If you follow a relatively easy process, you can make your mantel look new and retain its original beauty.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

• Remove your mantel, if possible. Remove nails and screws and gently lift the wood from the wall. If the mantel isn’t removed, make sure to protect the walls around it. Cover the hearth and the wall adjacent to it with newspaper securing it by painter’s tape. Make sure the flooring is covered by a drop cloth. Be sure your room is adequately ventilated.
• Get rid of the old finish off the wood by using commercial strippers. Wear gloves and protective goggles. Brush the stripper on a small area on the mantel. Let the finish dry.
• Make use of a putty knife gently scrape the smooth finish off the surface to be treated. Clean any leftover contamination with steel wool coated with solvent. Take care not to damage the wood with a sharp device such as a craft knife.
• Work on another part of the mantel using the steps above. Continue working on manageable pieces or pieces of timber until the whole mantel is stripped of its previous finish.
• Clean the wood with the sponge that is dipped in the solution with mild soap and water. This will eliminate any remaining traces of the stripper. The wood should dry for at least 24 hours.
• Make the mantel ready to be stained. Mantel is sanded medium-grit sandpaper, followed by fine-grit paper until it’s flawless and without flaws. Sand along the grain of the wood. Fill holes and cracks using a wood filler that is the same stain’s color. Cleanse the surface using a cotton tack cloth.
• Apply stain to the mantel. Start from the top of the mantel and work your way down. Remove any stain using a clean, soft cloth. Allow a minimum of 1 day for the wood to dry.
• Make sure you wet-sand your mantel. Lightly spray a workable piece of timber with water. This will increase the grain. Smooth it with the use of fine-grit sandpaper.
• Apply varnish on the wood using a brush. Long strokes are overlapping and follow the grain. Attach the mantel again if required. Let the varnish dry completely before placing any items on the mantel.