, Over at knots they build furniture not buildings.
Household bleach isn't strong enough for what you want to do. My timbers were always being rained on and stained. I'd buy the two part wood bleaching kit available at woodworking stores. Soak them and scrub them.. Then Just before I seal them up with shellac I'd go over them with a sander.
We had this exact problem, thought with logs not timbers. DON'T use bleach, you'll wash the grain colour right out of the wood (don't ask me how I know this).
DO use oxalic acid, which masquerades as various brand names. HD sells a Behr product, I think it's called 'Deck Brite' or some other such silly name. Look at the ingredients list for oxalic acid.
It is a wonderful product, but keep it off your skin. I use it a bit stronger than the directions; spray it on liberally, wait, scrub with a coarse plastic scrub brush. The brush will load up with the outermost layer of wood fiber and your timbers will look like the day they were born.
If you're curious:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
Just out of curiosity, does this process require rinsing with water? The timbers are in place and the floor underneath them is finished. I looked at a deck cleaning product (not sure what was in it, though), and it requires a water flush after soaking. Now, I'm trying to figure out how to clean these timbers without flooding the house. Shawn
If I'm outside or in an area that's easily rinsed, I will. Otherwise I just wipe it down a few times with clean wet rags. I've experienced no unwanted side effects from this treatment.Scott.Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
I have tried everything to get exposed wood back it's new condition. The closest thing to a magic bullet that I have found is a product called "Wink." It's actually a laundry product, intended to get rust stains out of clothes. It's usually on the laundry aisle in most any supermarket.
In order to avoid having to do this I now sand and use Benite on all of my exposed wood as it goes up. The Benite holds up to months of Pacific Northwest rain, and it makes a great base coat before lacquer.
Believe me, I feel your pain. I've used acid before. and it works, but I'd try the Wink first.