Repairing Small Cracks Or Holes In A Wooden Garage Door

If you have a wood garage door that has a few areas with small holes or cracks in it, you will want to make repairs fairly quickly to avoid excessive damage such as wood rot or mildew from settling in the crevices. Making repairs to a wooden garage door is not that difficult with the proper tools. Here are some general instructions to use in making repairs to a wooden garage door.

Checking The Damage

Take a look at the interior of your garage door before you start making repairs. If the cracks or holes in your door go straight through the wood to the interior, you will be better off calling a professional carpenter or garage repair service to replace the wood panels. If the cracks or holes are only visible on one side of the door, you should be able to fill them in so the door can continue to be utilized.

Cleaning The Door

Before you start to fill in holes and cracks in the door, the area needs to be thoroughly cleaned so the wood filler will adhere properly. Scrub down the affected areas using a non-abrasive sponge or piece of microfiber cloth that has been dipped in a mild detergent/water mixture. If there are areas where the wood is splintered, remove the small wood slivers using a pair of needle-nose pliers. 

Filling In Crevices

Dents and holes can be filled in using a wood putty filler. This is found in hardware stores in the lumber section. To use the putty, open the packaging and rip off a piece of the putty that looks as if it will fill in the hole or crack you are trying to repair. Squeeze the putty with your fingers and roll it around in between your hands for a bit to help it become pliable. Push the putty into the area you are repairing by using your fingers or a small tool like a putty knife or screwdriver. Allow the putty to harden overnight.

Finishing The Project

After the wood filler has hardened, use a piece of medium-grit sandpaper to smooth down the surface of the putty so it is uniform with the rest of the door. Switch to a piece of fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the putty further. When the putty is smooth, you will then be able to paint the door to hide the flawed areas. Let the paint dry overnight before opening your garage door.

To learn more, contact a garage door company like DSI Door Services North Shore

Share