Restore Badly Damaged Wood Corners in 3 Simple Steps

Having a pet can be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, our furry friends have a knack for getting into mischief and causing damage to our belongings. One common behavioral issue is chewing on furniture , which can ruin the corners and edges of tables, chairs, bookshelves and more.

While the sight of large tooth marks and missing chunks of wood may be disheartening, these damages can be fixed! With some basic DIY techniques and materials, pet owners can restore chewed wooden corners to their original beauty. Read on to learn how to complete furniture corner repairs in just 3 simple steps.

Step 1: Prep the Damaged Area

Before filling in any gaps, it's important to ensure the area around the chewed corner is smooth. Any splintered edges or rough patches will need to be leveled out in order for the filler products to properly adhere.

Sand Away Splinters and Rough Edges

Start by gently sanding the damaged corner or edge using a power sander. Choose a fine-grit sandpaper to avoid removing too much wood. The goal here is not to eliminate all traces of teeth marks, but rather to smooth down sharp fragments for safety and stability.

Continue sanding until you achieve a flat surface. Try visually aligning the edge of a ruler or square across the sanded area to check for straightness. Some minor imperfections are fine at this stage as wood putties can easily fill small spaces. Focus on taking down raised splinters and pointy bits.

Clean Surface of Debris

Once smoothing is complete, grab a dry cloth to wipe away any dirt, saliva residue or sawdust from sanding around the damaged corner. It's crucial that the area is completely clean before applying any wood fillers or sealants. Scrub gently with a mild detergent on stubborn grime or oils.

Step 2: Fill Holes and Gaps with Wood Filler

With the surface prepped, it's time to rebuild missing chunks and fill in bite holes or divots with an adhesive wood filler designed specifically for pet-chewed furniture repairs.

Select Appropriate Filler

For the best, long-lasting result, use an epoxy wood filler putty rather than basic plastic wood doughs. Epoxy putties like Mohawk 's Chewdent are uniquely formulated to:

• Bond strongly with sanded wood
• Match the texture and feel of natural wood
• Receive screws if securing loose joinery
• Cure solid to resist future chewing damage

These epoxy putties can be tinted or colored as needed with special additives to achieve near-identical colors to your existing woodwork. Follow all package mixing and drying instructions carefully.

Fill Damaged Sections

Repairing the furniture corners will involve using an applicator tool like a flexible putty knife to fill back missing wood fragments. Press the epoxy putty firmly into gaps or holes, over-filling slightly to allow for leveling.

Aim for rebuilding a slightly concave shape rather than a peaked convex line. This strengthens the structure and durability. Let gravity do some work by holding the furniture piece vertically to keep the putty in place while drying if needed.

Per package guidance, allow adequate working and setting time for the filler to cure completely solid. This may take upwards of 8 to 24 hours. Avoid jostling or scraping the furniture until fully hardened.

Step 3: Blend Repair with Surrounding Wood

The final phase is perhaps the most important for an imperceptible furniture fix - seamlessly blending the repaired corner or edge to match preexisting wood visually.

Sand Cured Filler Smooth

Use medium then fine-grit sandpaper to smooth away any dried putty overfill settling above the wood surface plane. The goal is to erase any tactile evidence of a repair. Consider using a sanding sponge for tight corners.

Focus sanding on the outer repair edges to softly "feather" them into the surrounding grain. Check from multiple sight-angles to spot any remaining unevenness under lighting conditions.

Color and Texture Match

To help the sanded filler blend perfectly with bare wood sections, tinting or staining is recommended. Test color-match each section separately as wood varies across pieces and with age or sun exposure.

Options for concealing filler repairs include:

• Wood filler stains
• Gel stains
• Paint pens or touch up markers
• Pigment powders mixed into clear topcoats

A store like Mohawk also produces specialty Blendal powdered pigments to easily achieve great color accuracy. Multiple thin applications often appear most realistic.

Add Protective Finish

The last step after staining for an fully restored corner is adding a clear sealer or finish, like a diluted varnish. Water-based options tend to penetrate better than thick lacquers. This seals the wood pores and creates a protective barrier.

Applying at least 2 coats guards against not only future moisture damage, but also improves the surface's chew-resistance. Prioritize corners, edges and any pet-accessible areas prone to gnawing when brushing on topcoat sealant finishes.

Beyond Basic Repairs

While small corners or edges can be restored using filler as shown, some more extensive chewing or missing chunks may call for advanced repair techniques or even wood replacement.

When to Replace Entire Sections

For corners with over 50% of the edge height missing or whole pieces detached, opt to replace the damaged wood altogether rather than attempting to reconstruct it fully.

Since rebuilding from scratch is required, consider upgrading high-risk edges to durable plastic laminates or metal corner guards that withstand energetic pets. Install with quality wood glue or hardware.

Stop Underlying Chewing Behavior

Preventing future chewing incidents relies heavily on addressing the underlying motivation behind this destructive behavior in dogs. Rule out possible causes like:

• Anxiety from isolation
• Boredom from inadequate stimuli
• Teething discomfort

Consult an experienced veterinarian or certified dog trainer for tailored advice on curbing furniture-chewing tendencies through behavioral modification tactics appropriate for your pet.

Repairing badly damaged wooden corners chewed by dogs may seem daunting without woodworking expertise. However, pet owners can achieve professional-looking results following basic restoration steps using mainstream epoxy fillers and sanding tools.

This inexpensive do-it-yourself approach saves treasured furniture from landfills. It also avoids the higher cost and waste of full replacements. With a little time invested, even furniture with significant chewing damage or missing sections can be restored safely and attractively.

Now you have no excuse to discard that antique chair or custom bookshelf your pup turned into a chew toy. Renew weathered corners and edges to like-new condition using these uncomplicated techniques for seamless wood furniture touch-ups.