Download Article
Download Article
Hollow core doors are relatively easy to damage, but they’re even easier to fix. Instead of paying for a brand new door and going through the headache of hanging it, simply patch and refinish the damage! In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about getting your door back into tiptop shape.
Things You Should Know
- 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 auto-body filler or spackle to patch the damage.
- Once the filler or spackle dries, sand it down. Paint or stain the repair to blend the repair in.
Steps
-
Cut away any loose or broken wood from around the opening. Depending on how the door was damaged, there may be some loose splinters or fragments around the edges of the hole or crack. Rather than trying to repair these loose pieces, use a utility knife to cut away any damaged wood until you’re left with a clean hole that’s mostly free of rough edges. [1] X Research source
- Always cut away from yourself when working with a utility knife, especially when cutting through something sturdy like wood.
- You may need to make the hole or crack slightly bigger before you can begin repairing it. It’s much easier to repair a larger hole free from damaged wood than it is to repair a smaller one that’s fragmented or broken, though!
-
Pack the hole with paper towels, cardboard, or wire mesh . These materials won’t make the door stronger or repair it, but they’re an easy and affordable way to hold the insulation foam in place while it dries. Bunch up a few paper towels or whatever material you’re using and stuff them in the hole or crack. [2] X Research source
- The door isn’t actually 100% hollow. There are a series of diamond-shaped pockets inside the door. If your first bunch of material falls inside the door, keep adding more. You’ll eventually fill the section up. [3] X Research source
Advertisement -
Fill the hole with expanding foam insulation . Expanding insulation foam comes in a spray can with a long nozzle on the top. Point the nozzle inside the hole or crack in your door and begin spraying. The foam will expand to fill the space inside the door, with any excess expanding outside the hole through the face of the door. [4] X Research source
- Don’t worry about the foam flowing out of the hole a bit! You’re going to cut the extra off.
- Look for the “low expansion” or “low rise” foam if you want something a little easier to work with.
-
Leave the insulation foam to dry overnight. Once the insulation foam has filled in the hole or crack, it needs to cure all the way through before it can be cut or sanded down. It may start drying in as little as 30 minutes, but it’ll take 24 hours to completely cure. [5] X Research source
- Check the instructions on your own brand of insulation foam for more guidance on how long it will take to dry. Some foams may require longer drying times.
-
Trim away the excess foam carefully with a utility knife. Position your utility knife slightly above any protruding insulation foam so that it is flush with the face of the door. Gently run the knife down the face of the door to cut away any excess foam. Continue trimming and shaving the foam until you’re flush with the face of the door, or slightly below it. [6] X Research source
- If it gets difficult to trim the foam near the face of the door with your utility knife, switch to a razor blade.
- Don’t worry if you remove a little too much foam. You’re going to fill it in.
-
Apply a layer of auto-body filler for a strong repair. Mix the 2 parts of an auto-body filler together on a sheet of cardboard to activate it. Spread the mixture over the hole in your door with a putty knife . Use the edge of a putty knife to smear and press the mixture over the hole, filling in any gaps to make it flush with the door. [7] X Research source
- Auto-body filler is a compound that will give you a very strong door, but it can be quite difficult to work with. It will normally come packaged with a hardening catalyst designed specifically to activate it.
- Some auto-body fillers do not need to be mixed.
-
Cover the hole with spackle for a quicker fix. If you don't have auto-body filler, you can use spackle (joint compound) instead. Use a putty knife to scoop out some spackle and spread it over the hole in your door. Work in long, smooth strokes to smear the spackle over the door as smoothly and evenly as possible. [8] X Research source
- Spackle is readily available, affordable, and very easy to work with. This repair won’t last decades the way auto-body filler will, but this will 100% get the job done.
- If you don’t have spackle or auto-body filler, you can use wood filler instead.
-
Wait 24 hours for the surface to completely cure. Spackle and auto-body filler compound start to dry relatively quickly, but both materials take a long time to cure completely. Wait at least one day for the filler or compound to become rock solid if you want the best repair possible. [9] X Research source
- Check the instructions on your spackle or auto-body filler compound for more information on how long it will take to dry.
-
Sand down the surface of the repair. Buy a set of sandpaper sheets and start around 100- to 120-grit. Begin sanding down your repair compound. Then, work your way up to 220-grit. Sand off the spackle or auto-body filter until it is level with the surface of the door and it looks flat. [10] X Research source
- Repeat this entire process for each hole or crack on the door.
Advertisement
-
Remove any hardware or hinges if you’re refinishing the entire door. It's best to paint or stain the entire door to achieve an even finish, rather than only painting or staining the area you repaired. Use a screwdriver to remove the hardware from the door. You might need to remove the doorknob, hinges, or a strike plate near the base of the door.
- If you only want to paint or stain the repair, that’s totally fine. It may stand out a bit but if it’s not a commonly used door or it’s in an inconspicuous area, that may not be a big deal.
- If you want to remove the door from its hinges entirely, you can do that as well.
- Alternatively, you could use painter’s tape to tape off areas you don’t want to paint over.
-
Find paint or wood stain that matches the color of your door. Choosing the right color of paint or wood stain will make sure that the repaired door matches the rest of the doors in your home. Ask an employee at your local hardware store for some paint or wood stain samples or ask for help in choosing the right paint or choosing the right stain to match the color of your door. [11] X Research source
- If you can, bring in a sample of the door to help match it—such as a piece of the door you cut away when first repairing it.
-
Apply an even coat of paint or wood stain to the entire door. Use a broad, all-purpose paintbrush or a foam paint roller to apply a single coat of paint or wood stain to the door. Paint or stain any grooves or panels first, then paint long, even strokes over the rest of the door to avoid leaving visible lines. [12] X Research source
- If you’re worried about making a mess, lay down a drop cloth or some old newspaper underneath the door before you begin painting.
-
Leave the door to dry for 24 hours. Once you’ve applied the first coat, allow the door to dry for 24 hours so that you can see how the color cures into the wood and the repair. Even slight contact with the door can damage the finished look, so make sure everyone who might come in contact with it knows that it is still wet. [13] X Research source
- Check the instructions on your chosen paint or stain for more information on the expected time it takes for it to dry.
-
Apply a second coat of paint or wood stain if necessary and let it dry. Each coat that you apply to the door will darken the color slightly and improve the look overall. Once the first coat has dried, apply a second coat to help obscure any imperfections visible from the first coat. Leave it to dry for another 24 hours before reinstalling the hardware . [14] X Research source
- Many interior paints and stains will take several days to cure completely. Be careful with your repaired door for 1 week after painting it to avoid damaging your coat of paint.
- You can apply as many coats of paint or stain as you want, but 2 or 3 coats will normally be plenty to make your door look fantastic.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionShould I fix my door or replace it?Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University.Most hollow core doors are fairly inexpensive and esasy to replace. If the hole in your door is large, just go ahead and replace the door. However, for a small hole, you may be able to patch it with spackle, and then sand and repaint it to match.
-
QuestionCan you patch a hollow core door?Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University.Yes, you can patch a hollow core door! For a quick fix, apply spackle over the area you need to patch. Then, sand it down. To hide the patch, paint or stain the door.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- If the hole in your door is larger than 6 inches (15 cm) or so, it may be easier to simply replace the entire door.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Video
Things You’ll Need
- Utility knife
- Paper towels, cardboard, or wire mesh
- Expanding insulation foam
- Auto-body filler or spackle
- Putty knife
- Sandpaper sheets
- Paint or wood stain
- All-purpose paintbrush or paint roller
References
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-18-re-5499-story.html
- ↑ https://upgradedhome.com/how-to-repair-punch-holes-in-hollow-core-doors/
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-18-re-5499-story.html
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-18-re-5499-story.html
- ↑ https://archive.epa.gov/epa/saferchoice/potential-chemical-exposures-spray-polyurethane-foam.html
- ↑ https://homelyville.com/how-to-fix-holes-in-doors/
- ↑ https://www.homeserve.com/en-us/blog/how-to/fix-door-hole/
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-18-re-5499-story.html
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-long-does-spackle-take-to-dry/
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-18-re-5499-story.html
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-match-paint/
- ↑ https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/paint/how-to-paint-a-door
- ↑ https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/paint/how-to-paint-a-door
- ↑ https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/paint/how-to-paint-a-door
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To repair a damaged hollow core door, start by cutting away any loose or broken wood around the damage using a utility knife. Then, pack the hole or crack with paper towels, and fill it in with expanding foam insulation. Next, let the insulation dry completely before trimming away the excess with a knife. Finally, cover the area with spackle, and let it dry before sanding it down so it's flush with the rest of the door. To learn how to refinish a hollow core door, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,097,723 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Awesome. I just put a hole through a door at our rental, and I had no idea it was hollow inside and as thin as cardboard on the outside! I was afraid we'd have to replace the whole door, and now I feel confident I can repair it without anyone noticing. Phew! " ..." more
Advertisement
"Awesome. I just put a hole through a door at our rental, and I had no idea it was hollow inside and as thin as cardboard on the outside! I was afraid we'd have to replace the whole door, and now I feel confident I can repair it without anyone noticing. Phew! "
..."
more
"I love the paper towel idea to hold the expanding foam in place! That trick would have helped me out in previous projects where I emptied an entire can into a cavity hoping it piled up enough to get to the spot I needed it!"
..."
more
"I haven't done it yet, but I'm walking up to my neighborhood Ace to buy the spray insulation. It looks pretty doable. I was a little confused about the paper towel below the hole statement, but the picture is clear."
..."
more
"Very helpful, as we've just moving out of a rental and the owner is charging us $600 to replace the door. Now we know how fix the door without having to replace it. Thanks for the tips."
..."
more
"Needed to know how to repair a bedroom door without having to replace entire door. This gave me the answers I needed with step-by-step instructions along with pictures!"
..."
more
