Is there a way to remove water stains from wood?
Many stains on wood can be removed by sanding, but water stains can be stubborn. You could try scrubbing with soap and water, but you’d have to go over the whole beam, and you may find the tidemark is still visible afterwards. Building expert John Oxley, from Construction Chemicals, says that if, as is likely, the stain has been caused by water extracting the tannins from the timber, it can be removed with oxalic acid. Initially, the wood may appear lighter where it has been treated, but it will eventually merge with the rest of the beam. However, oxalic acid is poisonous and extremely dangerous, so you’ll need to follow any application and safety instructions rigidly. If you’ve not used it before, buy the acid combined with a safety kit; £25.70, from constructionchemicals.co.uk. If you have any queries, callthe company’s chemist on 0116 230 1955 or email sales@constructionchemicals.co.uk.
