DIY Replacing a Water Damaged Coffee Table Top

by Lucie - Oh my sander

5 Materials

$25

1 Hour

Medium

The client contacted me about saving her coffee table top. She stated it was in pretty bad shape! Yes! Challenge accepted!

Rot from water

Here is a picture of the rotted wood. Yuck!

The end was also damaged

Here is another photo of the damage icon

diy replacing a water damaged coffee table top

Here she is before (yes we have the other drawer, I have no idea why I did not replace it before I snapped the photo) icon

New Wood

I am so glad I have a personal carpenter! The Hubs got busy measuring and cutting the pieces we would need to replace the top. This took a little more time, because the edges had to be angled, that’s where a table saw comes in handy!

Orbital sander

Then it was time to sand! I used a 120, and then a 220 grit to smooth out the surface. I did not sand every imperfection out of the wood, because I wanted the top rustic icon

Finished Top after staining

Here is the top after the Hubs put it together using pocket hole screws (Kreg Jig comes in pretty handy). I need to get better about photos as I go along, I totally forgot to take one in it’s natural state~! I used Minwax Dark Walnut and gave it two coats. I then sealed it with Polycrylic, sanding lightly using 320 sandpaper after each coat (two coats).

Screw Hole Buttons

He even drilled holes and added screw hole buttons (the original top had these) genius!

Screw Hole Buttons

Here are the screw hole buttons! You can purchase them at any hardware store, any size. Who knew! icon

After

Here she is all finished up! I painted the bottom with Rustoleum Vintage Ivory, added poly, then glazed~! I also add new hardware. The client could not believe the difference! We saved this beauty from the dump yay! icon

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Wood

Minwax Dark Walnut

Polyacrylic

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3 of 6 questions

Dl.5660408 on Dec 20, 2017

Oh my what a gorgeous save! Did you remove the old top?

1
Bambi on Dec 27, 2017

I see the refinished coffee table matches the end/side table sitting right behind it. Was that refinished also or was that a purchased one and you did the coffee table to match?

1
Lisa on Jan 08, 2018

I was curious. Is it possible to use glaze on table and then use the poly? Thank you, looks amazing!!!!!

1

Comments

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4 of 62 comments

Dorothy Owens on Jan 08, 2018

Beautiful! Love the color!

1 Reply
- Lucie - Oh my sander on Jan 09, 2018
  Thank you ☺️
  
  Like
Carol on Feb 28, 2018

Beautiful save Christina! Absolutely love it!!!

1 Reply
- Lucie - Oh my sander on Feb 28, 2018
  Thank you!
  
  Like