To fix a hole in a door, gather all necessary supplies and prepare the door by removing it from its hinges and placing it flat on a workbench or table. Fill the hole, trim the foam, apply filler, sand the door, and texture and paint the area.
Patch a hollow core door with spackle over the area you need to patch and then sand it down. This is a quick and easy repair that requires only a few tools and materials. The most common way to fix a hollow core door is to use a quick expansion filler to fill the space in a hollow core door, then sand it down and paint to match the existing color.
For solid wood doors, follow these simple steps to make a seamless repair with no special tools required. Drive drywall screws into each piece of the hole, filling the hole with expanding foam insulation, patching the surface with bondo, sand, and paint. Fill in the hole or opening with paper towels, cardboard, or wire mesh, then fill the opening in with expandable foam. Scrape the excess foam off, then use a sharp utility knife to clear up the hole.
In summary, fixing a hole in a hollow core door is a straightforward process that can be done with just a few tools and materials. First, gather all necessary supplies, prepare the door by removing it from its hinges and laying it flat on a workbench or table. Fill the hole with expanding foam insulation, trim the foam, apply filler, sand the door, and texture and paint the area.
📹 How to easily patch and repair a hole in a hollow core door
Are you tired of looking at that unsightly hole in your hollow core interior door? Then check out this How to Easily Patch and …
Can you patch a hole in a solid wood door?
Hollow core doors can have holes through the veneer due to less interior resistance. Small holes from nails can be filled with wood putty and gently sanded to maintain the same plane. For larger holes, you may need to paint the door to hide the patch. To work on the door, remove it or spread a drop cloth on the floor beneath it. Use spray foam insulation, a utility knife, a spackle compound, a putty knife, light sandpaper, a paintbrush, primer, and paint in your choosing color.
Remove the door or lay down a drop cloth. Cut away loose or jagged edges around the hole, fill the hole with spray foam insulation, let it dry overnight, shave off excess foam, apply spackle to the patch, sand the area lightly, prime the door, and apply 1-2 coats of paint.
Minor scratches can be treated with wood filler and light sanding. For larger gouge scratches, use fine grit sandpaper, wood filler, and a putty knife. This process will help maintain the original door’s appearance and prevent further damage.
How to repair a small hole in an interior door?
This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to repair a hole in an interior door. The door is typically made from lightweight MDF and is easily damaged. The author discusses the use of expandable foam, automotive body filler, and plaster in fixing such holes. However, the author suggests an alternative method that is easy, inexpensive, and lasts. The process involves driving drywall screws into each piece of the hole, which is a delicate process.
The screws are then removed, and the patch in the door is painted to restore its original color. The author also mentions the use of a drywall taping knife, cordless drill, sandpaper, hammer, or catspaw for the repair. The author emphasizes the importance of taking precautions and taking all necessary precautions when using expandable foam or autobody filler.
How do you fill a deep hole in a door?
To fix a hole in a door, start by laying dust sheets under the door and around the working area to protect the flooring. Pack out the hole, fill it with foam, trim the excess foam, fill it with joint compound, sand and finish. This DIY-friendly project is ideal for busy families, especially when children are young or renovations are in full swing. If the door is beyond repair, learning how to hang a door is just as easy, so you can replace it if necessary. Before attempting to fix a hole in a door, it is important to determine if the door is hollow or solid, as the repair method is slightly different for each.
Can you fix a hole in a door without replacing it?
To fill an irregular-shaped hole in a door, remove the door from the hinges and mix wood filler and hardener. Cover the hole with C-clamps and a piece of wood, leaving the surfaces slightly concave. Once the filler is dry, remove the clamps and wood. Spread a coat of drywall joint compound over the surfaces and sand them down. Prime and paint the hole to match the rest of the door.
For Core Doors, remove the door from the hinges and clamp a piece of wood over one side of the hole. Spray foam insulation into the hole and let it expand to fill the void. Remove the wood from one side of the hole before the foam hardens. Cut off excess foam with a utility knife and leave slightly concave surfaces. Spread a coat of drywall joint compound over the surfaces and sand them down. Prime and paint the hole to match the rest of the door.
How to cover up a hole in a door?
In order to prepare a hole for a door, it is necessary to follow a series of steps. 1) The area should be prepared by placing a tarp or cloth underneath the door.
How to fill a small hole in wood?
The edges of the hole should be coated with an appropriate adhesive, such as an Elmer’s glue stick. Once the adhesive has dried, any excess material should be removed by sanding, thus ensuring a smooth finish.
Can you fix a hole punched in a door?
Hollow doors can be easily damaged, but they don’t need to be replaced. A simple patch and paint job can save time, money, and resources. To repair punch holes in hollow doors, follow these steps:
Clean the damaged area by removing splinters and cutting away any damaged wood. Rub the surface with gritty sandpaper to even it out.
Clean the damaged area by removing any damaged wood and splinters using a utility knife. This will create a smooth, clean hole around the edges.
What can you use as a substitute for wood filler?
The author is conducting an experiment to determine the most suitable non-wood plug filler for keys with lead removed. To this end, a variety of wood filler alternatives are being tested, including Abatron, Durham’s Rock Hard Putty, DAP Plastic Wood, JB Kwikwood, and P. C. Woody. The materials are being evaluated based on their strength, brittleness, ease of use, weight, re-drilling ability, and cost, with the objective of publishing the results in a journal article.
How do you secure a door from being kicked in?
To secure a door from being kicked in, homeowners should upgrade their locks, secure hinges, reinforce door glass, consider a door security bar, and choose the best door and door frame. Some exterior doors are better equipped for door security, but there are several steps to ensure your entryways are truly secure.
- Secure the hinges: Secure the hinges of your door with screws or nails.
- Reinforce the door glass: Reinforce the glass to prevent slamming.
- Consider a door security bar: Consider a security bar that can be attached to your door to provide additional security.
- Choose the best door and door frame: Choose a door that is well-made and durable to prevent slamming.\n5
How to fill holes in wood without wood filler?
To repair wood without putty, mix sawdust with wood glue to create a paste-like consistency, apply to the damaged area, let it dry, and sand it down to create a smooth surface. For minor scratches or small discoloration, use wood stain markers that match the wood color and apply to the damaged area. Sanding and refinishing are also effective methods for surface-level scratches or stains. Sanding removes imperfections, while refinishing restores the wood’s natural beauty. These methods can help create a smoother, more natural look for the damaged area.
Can I use wood filler on a door frame?
Wooden door frames can deteriorate over time, leading to wood rot and dents. Despite being safe from wood rot, prolonged use can cause dents and holes. Refinishing the door with wood filler is a cost-effective and time-saving solution, but it may not be as simple as replacing the entire door. Common issues with door frames include wood rot, structural integrity issues, and usage dents. Wood rot is a pressing problem that needs to be addressed promptly, while usage dents can appear over time and range from barely noticeable to strikingly apparent. Refinishing the door with wood filler can be more cost-effective than replacing the entire door.
📹 How to Patch a Hole in a Hollow Core Door
Learn how to patch and repair an unsightly hole in a hollow door from home improvement expert Ron Hazelton. For more projects …
Excellent article. Thank you! I removed a dead bolt lock from an apartment steel door and did the same repair you did, and it came out great! The Bondo product is available at auto parts stores or at big box stores. I would wear protective gloves when using/applying the product to protect your hands. Thanks again!
Thank you for taking the time to film and share this! I have a pocket door in our master bathroom and the handle broke and fell out of the door. So the three sides of the door where the handle sat is completely gone. It has been broken for 5 years. Been asking my husband to fix it but he keeps putting me off. Now I know how to fix it and can do it myself. Thanks!
Everybody here because they or somebody they love had a bad day. Thanks for the article. Isn’t fiberglass toxic to sand? Need a respirator? Will standard mud with a mesh cover work like you patch sheet rock? I’m guessing not as well b/c it’s wood… I’ve never worked with bondo before, hate stuff you have to mix because I’m never confident in the ratios.
the level of ignorance and misinformation in the home repair community is astounding. I don’t see any notice or disclaimer anywhere in the article or the comments about the dangers of this resin. Guys please do your research before trying to replicate some random hack off of Youtube. Polymer resin like fiberglass Bondo is EXTREMELY hazardous and should be low on your list of last resorts to repair such a small ding like this, especially in-home. Without the proper (and very expensive) precautions, you are putting yourself in an unreasonable amount of danger to fix something so minor. Low IQ individuals like the original poster end up with degenerative issues like cancer and lung failure later in life and never know why, and they just write it off to bad luck when it is so preventable. YOU CAN HEAR HIS THROAT CHOKE AS HE SANDS THE FIBERGLASS He is touching it WET with BARE hands Please report this article.
Why is the last pic shown of the door “after repainting the whole door” a completely different door? The trim on the left of the door had a run in the paint that wasnt there on the final door shown after the second coat. You can texture it properly, but using a sharp knife will stand out. Use a bamboo kabob stick to chase the grain. Something that wont cut, but will gouge.
Very helpful article. I skipped the bondo step and just used the foam insulation and spackling paste. The spackling paste definitely takes a little finesse (spread, dry, sand, spread, dry, sand) until it’s right. But saved me 8 bucks on the bondo and the mess of mixing the stuff. After a coat of paint there is no visible sign left of the hole.
I used the foam insulation and cut off the excess. I then used wood putty to even it out with the door as much as possible. I trimmed off all the excess. The insulation really helped me because the door had the beveled edge and I was able to create the edge by slicing at the insulation with a razor. I then used spackle to fill in the putty gaps and create a level surface. I used the sand paper to further mold the edge and create a flawless finish. The door took a few days to do. A+
@ronhazelton Thanks for the article. I just used Lepage plastic wood. It’s a Canadian product but i bought it at home depot. They may carry it there in the states. The hole I had to fill was a crack and a dent so i didn’t need the foam. It took me about a minute to do. With the plastic wood i will not need the drywall mud either. If you can get plastic wood down there then you can skip the spackle because it sands just as easy.
Yes, quick dry putty can work. I prefer the polyester resin because it bonds strongly to wood, won’t flake, chip or crack and is flexible enough to stand up to the repeated flexing caused by opening, closing and possible slamming of the door. This is why poly resin is widely widely used in auto body repair. If you buy it in an automotive supply store it’s also inexpensive.
Thanks Ron, 12 year old article and still stands up. This worked so well. I just patched a hand size hole on a 22″ (across) closet door, so I would have had to pay a lot for a replacement custom door, since its an odd size. It took me longer because I did it in a cool room, and I’m not you, but it worked out so darn well!! I subbed out the auto-filler for a wood-filler that hardens in 15 minutes, and it was fine. It worked better than I could have imagined – now I just need to paint.
I am in the middle of the repair now. Everything seems to be going great so far. To answer the question about price for the materials. I picked up a can of “great stuff” insulating foam, the smaller can (just over a pound) of “Bondo” or polyester resin, small tub of joint compound, a razor knife, 100 grit sand paper, and a set of 2,4, an 6 inch plastic putty knives for about $29 and some change after tax. Nice thing is I will have plenty of materials left over incase it happens again.
Yes, that’s true, but the real work can be fitting a new door to an existing opening (trimming, adjusting or cutting hinge mortises, lock sets, etc.) plus the painting or finishing of the entire door. Sometimes, replacing the door is a good option, at other time repairing some damage might ultimately means less work.
I depends on the ratio of hardener to resin. A golf ball size portion of resin with a strip of hardener about an inch long should start to set up in about five to seven minutes. A couple minutes later it will probably be firm enough to cut and begin rough shaping. Temperature, humidity and age of material can all affect the set time, so keep an eye on it and keep testing for hardness.
Thanks for the article, everything you instructed more or less worked except I would recommend anyone interested in fixing a door hole this way to UNSCREW THE DOOR FROM THE WALL AND LAY IT FLAT FIRST! The foam insulation leaked down out of the hole due to gravity and made a wondrous sticky mess of my carpet.
I bought a house with a dozen fist holes in the walls, bedroom doors and closet doors. That is rather concerning since this house was used as a daycare and apparently the man of the house had an anger issue. I thought the hollow doors just needed to be replaced, but I think I”ll try repairing them after perusal the article so I can make the house look nice without spending a lot of money.
Could you please provide the list of the materials you used in this article? UPDATE: I fixed the door, thank you! 🙂 MATERIALS: -Great Stuff insulating foam sealant (don’t get the soft one) -Bondo wood filler (comes with hardener) -3M drywall sanding sheet (100 grit) & 3M all-purpose sanding sponge -3M fiber-reinforced spackling compound -You will also need a putty knife and a utility knife…
i was arguing with my sister about not calling Samsung to fix her tablet’s volume problems and i ended up getting really mad and punched the door. kinda hurt but felt really good at the time.. (worst part is, it was my door, not my sisters) Thank You Ron this is a great way to solve these types of everyday household issues.
Great article- however, it would’ve been helpful to hear the following prior to starting: I don’t know what insulation he used but not all are created equal. If your hole is larger, gravity still works and you should take your door off the hinges and work horizontally so you’re not fighting gravity. Protect your floors/carpet with newspaper. The foam is sticky and if it falls in your carpet or floor you will have quite a time removing it. If You’re working vertically little pieces of foam will continue to fall off and create chaos for you. Drop cloth or newspaper- don’t use a towel unless you don’t care if it gets ruined. Keep small children and animals out. It looks EXACTLY like whipped cream.
Buying a house that has holes in the bedroom doors and was wondering how I could use bondo to fix them. Sure enough, you used bondo! Just one thing, never use a putty knife on bondo, it makes a mess. Why not get the proper squeegee while you’re buying your bondo and lay it on nice right from the start? Save yourself a ton of f-ing around that way!
Iv done this repair for years the only problem is you cant use too much foam or the super expando foam or it will bulge out the door I know it happened to me although it works great but I would use plastic filler ( bondo) instead of spackle even if the door has grain just wire bush in the grain when the second coat of filler is applied
I have a question. My friend has a hollow door just as this one is. Where the hinge is, it looks like the holes in the door are too large for the screws, hence, the top hinge is now unattached. Can you use car carpound to patch these holes and then put the screw thru the hinge and into the door around this patch?? If not, what is the best way to fix it save purchasing a new door?
It would depend on how big the hole was, but if it was small enough, I would trim both sides with the knife, using painters tape put cardboard on the less seen side of the door, fill and try to remove the cardboard before foam is done expanding. Then follow his directions on each side of the door. It might need a touch of the foam after the cardboard is removed.
Yea. I guess most people that look up these vids damaged their doors in a fit of ALL CAPS WOOD RAGE!! Just kicked my bros door in with a hole the size of half my foot. The doors single sheet is made of 1/8th” shredded wood material. Yea, great american construction :/ I’m only using the foam filler, pink plaster and paint. Skipping on the resin.