Wood dent repair in Exeter
Professional wood dent repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
20-30 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Dent in solid wood furniture steamed out to restore the grain, then finished to match. Wood filler used if steaming doesn't work. Dent gone or vastly improved.
That Annoying Dent
You've got a dent in your nice table, floor, or furniture - maybe from dropping something, furniture being moved, or just years of use. Ruins the look of otherwise perfect wood.
💡 Pro tip: Solid wood dents can often be steamed out - the heat and moisture make compressed fibres swell back to original size. It's basically magic when it works.
Steam vs Fill
| ✅ Steamed Out (solid wood) | ❌ Needs Filling |
|---|---|
| Grain restored naturally | Filled over, less natural |
| Minimal finish disturbance | Need to refinish area |
| Works on solid wood | Necessary for veneer or deep dents |
| Invisible when done right | Visible close up but much better |
Solid wood responds to steam, veneered or laminate furniture doesn't. I'll assess what you've got and use whichever method works.
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Check if wood is solid (can steam) or veneer (need to fill) |
| Repair | Steam out or fill dent, restore wood grain |
| Finish | Touch up wax, oil, or varnish to match existing |
📦 You're Left With
- Dent gone or vastly reduced
- Wood grain restored where possible
- Finish blending with surrounding area
- Furniture looking decent again
Pricing Guide
| Dent Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single dent to steam | 20-30 mins | £60 |
| Multiple dents or filling needed | 30-45 mins | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour). Straightforward dents done quickly. Complex repairs or refinishing might take longer.
Perfect For You If...
✅ Solid wood furniture - table, chair, dresser with dent
✅ Otherwise perfect - just that one annoying mark
✅ Wood floor dent - from furniture or dropped item
✅ Worth repairing - good quality piece you want to keep
Why Choose Us for Wood dent repair in Exeter?
Dent steamed or filled out
Wood grain restored
Finish touched up to match
Much cheaper than replacement
What to Expect
Step 1: Test The Wood
Check if it's solid wood (can steam) or veneer (need to fill). Tap it, look at edges, see how thick the surface is.
Step 2: Steam Or Fill
If solid: damp cloth over dent, hot iron to create steam, repeat until dent swells out. If veneer: fill with colour-matched wood filler.
Step 3: Refinish Area
Once dent's out or filled, sand lightly and apply matching finish - wax, oil, or varnish depending on existing finish.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to try steaming a dent yourself? Here's how:
🔧 What you'll need
- Clean cloth (cotton or linen)
- Steam iron or clothes iron
- Water
- Fine sandpaper (220 grit)
- Matching finish (wax, oil, or varnish)
For steaming (solid wood only):
- Damp (not soaking) the cloth
- Place cloth over dent
- Press with hot iron for 10-15 seconds
- Check progress - dent should start rising
- Repeat several times, letting wood dry between
- Stop when dent's gone or stops improving
- Let dry completely
- Sand lightly with fine paper
- Apply matching wax/oil/varnish
For filling (veneer or if steam doesn't work):
- Clean dent area thoroughly
- Choose wood filler close to your wood colour
- Press filler into dent, slightly overfill
- Let dry completely (follow product instructions)
- Sand flush with surrounding surface
- Colour with wood stain if needed
- Apply matching finish
Testing if you can steam:
- Tap the surface - solid wood sounds dull, veneer sounds hollow
- Look at edges - can you see a thin layer glued to substrate?
- Check underside if accessible - solid all the way through?
- If in doubt, test steam on hidden area first
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Steaming veneered furniture (lifts the veneer, disaster)
- Iron too hot (scorches wood or cloth)
- Cloth too wet (water stain on surrounding area)
- Not letting wood dry between steaming (stays damp inside)
- Using wrong colour filler (obvious patch)
💡 Pro trick: For really stubborn dents in solid wood, prick the dent lightly with a pin first. Makes tiny holes that let steam penetrate deeper into compressed fibres. Works much faster.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Multiple dents in same piece? Do them all in one session - I'm already there with the kit and matching finish.
Veneered furniture: Can't steam it (veneer will lift) so it's fill-and-finish. Won't be quite as invisible as steaming but still way better than leaving the dent.
Deep gouges vs dents: Gouges have removed wood, dents have just compressed it. Gouges always need filling. Dents in solid wood can often be steamed.
Oiled or waxed furniture is easiest to repair invisibly. High-gloss varnish shows every imperfection so repairs are trickier to hide completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really steam out dents in wood?
In solid wood, yes - the steam makes the compressed wood fibres swell back up. Works brilliantly on things like table tops, chair legs, solid doors. Doesn't work on veneered furniture or if the wood's actually split.
Will the repair be invisible?
Depends on the dent and finish. On oiled or waxed wood I can usually get it invisible. On glossy varnished furniture there might be a slight mark where the finish was disturbed. I'll tell you honestly what to expect.
What if steaming doesn't work?
Then it's a fill job - wood filler colour-matched and sanded smooth. Not quite as good as steaming but still way better than a visible dent. I'll try steam first, fill if that doesn't work.
How long does the repair take?
Steaming's quick - 20-30 minutes including drying time. Filling takes a bit longer because filler needs to dry before sanding and finishing.
Can you fix multiple dents in one visit?
Yes - if they're all on the same piece of furniture I can do them together. More efficient than separate visits for each dent.
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Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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