we built a sapele mahogany top for a customer about a year ago. they called last week and said that they had split bleach on the counter. it did sit on the top for a little while and now that spill has left a sizable discoloration. the top is finished in food-safe mineral oil.

could they sand the top down in the area to get the color back? any other ideas on how to get the color back to natural?

Sounds like an expensive mistake other than grinding it down in-place and staining/re-applying oil. Can only imagine the bleach went really deep even if they very recently re-oiled the top.

Bummer

P.S., you cant help but to wonder how many bleach mishaps have happened during Covid.

Depends on how long the bleach sat on the wood, but wouldn't be surprised that at least 1/16"-3/32" would have to be removed to get to pure natural color. I'd suggest instead of grinding down the top they get the bleach neutralized, sand the raised grain smooth, and get someone really good with color and tone it to the other wood in place. But the final hurdle would be that the color would have to be sealed. If that mineral oil is still on other places on the top, that will make a clear coat impossible to grab. I'd really suggest they call their insurance agent and have you make a new top. There will be at least $1,000 trying to redo the current top, and it will never be as good as before the accident.

rich - i've never heard of bleach neutralizer, and wouldn't have thought to advise filing an insurance claim. thanks for both suggestions.

i'm pretty sure the area is on part of the top that they don't regularly use. they do cut and prep food directly on the top, so clear coating it wouldn't really be an option.

What about turning it over?
Depending on how it was installed that could be an option. Unless it is possible because of shape or a sink in it.
Just a thought.

cannot turn it over. good thought though.

google:

Pretty sure you can neutralize most household bleaches with hydrogen peroxide, even the 3 percent solution you get at the drug store.

Other than have you refinish it in place or rebuild the top, perhaps they can bleach the whole thing? Might be easier to blend in the damaged area, rolling the bleach around to help "stain" the part that was bleached first, then neutralize and re-oil afterwards to have a somewhat uniform color top, even if it is not exactly the color that they want.

I will agree that attempted corrections are sometimes just efforts to suck up time and money, so that you can convince yourself that the inevitable needs to happen.

FWIW.
TonyF

thanks, everybody.

i told my customer about the neutralizer and to combine this with some sanding. the top has darkened quite a bit so i'm not sure how much either will help. i also told them about calling a mobile refinisher. that person might have more insight and/or tricks-of-the-trade to get this resolved.

Rout that section out and do an inlay?