Learning how to repair a door frame with wood filler means you won’t be spending hundreds of dollars if it breaks or rots. Repairing door frames is also rather simple and straightforward without needing expensive tools. Wood filler is a material that is used to make repairs on door frames.
For the most part, wood filler is just what it sounds like a filler for wood. You can use it to fill holes, cracks, and dents on wooden surfaces and objects. Wood fillers are easy to apply and require only basic tools like a putty knife. What you need to do before using wood filler you need to know what the damage to your door frame is like.
Depending on the damage to the door frame you need to change the type of filler you will use. You will only need to use lighter or thinner wood filler for lighter or minimal damage. But if your door frame is badly damaged, you will need stronger wood filler.
In general, wood filler is something you use mainly for lighter door frame damage. If the frame is damaged badly then instead of filler you should replace the piece of wood. But if you repair a door frame with wood filler you need to learn the process. To make the process as easy as possible for everyone we have broken it down into 5 parts.
Table of Contents
How to repair a door frame with wood filler
As mentioned above, our process of repairing a door frame with wood filler is broken into 5 steps. Each step comes one after the other and needs to be done precisely. You will also need some basic DIY tools and wood filler. Our process has the same level of difficulty as how to take apart a bed frame.
Here are the tools you will need:
- Wood filler
- Putty knife
- Vacuum
- Brush
- Wood stain (optional)
- Sandpaper
Scrap & clean
Before you can repair your door frame you need to clean it and scrap out all the splinters and broken bits of wood. For this step, you should use a wire brush or if needed the putty knife when the brush isn’t working.
It would be best if you did this because without proper cleaning you won’t be able to properly fill it with the wood filler. Once the cleaning and scraping are done you should use a vacuum to finish the cleaning and remove splinters or dust that are out of reach. After this give it one final check and if all is good you can move to the next step.
Mix the wood filler
Before you use a wood filler you need to mix it since they sometimes come in two parts or harden. For this step, there isn’t anything we can tell you other than you should follow the filler package instructions. All you need to do is mix but for others, you need to knead it until it gets soft.
It would make the process easier if you chose a wood filler that comes in the color of your door frame. However, this is not always possible but it’s okay if the color doesn’t match because you can always color over the area later.
As for choosing the type of wood filler, there are multiple choices available in the market, so choose the one that will best work for you. We will be getting into more detail about each wood filler type. This is so that you can make a better choice when you need to repair a door frame with wood filler.
Apply the wood filler
Once the wood filler is nice and soft, you can start the application part of the process and to do it you don’t even need to do anything complicated. Use a putty knife to get some filler and apply it to the damaged area. Continue to use the putty knife to smooth out the area until the entire area is covered correctly.
If you are using the wood filler to fill a hole, you need to use the putty knife to fully push the filler into the hole. Keep pressing down with the putty knife until the hole is completely full, then smooth the hole. Ensure there is no excess wood filler by moving the putty perpendicularly and then parallelly a few times.
When you repair a door with wood filler, you must act fast because it will harden in a minute or two.
Let it dry
Once you have ensured that the wood filler is completely set, you can do additional scrapping with the putty knife. This is to ensure that you have set the filler properly and that excess filler is left. It generally takes a few minutes for the wood filler to set but it takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the filler to completely dry.
However, it would help if you read the instruction that comes with the filler to learn how long it will take for the filler to set fully. You should also know that sometimes wood filler tends to shrink slightly after it sets. In that case, you will need to apply another layer of wood filler on your door frame.
You will only need a small amount of filler when you add a second layer. Because you should have already applied enough to cover the area the first time.
Clean & color
This is the last step to repairing a door frame with wood filler. Once the wood filler has successfully been applied and set, you can clean the repaired area. After cleaning you start to color or stain the wood filler to match the door frame’s color or stain.
Sometimes, the filler doesn’t dry equally well and looks or feels rough to the touch. In those cases you will use sandpaper of fine grit, about 120, to smooth out the area. It would be best to use the fine-grit sandpaper for about a minute or two before using your hand to check the smoothness. Repeat the processing unit so the area feels smooth.
The very last step to repairing a door frame is to prime and paint over the area you used wood filler. Firstly use one or two, two being the best choice, coats of wood primer and wait for it to dry. Once dry, use sandpaper to smooth out the area. Then apply a coat of paint so that the area matches the rest of the door frame. You could apply wood stain; however, it might sometimes not match the door frame’s color.
Repair a door frame with wood filler: Precautions
While you repair a door frame with wood filler, you won’t have to do anything too complicated or use advanced tools; you should still be careful. As you will be handling some products with chemicals such as wood filler, wood stain, or paint it pays to be cautious.
We will inform you about some other things you need to avoid while repairing a door frame. These precautions are similar to when you learn about how to fix a bed frame.
1. Be patient
When you repair door frames you need to be patient because you have to wait while the filler dries. You need to take care of DIY tasks because these types of work will require precision. And precision comes when you take your time.
2. Wear protective gear
While repairing a door frame with wood filler doesn’t require any powerful or complicated tools, wearing protective gear is still a good idea. You won’t have to wear anything too protective, just goggles and work gloves. These will protect your hand and eyes which you are more likely to injure when you do DIY.
3. Avoid wet areas
Another precaution you will need to take when repairing things like door frames is that there need to be dry. The reason for this is that when wet, the areas will be hard to repair. Also, wood filler and other such things won’t properly set or fill if the damaged area is wet.
Furthermore, cleaning and repairing damage to door frames and other wooden parts becomes challenging when wet.
4. Be precise
We have already mentioned that DIY or repair works to door frames and other such things require finesse and precision. This is because mistakes will be tough to repair without those things you like. So the question is do you want to make mistakes and take even longer than before needed or get the job done quickly?
5. Keep the area well-lit and ventilated
Sometimes the damages to the door frame are small or hard to see, and other times you will need to use things like paint that might smell strong. In those times you should work in a well-ventilated and well-lit area to work in peace. The light will let you see things clearly and ventilation will keep the chemical smell of paint and stains away from you.
Types of wood fillers
We have talked a lot about wood fillers and how to use them but not which one you should pick, so let’s fix that. Above we have mentioned something called two-part wood filler. We will explain in detail what that in this section.
We also talked about how many kinds of wood filler are on the market, and we have picked the five most popular ones. Here are the best types of wood filler to repair a door frame:
Latex & solvent-based
One of the better choices for wood filler will have to be the latex or solvent type of filler. The main reason why is that they come in popular colors. All you need to do is mix it and apply with a putty knife to holes and dents then sand it down.
However, this type of wood filler doesn’t have a lot of structural strength, meaning it won’t hold up to a lot of pressure. Therefore remember where you used this wood filler and don’t use a nail around it.
Water-based
One of the most versatile types of wood filler we could find was water-based fillers. These wood fillers have natural ingredients such as minerals, wood fibers, and cellulose. Since it uses fewer VOCs, it smells less. Another great feature of these fillers is that it mixes well with water.
The ideal place to use this filler would be when you need to use less filler or need a thinner layer. By mixing the filler with water you will find that it dries or sets much faster. In our tests, we found that it sets in about 15 minutes. You will only need some soap and water to clean up after applying it.
Epoxy
Sometimes you will need to repair an area where you might have to do additional work such as nailing. And in those times what you will need is epoxy wood filler. These things come in cans or tubes which are sometimes colored and other times clear.
Due to coming out of a tube or can, it can get messy when applying. So be extra precise since it’s hard to sand it smooth once set. However, once it sets it can become harder than the wood it repairs. Since it has a plastic appearance once set, it’s better to apply it where it won’t be seen.
Exterior
Not all wooden products like door frames are placed indoors. Some are placed outdoors. If those require repair, you need to use exterior wood filler. The main plus of exterior filler is its moisture resistance that matches weather fluctuation.
This weather resistance comes from ingredients like acrylic latex and butyl caulk. A few of these variations don’t allow for coloring, so pick a color that matches the door frame you are repairing.
Homemade
Sometimes you won’t find a wood filler that will match the color or consistency of the wood you are repairing. For those times, you can make your own wood filler using basic things. All you will need are some sawdust or shaving of the wood you are working on and mix it with some good quality lacquer.
To apply it you can use a regular putty knife and the application process will be the same as a regular wood filler. An alternative can be using wood glue instead of lacquer. Overall, these homemade wood fillers will look natural but won’t be as strong.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Is there a difference between wood filler and wood putty?
Compared to wood filler wood putty is much denser but is still pliable enough to be applied with a putty knife. Wood putty is a mixture of plastic and oil solvents. Another difference between putty and filler is that wood putty doesn’t harden. It also doesn’t shrink or crack and you won’t be able to sand it down.
Which type of wood filler is the strongest?
We have so far tested multiple types of wood filler and found the epoxy type of wood filler to have the most structural strength.
How to fill holes in wooden door frames?
The steps to fill holes or dents on door frames is quite simple. Here is how to fill holes in the door frame:
1. Use c-clamps and a piece of wood to support the other side of the door.
2. Apply epoxy wood filler and hardener to fill the hole.
3. Create a slight concave on the center of the filled hole. Let the patch dry.
4. Apply drywall compound on both sides of the patches.
5. Use primer or paint to make the patch match the door color.
Is wood filler permanent?
No wood fillers aren’t permanent; however, they last for years if you use high-quality filler. Some fillers like exterior wood filler have ingredients that make them resistant to weather and moisture and those can last for a decade or two.
Conclusion
The steps on how to repair a door frame with wood filler can be separated into five parts. Clean the damaged area, mix the wood filler, apply the wood filler, let the filler dry, and smooth the area with sandpaper. If you follow these steps, you can repair most types of damage to door frames quickly and easily.
However, remember to take care and wear things like goggles and gloves and use the putty knife precisely. There is always a chance that you could hurt yourself; we don’t want that.
