Fixing Drill Holes In Hollow-Core & Solid Wooden Doors
Wooden doors are normally strong and have a nice appearance. Yet, when a wooden door develops a large hole or deep scratch in one of its panels, it might eventually cause structural damage in addition to being unsightly. You can quickly as well as easily fix screw holes in a hollow door or patch a hole in a solid wood door in just a few hours of labor. People frequently inadvertently puncture their inner hollow-core doors since they are typically lightweight, relatively brittle, and simple to damage in contrast to solid-core doors. They might slam one into a doorstop they forgot was there or crush one with the leg of a chair that is being transported from one room to another. These occurrences frequently result in a hole in the door, which requires immediate repair.
Tools & Materials Needed
Have all the equipment and materials ready before you start. When using glues or sanding equipment, make sure to always use safety goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. This will shield your skin and eyes from stray dust and sticky droplets. Among the equipment and supplies to have on hand are:
- Hammer, Handsaw, 120-Grit Sandpaper, Scrap Wood
- C-Clamps, Paint Scraper, Drywall Knife, Utility Knife
- Carpenter’s Glue, Wood Primer, Paint Epoxy, Wood Filler
- Drywall Joint Compound, Spray Foam Insulation
- Paint Pigment To Match The Wood
Fixing Holes In Hollow-Core Doors
If the hole extends through the entire hollow-core door, some support is required to fix the wood paneling. A hollow door repair kit from Home Depot is practical and reasonably priced.
- Over one side of the hole, place a piece of sturdy wood. Spray insulation made of foam into the space on the other side of the hole. Let the foam insulation to swell until it protrudes from the hole. In this manner, you can be certain that it has filled the gap and will provide assistance when the repair is finished.
- On both sides of the door, trim the foam with a utility knife. Hardened foam should have a surface that is somewhat concave; apply plasterboard joint compound over this.
- Make the compound flush with the rest of the door by scraping it. Use the 120-grit sandpaper to smooth off the dried plasterboard compound.
- The wood door's repair has been primed and painted. Work in circular motions from the center of the patch to the corners of the existing wood panel, tinting the primer to match the color of the wood door.
Fixing Drill Holes
- A hollow door or solid wood door can easily have screw holes repaired. A dowel can be used to swiftly patch up tiny round holes left behind by lock changes or other hardware in wood doors.
- Find a dowel that fits the hole's diameter and cut it to size. It should protrude from either side of the door by about an inch.
- Apply carpenter's glue to the dowel and carefully tap it into the hole with a hammer. Let the adhesive dry once one end is flush with the door's surface.
- After removing the opposite end of the dowel using a hacksaw, smooth down any rough edges. Continue until all holes are filled. To finish the process, prime or paint the patched area or the entire door.
Repairing Irregular Holes On Solid Doors
Large or oddly shaped holes demand a little more work, but they can save the need to replace the door entirely. You'll essentially follow the same procedures as for a hollow door to fix a hole in a solid wood door, but you'll use different supplies.
- To support the filling material, clamp a piece of wood to one side of the door.
- Using epoxy wood filler mixed with hardener, patch up large or uneven holes. To create a smooth surface, trowel it into the hole.
- Let the patch to dry with a slightly concave center.
- Remove the C-clamp and the wood on the opposite side of the door once the filler has dried and become solid. Apply plasterboard joint compound to the patch on both sides of the exposed area.
- After the joint compound for plasterboard has cured, prime or paint the repair.