Help! Decorator has damaged DP’s piano - water damage to wood, can it be reversed/ restored

[GiveMeHopeJohanna]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could advise. A decorator we have been using to paint the flat has put a wet bottle (water, juice, something else?) down on my partner’s grand piano (it belonged to his late grandmother and he shipped it over from Rome when he moved to the Uk) and it has left some horrible water damage behind. The moisture has eaten through the vanish and down into the wood - I don’t know what type of wood it is sorry.

I’ll try and add pictures.

Does anyone know if a furniture / wood restorer can fix any of the damage? Please advise if you know anything or have any expertise in this area.

Im quite upset about this. I know I should put things in perspective because of all the terrible news stories at the moment (some of which are unbearably sad and horrible) but as this object means so much to my partner and is a connection to his late grandparents who were very dear to him. It would mean the world to be able to put it right. Plus I’m 7.5 months pregnant so more emotional than usual.

Thanks so much for reading, and for any advice you might have.

Best
xx

Email decorator first thing, then at least you have a paper trail.

Ooh, I felt sick for you when I saw that op! I hope the decorator has insurance!

No, that isn't for antiques with shellac polish.
You need a specialist French Polisher.

DO NOT PUT STEAM OR AN IRON ON IT.

That veneer is almost certainly fixed with animal glue & could damage it even further.

I'd leave it alone & let a french polisher at it.
They can fix it no problem, but it is a job that takes time.

I'm saying this as someone who has restored many, many priceless antiques as a full on time served specialist refinisher who did plenty of conservation work, as well as work for the public over decades.

Most damage done is by idiots trying to bodge a fix because they don't want to pay for a real restoration job, which ends up making the job cost 4 times as much (& it isn't cheap)

I'm sorry but that's not just water damage. That is some other type of chemical. And the decorator should be responsible. They definitely have furniture repair/restorers on their contact list.

Most damage done is by idiots trying to bodge a fix because they don't want to pay for a real restoration job, which ends up making the job cost 4 times as much (& it isn't cheap)

Thanks @Brokendaughter, yes totally agree. Will be avoiding amateur jobs / cowboy fixers at all costs.

Morning all,

thanks so much once again.

decorator doing the job came at 8.00 today and we showed him the damage. As I suspected, it was actually a bottle of frozen water that had been left over a long time and was therefore thawing and biting down into the varnish and wood. So while it does look like chemical damage, I think what we‘re seeing is more the result of extreme temperature.

i spoke to the guy‘s boss / next direct report on the phone too, then followed up with pics and another message about liability insurance etc. Will see what they come back with. My partner is also trying to work out whether we‘re covered by our own insurance but we‘ve just moved (hence the decorating job) so it’s a bit up in the air.

Feeling hopeful it can be sorted, and a lot better after all your support and advice 🙂

I hope it fixes well. Why don't people think?! This is why I go over the top about people using coasters. I once had a family member put a water bottle on a piece of furniture NEXT TO a coaster 🙈.