I've just bought a 1926 bungalow in San Diego. The trim and built-ins are made of gumwood. The current owner has lived there 37 years (and she didn't remuddle!). The gumwood looks dark but I'm not sure if it's the wood or just and an old finish. Is anyone familiar with gumwood? Will it brighten if I refinish it or should I leave the old finish? <br> <br>If I were to refinish, what type of finish would you recommend? <br> <br>Thank you! <br> <br>Martin <br> <br>

Martin, <br>I have never heard of gumwood, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Could be a nickname for another wood. I would be interested in knowing that one. The old varnish finishes do get dark with age. If you can get a shelf or cabinet door off then you can take it to a furniture refinisher or antique dealer to get your answers. The publisher of the American Bungalow Magazine spoke to our Bungalow society once. He started out by "Thanking the real heroes of the arts & crafts movement, those that didn't paint over the wood". Your one of the lucky one's. <br> <br>John L <br> <br> <br> <br>

John L: <br> <br>I'm the guy you just quoted. On a recent trip to Texas, I <br>heard the term "gum wood" used to describe eucalyptus. <br>It could have been a localism, though. <br> <br>John B <br> <br>

I've learned a bit more - gumwood IS eucalyptus. There are many varieties of eucalyptus and I'm not sure which was used in my home. It has a grain sort of like maple. <br> <br>Apparently its use was somewhat common here in San Diego - judging from a conversation I had with a local realtor friend who asked, when I told her about the unpainted trim, if the trim is gumwood. She said it was used in many bungalows in the area. <br> <br>I'll do a little more research and if anyone is interested let me know. <br> <br>Martin <br> <br>

She said it was used in many bungalows in the area. <br> <br>I live north of San Francisco in a California bungalow built in 1920. There is wainscoating in the living room and a built-in china cabinet in the dining room, as well as all woodwork in gum wood. The woodwork in my home was "wood grained" to make it look like the redwood wood found in the more grand homes in this area. I lived in my home for almost a year before I realized that the wood graining is a painted technique - and not the natural grain of the wood. It was difficult to find a craftsman who could duplicate the graining when we had to replace the front door. Thought you might be interested in another "gumwood" story. Yes, gumwood is eucalyptus- <br> <br> <br>

Gumwood is very popular in the Upstate NY, OH, and PA area of the country. I live in Rochester, NY and all of the older city homes (bungalo or not)have gumwood trim. <br> <br>I asked around quite a bit when I first moved into my 1925 art's-and-craft's-esq city home where I could find some gumwood stain. Most people recommended using cherry-type stain. Gumwood is classifed as a fruit-wood. <br> <br>I've since added some gumwood molding to my home (that I bought from historichouseparts.com)that I stripped and restained using Sherwin-William's Mini-Wax Light Cherry Stain. It looks great! <br> <br>Good Luck <br> <br>