Why does oak go black? Oak timber naturally contains Tannins. These are a natural chemical that provide the protective waterproof quality oak is famed for. Being acidic, they can react with iron and water to produce chemicals that stain the wood.
When water penetrates oak it reacts with the high tannin content within oak, resulting in 'blackening'. The Sun's UV rays will turn the oak to a silvery hue over time.
Petroleum jelly or mayonnaise
One of the best ways to remove a water stain is by covering it in petroleum jelly, or even mayonnaise. The oil from these substances can seep into the wood, displacing the water and removing the stain.
Iron oxide stains in wood are usually dark spots caused by prolonged exposure to water and / or metal. The iron oxide reacts with the tannins in the wood and stains it black. Wood can intentionally be stained black in the same way, and that's called Ebonizing.
Oak will also change colour because it will have started the seasoning process – this is where the oak starts to dry out. Eventually, your green oak could then be classed as seasoned oak. It is possible to guess how old a beam is from the colour, after about 10 years it is black.
Removing dark stains will involve stripping the finish from the wood, and sanding with a fine sandpaper to remove the stain. You will then need to refinish the affected area using Danish-oil. Continue to treat and polish the furniture as you would normally.
While blackwood and ebony are the most well-known, some species, like rosewood, walnut wood, and mahogany, can also have a blackened finish. Blackwood is a name given to several different species of trees, including those in the Dalbergia, Merremia, and Pterocarpus genera.
It is easy to spot the differences between mold and wood rot. Wood rot presents as decay, and mold presents as discoloration, usually black or white. Wood rot is a dangerous but avoidable condition often found in the wood of older houses.
Wood discoloration can look a bit scary, but it's non-biological and is not caused by microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria. In contrast to mold, wood discolorations or staining can be caused by sun exposure, naturally occurring enzymes, minerals, fasteners, or even generate from the wood itself.
Your beautiful oak floor has been damaged by water and is therefore completely useless right? Traditional solid oak flooring is susceptible to movement caused by changes in humidity and so you should not use solid oak flooring in areas such as the kitchen and bathroom.
Prolonged exposure to water can cause some terrible damage. Not only could your wood flooring get some horrible looking water stains, but overexposure to water may also cause you're the wood to warp.
High levels of tannic acid contribute largely to oak's durability, but those levels are also responsible for most black stains on oak surfaces. Iron materials, like hinges and nails, interact with tannic acids to create those large black stains.
Buff out water stains on wood with a mild abrasive. Using a non-gel (plain white) toothpaste, baking soda paste or salt paste (adding a few drops of water to form the pastes), gently rub the mixture into the stain. Be sure to go along the grain of the wood.
Combine Vinegar and Olive Oil for a DIY Wood-Stain Remover
In a small bowl, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil. Apply the mixture to the water stain using a cloth. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain until the stain is gone. The vinegar will help remove the stain while the olive oil acts as a furniture polish.
Pay attention to the color and consistency: We already talked about black mold above, though it's more accurate to say that Stachybotrys chartarum has a greenish-black hue. Toxic mold can also have a grayish, soot-like texture, or a slimy, wet surface. In some cases, you may even notice furry orange or brown spots.
When searching for black mold, look for circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green or dark brown. Some black mold can also take on shades of orange or have flecks of white within it. Most of the time, black mold has a slightly furry appearance.
However, the color black isn't unique to Stachybotrys — people often confuse it with similar-colored molds like Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Dreeschslera. In earlier stages, black mold may appear more greenish-grey or greenish-black in color with fuzzy white edges.
Wood rot is mostly behind wood decomposition and crumbling. Decay fungi will darken your wood and cause it to shrink, leading to serious structural damage to the beams and joists.
Stachybotrys chartarum is a common black mold. It can also be a greenish color. It grows on cotton, wood, and paper products. It sometimes produces toxic chemicals that are found in its airborne spores and fungus fragments.
Killing mold on wood furniture. Use diluted dishwashing detergent or diluted bleach and wipe down the furniture. Make sure the room is well ventilated to help the wood dry as quickly as possible. Repeat as necessary.
Black spots are formed when the wood is exposed to metal and moisture. Like a wet glass or leaky vase. This causes a chemical reaction from the tannic acid and water. The chemical reaction leaves black spots on your wood.
Mildew and mold are both fungi, but mildew is not as invasive or troublesome as other types of mold. Typically found in wet areas, mildew looks grayish-white and may turn brown. It's flat and powdery and it's an easier fungus to clean because it lives only on the surface of a material (such as bathroom tile).