Life in colour
Monsoon care for wooden doors and furniture
3 min read
Simple steps to stop wooden doors from sticking and furniture from spoiling during the Amravati monsoon.
Check for swelling
Wood drinks up moisture from damp air, so doors that opened freely in May start to stick in July. Before the rains, open and close every door and drawer in the house. Note the ones that rub or jam. Look at the bottom edge of doors and the back of cupboards, where damp shows up first as dark patches.
Sand lightly
For a door that rubs, do not plane off a big strip. Wood shrinks back when the air dries in October, and a heavily planed door will then show a gap. Instead, sand the tight edge lightly with medium sandpaper until it just clears. Wipe away the dust. A light touch now saves you a loose door later.
Seal with a wood finish
Bare or worn wood soaks up damp fastest. Once the surface is sanded and clean, seal it with a wood finish such as a clear varnish, a melamine coat or a wood stain. Do the edges and the bottom of the door too, since that is where water creeps in. Ask us which Birla Opus Allwood finish suits your wood.
Keep away from damp walls
A cupboard pushed flat against an outside wall will pick up damp from the wall during the rains. Pull heavy furniture a few inches away so air can move behind it. Put the legs on small wooden or plastic blocks if the floor gets wet. Open cupboard doors for an hour on sunny days to let the inside breathe.
When to call a carpenter
Some problems are beyond sandpaper. If a door has warped so that it no longer sits flat in the frame, if the hinges have pulled loose from soft wood, or if you find powder and tiny holes that point to termites, call a carpenter. Fixing these early is cheap. Waiting until after the monsoon often means replacing the whole door.
Ask us at the shop
Not sure whether your door needs a varnish, a stain or a full enamel coat? Take a close photo of the wood and bring it to our shop in Amravati, or send it on WhatsApp. We will suggest the right Birla Opus wood finish or enamel and the sandpaper to go with it. The colour and finish advice is free, and we are happy to help.
