andrew11 Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Hey guys, First post here. Have a English Cottage Style house built in 1927 here in New England. Looking to restore the old woodwork in my upstairs hallway/staircase. I think it's stained in a dark walnut, not sure what type of wood it is, and I would assume it has a shellac finish. It's in pretty good shape but is pretty dull, has paint splatters, and could use a good cleaning. Few questions. Anyone have a guess what type of wood it is? Would the finish most likely be shellac? Was that common in this period? What is the best way to clean it and maybe bring back some of its luster? Should I apply a new finish coat? Thanks guys! Really like the forum so far. Lots of good info in here. Edit. For some reason my pics are upside down on my iPhone, but looks correct on my computer. Not sure what other people see? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBaker Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Andrew, welcome to the forum. Is it possible for you to get some close-ups of the wood. To me it looks like two different woods, but there isn't enough grain detail to see for sure. The floors look like heart pine and the moldings look like red oak, but I couldn't be certain without seeing a clearer picture. Try to get close-ups of the stair rail as well as the trim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 how old is the house as well that will give us an idea of the possible finish that was used. some stuff is only 20 years old while some was brought over on the mayflower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 The house was built in 1927, but the wood may have been re-finished at some point. You may want to go piece by piece, in case different finishes were used at different times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick thom Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Here's an example that provides guidance on appropriate millwork for the style and period of your home. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=59444&cat=1,46096,46105 If you do a bit of looking, you will find books dealing with interior decorating of and for that period as well. I think you will find that there is a distinct style with specific cues, but also some regional variations based on materials available, date within the period, budget of buyer etc. Since a lot of these homes were built in clusters.. early forms of subdivisions, you may find lots of your neighbors homes are very similar to yours using similar, if not identical features. If that is the case and some appear to be original and very well maintained, perhaps you can approach the owner for a fact-finding tour. This would quite likely answer some of your questions and also see how their home has been adapted over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew11 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Since a lot of these homes were built in clusters.. early forms of subdivisions, you may find lots of your neighbors homes are very similar to yours using similar, if not identical features. I don't think this would apply to my house. My street only has 11 houses on it and all of them are different styles. The interior of the houses might all be similair products used, but the styles are defintely different. Thanks for that link though. I'm going to look into that. As for the other replies... The floors and stairs have already been refinished when I first moved in 3 years ago. The stairs are pine (not sure about risers) and the floors are white oak. I am just looking to restore the dark wood trim and the hand rails. I painted the spindles already and from how long that took alone, I can't even imagine stripping them down and refinishing them. I will take some close up pics tonight when I get home. Hopefully the grain will show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Use a damp rag and a little Murphy's oil soap to clean a section before you take your pictures. Try not to get too much glare in the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew11 Posted January 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 didn't get a chance to take additional pics, but I had this pic on my computer already. This is trim from my living room. I imagine it would all be the same. This pic is for another project. Want to strip the painted door and stain it to match the trim. But one thing at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 Low resolution picture makeswood ID just a guess. Looks like walnut or cherry, but it could be something cheaper with a good stain and finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew11 Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Got some new pics today. It was sunny outside so hopefully these pics are ore helpful. Banister Newel Post Closet door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Seems like some of the color is in the finish. Try Howard's restore a finish in an inconspicuous area. It comes in different colors and might redisolve the crackeled areas in your finish. Some of the areas where you can see the lighter background might even out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Door could be oak or fir. Railing looks like cherry to me. Stairs look like oak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew11 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I will try the restore a finish and see how it goes. What type of finish do you think I have? Shellac? Varnish? Also - how did they get my woodwork to be so evenly dark? I feel when I try to stain wood it never looks that even. Guess because I am not a professional! haha Also - what color wood you say my woodwork is? Dark Walnut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 alot of woods like pine, mahogany, cedar......softer more common woods tend to have harder and softer areas. soft areas suck up more stain then harder areas so you end up with patchy staining. try puting a sanding sealer or stain sealer on first to even out the wood then you can stain. alot of people swear by thin shellack on the wood first and then stain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I will try the restore a finish and see how it goes. What type of finish do you think I have? Shellac? Varnish? Also - what color wood you say my woodwork is? Dark Walnut? If your just doing touch up Id just take a piece in and have it matched. Any cabinet shop should be able to color match your stain. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew11 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 is a sanding sealer or stain sealer the same as a conditioner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Sanding sealer is a modified form of finish. It is made to dry fast and sand easy. Stain sealer is usually shellac which is used to prevent something from bleeding through a finish. Stain conditioner is used on woods that do not stain evenly, it prevents blotching . If you look around there are instructions on how to test and see what your finish is. If denatured alcohol dissolves the finish then it is shellac. I don't remember the steps past that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew11 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Great - really appreciate the help guys! What color would you say I would need if I was looking to match the woodwork? Dark Walnut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 best bet is to take a area of the wood and bring to to someone who can match it. each brand is alittle different shades and colors. and a realy good restorer will take a similar base and then add dye and chemicals to get the color perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBaker Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Andrew, It looks like you have several colors to match. Your rails look darker and browner than the doors and trim. It may be a walnut finish. The doors and trim look too red to be a walnut stain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick thom Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Is it possible that the upstairs hall woodwork has been restored or replaced and the woodwork in the other pics not, which would account for the different colours? The top coat finish looks to be original in the later-posted pics, a varnish that has suffered a lot of crazing. If the upstairs hall trim doesn't have the same crazing, that will suggest it's refinished or not original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jHop Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 And to follow up on the manufacturer's difference, I have two small cans of finish. One from Minwax, one from Olympic. (small project, small cans.) Both are labelled "Dark Walnut." Neither is the same shade. I'd imagine that this discrepancy goes all the way up, in the more expensive or professional finishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 M L Campbell has all the Minwax colors in their WoodSong line of professional stains, both companies are owned by the same corporation. I think it is Sherwin Williams parent company. My supplier also does custom color matches in the WoodSong stain. I take them a section of the wood to be stained that is already sanded and a piece of the finished wood to be matched. You might have to wait a day or 2 and there is a charge for the service on top of the stain cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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