How to Restore Wood Furniture (2025 Guide)

Over time your wood furniture can lose its lustre. UV exposure, weathering and everyday wear and tear may begin to negatively impact the look of your wood furniture, causing it to grey.

In order to restore your wood furniture, you need a product that reverses these effects and brings life back to your faded wood furniture. This is where GK Wood Restorer™ comes into play.

Why Does Wood Furniture Turn Grey?

Wood furniture doesn't turn grey overnight, it's a gradual process caused by environmental damage. Understanding the science behind wood greying helps you prevent and treat it effectively.

UV Exposure: Sunlight breaks down lignin, the natural polymer that binds wood fibres together and gives wood its colour. As lignin deteriorates, wood loses its rich tones and develops a silvery-grey appearance.

Weathering: Rain, humidity, and temperature fluctuations cause wood fibres to expand and contract. This constant movement breaks down the wood's surface layer, creating that familiar weathered grey look.

Biological Growth: Algae, mould, and mildew thrive on damp wood surfaces, contributing to discolouration and accelerating deterioration.

Oxidation: Like metal rust, wood undergoes oxidation when exposed to oxygen and moisture, creating a grey oxidised layer on the surface.

The greying process affects outdoor wood furniture more rapidly than indoor pieces, but even interior furniture near sunny windows can develop UV damage over time.

Wood Restorer

GK Wood Restorer™ is a user-friendly solution that effortlessly brings the original look and charm back to your wood furniture, fixing the effects of greying from UV exposure, weathering and wear. Our versatile product can be used on both indoor and outdoor wood furniture, ensuring a safe application on joints that will not compromise adhesives.

Renowned for its fast-acting and quick-drying formula, GK Wood Restorer™ is the perfect choice for all wood restoration projects.

GK Wood Restorer™ can be used on various wood surfaces including windows, sheds, fences, decking, or any outdoor wooden furniture. After application, the fresh, warm wood colour is restored, and restored surfaces can be painted once the formula has dried.

Providing an average of 4-5m2 per litre, GK Wood Restorer™ is excellent value for money compared to other products available on the market.

Easy Application

You can easily apply GK Wood Restorer™ along damp wood grain using a brush, spray or roller. It should not be allowed to dry out, so we recommend working on 2m lengths at a time to avoid this.

If it does dry, simply rehydrate by spraying more product into dry areas. Leave it to work for 30 minutes, agitate with a stiff brush and rinse. You can repeat this process as many times as you like until the wood is bright and clean.

Eco-Friendly Solution

With a liquid formulation that is free from any messy gels, GK Wood Restorer™ is the eco-friendly choice. The formula features a neutral pH of 7, making it safe for various substrates, including delicate surfaces. Its non-invasive, low-odour, biodegradable characteristics make wood restoration a seamless and satisfying process.

Features and Benefits

Restores Natural Beauty: Say goodbye to the greying caused by sun and weathering! GK Wood Restorer™ effortlessly revives your wood's natural tones, bringing back its original warmth and character. Whether it's a cherished indoor piece or a weather-beaten garden bench, your wood will look refreshed and revitalised.

Versatile for All Your Wood Surfaces: From delicate interior furniture to robust outdoor decking, GK Wood Restorer™ is safe and effective on a wide range of wood types, both softwood and hardwood. Use it on windows, sheds, fences, garden furniture, and more. It's even safe on joints, so you don't have to worry about damaging adhesives.

Fast and Efficient: No more waiting around! GK Wood Restorer™ is fast-acting, so you'll see results quickly. Its rapid drying time means you can get on with painting or treating your wood as soon as it's dry, saving you valuable time and effort.

Easy to Use: Forget messy gels and complicated application processes. Our liquid formulation is easy to apply with a brush, spray, or roller. Simply apply along the damp wood grain, working in manageable 2-meter lengths to prevent drying, and rinse.

Safe for Your Home and the Environment: With a neutral pH of 7, GK Wood Restorer™ is safe for use on many substrates, even delicate surfaces. Plus, it's biodegradable and low-odour, so you can feel good about using a product that's kind to the environment and your family.

Excellent Coverage: A little goes a long way! One litre of GK Wood Restorer™ covers an average of 4-5m², making it a cost-effective solution for all your wood restoration needs.

Application Instructions: Revive Your Wood in a Few Simple Steps

Before you begin, always test a small, inconspicuous area to ensure the finished result meets your expectations.

Important: GK Wood Restorer™ is supplied ready to use. DO NOT DILUTE.

Dampen the Timber: Lightly dampen the wood (do not soak it) before applying the restorer. This helps the product penetrate effectively.

Apply Generously: Apply GK Wood Restorer™ generously to all exposed sides of the wood, working along the grain. Use a brush, spray, or roller for even coverage. Do not allow the product to dry out.

Work in Sections: To prevent drying, work on manageable sections of approximately 2 meters in length.

Rehydrate if Necessary: If the product starts to dry, simply rehydrate the area by spraying it with more GK Wood Restorer™.

Let it Work: Allow the product to work for approximately 30 minutes.

Agitate and Rinse: After 30 minutes, vigorously agitate the surface with a stiff, non-metal brush dampened with water. This helps to loosen and remove dirt and grime. Then, thoroughly rinse the treated area, removing all residue.

Repeat if Needed: Repeat steps 2-6 as necessary until the wood is bright, clean, and restored to its natural beauty.

Prepare for Finishing: Once the wood is clean and dry, it's ready for sanding and the application of preservative treatments. This will help to protect the wood from further UV damage and weathering, ensuring long-lasting results.

FAQs About Wood Furniture Restoration

Can you restore grey wood furniture?

Yes, grey wood furniture can be fully restored using a wood restorer that removes UV damage and weathering. GK Wood Restorer™ works in just 30 minutes to bring back natural wood tones without sanding or stripping. The grey appearance is caused by surface oxidation, not permanent damage, so chemical restoration effectively reverses the greying process.

How do you restore wood furniture without sanding?

Apply a liquid wood restorer generously along damp wood grain using a brush or sprayer. Let it work for 30 minutes to break down the oxidised grey layer, then agitate with a stiff brush and rinse thoroughly. This chemical process eliminates the need for harsh sanding while achieving professional results.

What causes wood furniture to turn grey?

Wood turns grey due to UV exposure and weathering that breaks down lignin, the wood's natural binding polymer that provides colour. This creates a grey oxidised layer on the surface. Additional factors include moisture damage, biological growth (algae and mould), and temperature fluctuations that stress wood fibres.

Can you use the same product for indoor and outdoor wood?

Yes, GK Wood Restorer™ works effectively on both indoor and outdoor wood furniture including garden furniture, decking, sheds, fences, and interior pieces. The application process is similar, though outdoor wood may require heavier coverage or additional applications due to more severe weathering.

Do I need to sand wood furniture before restoring it?

No, wood restorers like GK Wood Restorer™ eliminate the need for sanding by chemically removing the weathered grey layer. You only need to sand afterward if you want an ultra-smooth finish or if you're applying certain types of paint or stain that require it.

How long does restored wood furniture last?

Restored wood typically maintains its appearance for 1-2 years outdoors and 3-5 years indoors, depending on exposure levels and protective treatments applied. Regular maintenance and reapplication of protective oils or sealers significantly extends the results. Without protection, outdoor wood may begin greying again within 6-12 months.

Is wood restoration safe for antique furniture?

Yes, when using pH-neutral, non-abrasive products like GK Wood Restorer™. The gentle chemical process doesn't damage delicate carvings, joints, or aged wood fibres. Always test on a hidden area first and avoid harsh sanding that removes original patina from valuable antiques.

Can you restore painted wood furniture?

Wood restorers work on bare, untreated wood only. For painted furniture, you'll need to strip the paint first before restoration. However, if you're trying to remove weathered grey paint from outdoor furniture, the restorer may help loosen it before proper paint stripping.

What's the difference between wood restorer and wood cleaner?

Wood cleaners remove surface dirt and grime but don't address grey weathering or UV damage. Wood restorers chemically break down the oxidised layer caused by weathering, actually reversing the greying process and revealing fresh wood underneath. For best results, you may need both to clean first, then restore.

How often should I restore outdoor wood furniture?

Most outdoor wood furniture benefits from restoration every 1-2 years, depending on sun exposure and weather conditions. Wood in full sun may need annual treatment, while shaded pieces can go 2-3 years. Inspect your furniture each spring and autumn to determine if restoration is needed.

Can wood be too damaged to restore?

If wood has structural rot (soft, crumbly texture when pressed), deep splits, or active insect infestation, replacement is safer than restoration. Surface greying and fading are cosmetic issues that restore beautifully. Test wood firmness with a screwdriver and if it penetrates easily, the damage is beyond cosmetic restoration.

Is it better to restore wood before or after winter?

Restore outdoor wood in early autumn (September-October) to protect it through winter, or in spring (April-May) to prepare it for summer use. Avoid winter restoration as cold temperatures and moisture reduce product effectiveness and prevent proper drying.

Summary

GK Wood Restorer™ is a fast-acting, easy-to-use solution for reviving both interior and exterior wood surfaces. Its ready-to-use liquid formula cleans and restores wood to its natural tones, removing greying caused by weathering and UV exposure.

The biodegradable, low-odour formula with a neutral pH is safe for most surfaces and the environment. With excellent coverage and a simple application process, GK Wood Restorer™ brings new life to tired wood, preparing it for sanding and protective treatments for long-lasting beauty.