HELP! Oak floor damaged by plaster dust... Any tips?

[Bob Gerritsen]

Here is a suggestion to try on a small area.  Get a sponge that is used for grouting ceramic.  Put some vinegar in a bucket.  Use that to wipe the floor in the direction of the grain after squeezing out the excess vinegar.  Follow up with wiping the area with a damp rag.  The vinegar being acidic will help dissolve the plaster and help you get it out of the pores.  You will possibly still have to refinish, but this might help in the clean out the gunk stage.

PS:  Remember that water affects different finishes in different ways.  I recently did a ceramic backsplash and while doing the final cleanup of the grout I wiped areas of the cabinets.  They instantly turned white.  I thought I had ruined them.  Two hours later the moisture had evaporated and the finish was back to its original color.

Good luck!

Peter

Tried to replicate the damage on some scraps and then used vinegar to clean it and it makes a massive difference! It will be one smelly floor after cleaning and I'm not sure it will be as effective on the actual floor as the plaster is a bit 'older' there than on my scraps but we'll see. I'm positive I can make it better than it is now.

Thanks Peter and all others!!

Cheers, Bob.

 

[Tinker]

I only just came across this discussion.  I have had no experience with your problem on wood, but I have used vinegar to clean up mild cement splashes on masonry.
A lot of masons would use acid, but for me, vinegar was about as acidy as I would go on interior masonry. 

I don't think it makes any difference how old or new the plaster damage is/was, the chemical factors would be the same. The acid (vinegar) should nutralize the lime (plaster).  I am sure that by this time, you have found an answer to your problem.  i will be interested to know what your ended up doing.

I am sometimes quite agitated (to put it verrryyyy mildly) over how little respect many sub contractors have for other peoples work.  I hope those electricials end up paying for the full repair.  I hope you add in all of the research time and materials you have gone thru before you have even gotten to the actual repair..
Tinker

 

[Bob Gerritsen]

I only just came across this discussion.  I have had no experience with your problem on wood, but I have used vinegar to clean up mild cement splashes on masonry.
A lot of masons would use acid, but for me, vinegar was about as acidy as I would go on interior masonry. 

I don't think it makes any difference how old or new the plaster damage is/was, the chemical factors would be the same. The acid (vinegar) should nutralize the lime (plaster).  I am sure that by this time, you have found an answer to your problem.  i will be interested to know what your ended up doing.

I am sometimes quite agitated (to put it verrryyyy mildly) over how little respect many sub contractors have for other peoples work.  I hope those electricials end up paying for the full repair.  I hope you add in all of the research time and materials you have gone thru before you have even gotten to the actual repair..
Tinker

Thanks Tinker, the samples I've made confirm vinegar is THE way to handle plaster so that's what I'll do. I've not done it yet, want to wait until every sub contractor is done to maximize the effect. And yes, I will bill research too in this case.

In general I can see how it is easier to lose some sense of responsibility when there are more levels between you and the client. In this case the two electricians doing the work were young guys working for a guy who's boss actually had a contract with the overall builder, they were not thinking much about anything really. That's one reason I love working with other independent contractors, it is one on one and generally (not saying it's always like that) they simply do a better job as they are more responsible. Not saying that's right but it is human. However, I'm glad I wasn't there when those electricians messed the floor up, I would not have held anything back I can tell you that.

I will report back when the cleaning is done.

Cheers, Bob.

 

[Tinker]

My crew messed up a slate roof.  I used vinegar to clean that up and excepted full responsibility.  In that case, i was dealing direct with the homeowner.  because i took full blame and did all of the cleanup, i ended up with a lot more work from both the owner and a lot of his friends.  We all make mistooks.  It's what gets done to make the corrections that makes a big difference.

I am sure the vinegar will work to neuturalize the plaster.  I got thinking later in the day (today)about the scratches that may be deep enough to get into the wood.  Be sure to have clean water to flush if necessary.  Too much vinegar, and you can go into an acidic condition.  If it gets into the scratches and down into the wood, you could have some blackening of the grain.  I'm just guessing here.  i hope your experiments looked into that problem.  No matter what, i think clean water should be on hand for flushing.

And don't use that broom.  By now, i hope you have deposited it where it should have been deposited as soon as the problem was discovered. 

Note about vinegar:  When i was first learning the mason trade, my boss did a lot of plastering (pre sheetrock days).  when we did white coat, we used "hot Lime".  i did all of the mixing.  every body on the crew, and especially the laborers doing the mixing, (meaning me) carried a container of vinegar within reach.  I always wore glasses, so I never ended up with any of that lime in my eyes, but I did get my glasses coated with spatter every now and then.  I never saw anybody get the hot lime in their eyes, but the vinegar was kept handy for the first flush of the eye should any hot lime get there.  There was always plenty of water on hand for the final flush, but it was important to neutralize the lime immediately. I don't know of anybody who does white coat plastering with hot lime any more.  I was glad when we no longer did it.  I never looked back with sadness.
Tinker