How to Repair the Voids in an Exterior Wood Trim
Voids and holes in exterior wood trim are most commonly the result of wood rot, or decay, and from knots coming loose and falling out, leaving a large hole in the trim board. In any case, voids promote further damage and decay by trapping water that would otherwise sheet off of the surface, allowing it to penetrate deep into the unprotected wood fibers. The best repair for most voids is to fill them with a high-strength, two-part filler, such as the filler material used for automotive body work. For small voids such as fine cracks and open end joints, fill them with a high-quality, exterior-grade, paintable caulk. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Stiff brush
- Chisel or other digging/scraping tool
- Awl
- Wood-hardening agent
- Two-part filler
- Drywall or putty knife
- Sandpaper
- Priming and painting supplies, as needed
Instructions
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1
Clean the void and surrounding area thoroughly with a stiff brush to remove all dirt or old paint. If any of the wood is rotted or decayed, dig or cut out all decayed material, and clean the area again.
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2
Puncture the surface in and around the repair area with numerous small holes, using a sharp awl or other pointed tool. The holes help the wood hardener to penetrate the wood fibers.
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3
Apply a liquid wood hardener to the area, following the manufacturer's directions. Allow the hardener to dry.
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4
Mix and apply the filler as directed by the manufacturer. Completely fill the void, and feather the patch material onto the surrounding area for a smooth final finish, using a drywall knife or wide putty knife. Let the filler dry as directed.
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5
Sand the filler smooth and flat, using fine sandpaper. Prime and paint the trim as desired.
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