Help! The Birds Stained My Companionway Slide

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I hate bird droppings!  Especially after redoing our companionway slide and discovering that the bird dropping spots not only ate through the varnish to bare wood, but also discolored the wood, so despite sanding them down and treating them, the spots are still there.  The only thing I know to do is to totally strip it when we put more varnish coats on in the Spring — it is what it is for now, and at least it’s not bare wood.

I’m frustrated.  So when I do strip the varnish all off next spring, will Snappy Teak restore the teak’s color to all being the same?  I don’t want these two spots and I have no idea how to get rid of them.  Soliciting anyone with more experience!  Please leave a comment below and give me ideas!

OUT OUT damned spots!
OUT OUT damned spots!

In the meantime, over the past two days, I sanded the companionway slide down – sanding the bare bird dropping spots from bare teak and feathering them out as best I could.  I started with 80 grit sandpaper and my mouse sander, then progressed to 240 grit and finally 400 grit wetsanding.   The bird dropping spots are sanded smooth, but the color of the wood is different.  I was hoping varnish would help, but it’s not to be.   Here’s a photo study of the problem ….

What we found when we returned to the boat.  The bird droppings and sun had burned bare spots in our teak companionway slide.
What we found when we returned to the boat. The bird droppings and sun had burned bare spots in our teak companionway slide.
Sanding and sanding...
Sanding and sanding …
One of the spots sanded down and feathered as best I could, obviously not good enough!
One of the spots sanded down and feathered as best I could, obviously not good enough!
After the first coat of varnish yesterday, I sanded with a burgandy very fine scrubby this morning before the next coat of varnish.
After the first coat of varnish yesterday, I sanded with a burgandy very fine scrubby this morning before the next coat of varnish.
Overall it looks pretty good...
Overall it looks pretty good…
Until you look closer and see the discolored spots.
Until you look closer and see the discolored spots.

This will get me through the winter, I’m not going to do anything else on the companionway hatch for now.  But I need ideas for next spring before we leave the boat.   HELP!!!  Thanks for any ideas!  Cheers!   Jan

 

 

 

2 COMMENTS

  1. I wouldn’t sweat it – the discolouration is within the normal colour variation of teak (as evidenced by the streak to the lower part of the picture. If you didn’t tell someone, they wouldn’t actually notice it.

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