Use these easy steps to repair that damaged hollow core door so it functions like new.
Fortunately, repairing a holey door is probably a do-it-yourself project. For the most part, interior doors are hollow inside and are just a shell. Depending on your preference and the materials available, hollow doors can be patched or filled.
It is possible to repair the hole and patch the door using some easily accessible supplies and tools that you probably already have in the house. You can recover from and fix a broken door by following the ten steps listed below.
- Remove Splinters and Broken Wood
- Pack the Hole
- Fill the Hole With Expanding Foam and Leave it to Dry
- Trim Away Excess Foam
- Mix Auto-Body Filler and Hardener
- Apply Auto-Body Filler to the Hole
- Alternatively, Use Spackle
- Leave to Dry
- Sand the Surface
- Paint Or Stain the Whole Door
Let’s go into more detail about these steps now.
Tools and Materials
The required tools must be gathered before you can start the repair process. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Sandpaper
- Insulating foam
- Utility knife
- Paint to match the door
- Putty knife
- Auto body filler or plastic wood filler
- Pliers
- Cardboard
10 Steps to Fix a Hole in a Door
Although patching a hole is simple, the entire process can take a day, including drying time. The best course of action is to take your time, make sure your work is done well, and pay particular attention to getting the hole ready for filling and finishing.
Remove Splinters and Broken Wood
However, you do need to make sure that the break is clean before you can begin filling the hole. The finish will be uneven if there are any splinters or chunks of wood in the way because they will make it very difficult for the filler to adhere properly.
Splinters, other pieces of wood, and other debris can be removed from the area around the hole by using a utility knife and cutting away from yourself.
Pack the Hole
Foam insulation will drop to the bottom of the door if the hole isn’t packed, forcing you to keep filling it. Fill the space around the hole with paper towels or rags that have been tightly wrapped around the hole’s perimeter.
Paper towels can be used if rags are too bulky. It doesn’t matter what kind of paper towels or rags you use because they are simply holding the foam in place while it dries and isn’t providing any structural support.
Fill the Hole With Expanding Foam and Leave it to Dry
Use expanding foam insulation with a long nozzle, insert the nozzle into the hole, and spray. Till the hole is filled, keep spraying, but be aware that it will keep growing. Don’t worry about spraying too much; any extra foam will be removed. Allow the foam to dry; typically, this takes place overnight.
Trim Away Excess Foam
After the foam has dried, take your utility knife, make sure the blade is flush with the door, and trim away any extra foam that extends past the door’s level. Outside of the door panel’s edge, there shouldn’t be much foam.
Mix Auto-Body Filler and Hardener
Compounds that hasten the hardening of auto-body filler are known as hardener catalysts. Without a catalyst, some fillers will hardly harden. 2 parts auto-body filler to 1 part catalyst is the customary ratio.
Apply Auto-Body Filler to the Hole
Apply a layer over the hole after making the mixture, and then use a putty knife to ensure that the area is well-covered. No tides or bumps should be left behind.
Further Reading:
- Effective Steps to Fix Pocket Door Scratching
- How To Remove A Pocket Door?
- What To Consider When Building A Chicken Coop Door?
Alternatively, Use Spackle
You probably have auto body filler lying around in your garage or house. It is effective and efficient. But working with it can be difficult. It is simpler to use and apply spackle, which is also known as spackling paste of putty filler.
It doesn’t need to be mixed with compounds before use and is easily found in hardware stores. Use a putty knife to push the spackle over the hole and the foam, ensuring the finish is as smooth as possible. This application method is the same as with auto-body filler.
Leave to Dry
Before continuing, let the filler or spackle completely dry, whichever you used. It might take two or three hours, but it could also take as little as an hour.
Sand the Surface
After the area has dried, sand the spackle or filler until it is flush with the door using coarse sandpaper. Despite roughening the edges around the hole, this will help ensure a flat finish.
Paint Or Stain the Whole Door
After filling the hole and sanding the filler layer smoothly, you can paint or stain it to match the door’s finish. Many hollow-core doors have textured wood finishes that are challenging to replicate, if not impossible.
An uneven finish will result from leaving the repair untextured. To achieve uniformity and guarantee an appealing-looking door, we advise removing the door hardware and staining or painting the entire door.
Here is a video to teach you how to fix a hole in a door:
Tips for Using Spray Foam in a Door Repair
Spray foam can be extremely difficult to remove if this is your first time using it, so heed the warning if it sticks to your hands, clothes, or carpet.
Nothing dissolves it, so if you spill it on your clothes, you might never be able to get it off, and if you spill it on your skin, you might have to wait for it to naturally wear off as your skin cells regenerate and die.
When you’ve attached the trigger and tube to the can’s nozzle, keep a rag underneath or wrapped around the tube when you aren’t actually spraying. The trigger and tube are removable from the can.
Spraying requires the use of rubber gloves; wear work attire that you don’t mind getting dirty. The job will consume a fraction of the contents of a can, so if you want to be able to use the rest of the contents at a later date for another project, do the following when you’re finished with this project:
- The nozzle can be separated from the tube by pulling the trigger off of it. To allow the foam inside to cure, set the nozzle and can aside.
- Wait for the foam to fully cure before inserting a wire into the tube that extends through it.
- As soon as the foam has dried and become solid, remove the wire from the tube. Using needle-nose pliers, simultaneously remove the hardened foam from the nozzle and trigger. The tube, nozzle, and can are now prepared for reuse.
Conclusion: Fix the Hole in Your Door Now
If you strictly adhere to the aforementioned instructions, the entire procedure can be finished in a few hours.
It is possible to repair any damage to your door, including scratches and holes, and you can usually do so with supplies and tools you already have at home. Repairing the door eliminates the need for and lowers the cost of purchasing and installing a new door. It is also a satisfying task that will look nice once finished.
FAQs
How Do You Repair a Hole in a Wooden Door?
- Remove the Door: To work with the door on a level surface, lift it off its hinges.
- The edges of the hole should be cleaned up using a utility knife and pliers.
- Support With Cardboard.
- Add Insulating Foam.
- Apply a Filler Coat.
- Sand the Filler.
- Time to Paint.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Hole in a Door?
The cost of having a door’s hole professionally repaired can occasionally be higher than the cost of replacing the door entirely. You only need to pay for the materials if you plan to apply the patch yourself.
What to Fill Wooden Holes With?
Wood putty is a compound used to repair holes in wood. It can be purchased already made or as a powder that needs to be diluted with water. When wood needs to be seen in a room and a color that is close to that of wood is needed, it can be used to fill in holes.
