Q–The beautiful maple table in my dining room has a triangular-shaped dent in the top where a heavy vase was dropped on it. While not large, the dent is prominently located and thus quite noticeable. Is there any way to remove or hide this dent without calling in a professional?
A–There is one trick that often works, assuming the table top is made of solid wood and is not covered with a thin layer of veneer.
Because a dent occurs where the wood is compressed, the idea is to use moisture and heat to cause the wood fibers to swell back up to their original shape. Use a fine needle to punch one or two invisible holes in the finish so moisture can penetrate the surface, then place one or two drops of water inside the depression. Cover the area with damp cloth that has been folded into several layers, then press down on this cloth with a warm iron that is set on its lowest heat. After a couple of minutes, the heat and dampness should cause the fibers to swell back up, thus removing the dent.
This process could dull the finish, so, depending on the original finish, it’s possible that polishing or waxing may be required, or you may even have to apply a fresh coat of varnish or lacquer.
Q–Our kitchen countertop got damaged when an extremely hot pot was set on it right after coming off the stove. The plastic laminate has blistered and flaked off, and is discolored around the blister. This damage is about the size of a coffee cup. Is there any way you know of to repair this type of damage?
A–Not really. Patching is almost impossible on this type of surface. If you are not ready to replace or recover the entire counter top, then the only suggestion I can offer is to cover the damaged area with a cutting board of some kind, or with some type of decorative tile that can serve as a hot pad or trivet for placing hot utensils on the surface when required.
Q–We have two fireplaces–one in our basement playroom and another in the living room above this. When we build a fire in the basement, we get a strong smell of smoke in the living room. What do you think could be causing this?
A–I’m assuming that the two fireplace flues are inside the same brick chimney structure, so it is possible that one or both of the flue liners are cracked or somehow allowing smoke to seep out into the other flue (especially if there are no flue liners) although this usually does not occur if both chimneys draw properly.
This problem could also happen if there are downdrafts or other defects in the chimney, or if there is not an adequate chimney cap or divider between the tops of the two flues. I would suggest calling in a chimney-cleaning service to check out the structure. It is possible that some type of flue repairs or flue lining may be required.
Q–I have a marble hearth in front of my fireplace and I want to protect it from staining. What kind of product would you recommend as a coating?
A–Marble dealers sell special stone sealers that are used on marble floors and similar surfaces, so this would probably be your best bet. On marble table tops and other surfaces, the marble is often protected with a good grade of white or neutral colored paste wax, which might be adequate for your hearth. The wax should be rubbed in and then buffed vigorously to remove all excess and to produce a shine.
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Have a question about home repair problems? Write to Bernard Gladstone in care of Your Place, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Sorry, letters cannot be answered personally.
