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Expert: - 9/3/2009


Question
I have a tonge and groove pine wall in a screened in porch. I put polyurethane on the wall, but have mold growing on it and in some places under the polyurethane. Will denatured alcohol remove the polyurethane (or what will)? And how should I kill the mold and then refinish the wall?

Answer
Hi Sandy, unfortunately alcohol will not remove the poly, only stripper will, and a bleach solution (1 to 3 parts bleach to water), can kill surface mold, and when that dries I would clean it with a disinfecting cleaning solution as well, like Lysol liquid solution. After all that you'll still be left with stained boards... The real problem is that if you don't isolate and correct the moisture issue that's allowing the mold growth, it will come back. Some detective work will be needed to see what's going on, and it may well involve removing paneling to work behind it and solve the moisture problem. At that point, you'd be further ahead to replace any moldy boards, but of course then there's the issue of matching the new wood to the old.....so perhaps you would then replace the poly'd boards and the moldy boards and put up new paneling. Sounds drastic, but all the hours involved in stripping the poly,  cleaning and disinfecting, discovering and solving the moisture problem will add up quick, and it may quickly become apparent that replacement is the easier and more thorough option....hope that helps- please post back if need be-regards- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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