Where do you find facts about smoke and soot damage on wood furniture?
If the finish has not started to bubble or peel you can probably just polish the surface to regain most of the original appearance. Depending on the type of finish on the piece, most of the newer finishes are quite resistant to heat damage and water stains. Older finishes, especially shelac and laquer, tend to be more fragile. Older varnish tends to soften with repeated exposure to oil and is also heat sensitive. If the finish is damaged but the wood still appears to be solid and hasn’t warped or started to char, you will need to refinish the surface.
