How To Fix A Hole In A Door [7 Steps To Follow]

Damages to doors can happen quite often, whether they're interior or exterior doors. Instead of replacing the entire door, which can be expensive, it's best to know how to fix the hole yourself. But how do you do this? We've researched the best way to fix a hole in the door, and in this post, we will share it with you.

Here are the steps to fix a hole in a door:

  1. Sand the surrounding area
  2. Apply wood filler
  3. Sand the filler material
  4. Wipe down the sanded area
  5. Prime the door
  6. Paint the door
  7. Apply additional paint coats

A hole in your door can be aesthetically jarring. You'll be happy to know that they are relatively easy to fix, however. Continue reading to learn about the quickest and easiest method to fix a hole in the door.

A huge hole in a door fence, How To Fix A Hole In A Door [7 Steps To Follow]

 

Steps To Fix Hole In Door

Before starting the project to fix the hole in your door, it's important to first note the material on the door. You'll need to find the correct filler material to cover up the hole.

Things you'll need:

  • Workmans's gloves
  • 200- and 300-grit sandpaper
  • Putty knife
  • Wood filler
  • Damp paper towel or sponge
  • Hammer
  • Wood filler
  • Wood paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Screwdriver

A broken hole in a door

1. Sand the surrounding area

Before sanding the door, be sure to lay down a drop cloth to avoid getting wood dust and paint on the floor beneath it. Next, while wearing a pair of workman's gloves, take your 200-grit sandpaper and sand down the hole and the surrounding area. Make sure to remove any splintering and sand down areas where the paint is peeling. Inspect the entire door to determine if other areas need repair at this time. Afterward, take a damp paper towel or sponge and wipe down the area that you've sanded.

Check out these sanding blocks on Amazon.

2. Apply wood filler

Next, take your wood filler and squeeze one or two beads of the filler onto a putty knife. Then, use the knife to spread the filler over the hole and the area surrounding it. Take your time while spreading the filler, as you want to achieve an even and smooth finish. Keep in mind that the area where the filter is applied should be flush with the rest of the door's surface. Next, let the filler dry for the allotted time according to the directions on the bottle. Typically, the filler will need to drive for at least 15 to 30 minutes---though this may be longer for larger holes.

Learn more about this putty knife on Amazon.

3. Sand the filler material

Next, take your 300-grit sandpaper and sand down the patched-up area. Be sure to sand down any humps or uneven areas where the filler is not flush with the door. Also, be careful not to sand the filler down too much where it creates an indentation in the surface of the door, or you'll have to re-apply it. Take your hand and run it over the surface of the door to make sure that it is smooth and even. If it isn't, you need to sand it down more.

Learn more about this wood filler on Amazon.

4. Wipe down the sanded area

Next, take your damp cloth or rag and wipe down the area that you have sanded. Sanding creates a lot of wood dust, and this will make your final finish gritty and bumpy. Be sure not to add too much water to the cloth, as you don't want the door to be wet. The sanding will also help the paint and primer to adhere better to the surface of the wood.

Check out this microfiber cloth on Amazon.

5. Prime the door

Use your paintbrush to apply the primer to the patched-up hole. Apply a thin, even layer of primer and make sure that it covers the surrounding areas of the patchwork. If you repair a relatively large hole, you may want to use a roller for a quick paint job.

Check out this paintbrush set on Amazon.

6. Paint the door

Once the primer has dried, go over the patched-up area and the surrounding area again using the paint. Make sure to cover any grooves, panels, and crevices within the door using long even strokes. This will help you avoid leaving paint lines on the final finish. If you plan to spray paint the door, be sure to hold the can at least 8 to 10 inches away to avoid dripping. You may also want to consider painting the entire door instead of having the patch job stand out, which can be an issue if the door hasn't been painted in years.

7. Apply additional paint coats

Once the first coat of paint dries, apply additional codes as needed.

Buy interior paint on Amazon.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Hole In The Door?

The cost of repairing a door depends on a few things. The biggest factor is the size of the hole and the type of material that the door is made of. For example, reinforced steel or glass doors will typically cost more to repair than hardwood doors. A typical door repair can cost anywhere from $100 to $400 for parts and labor. And, of course, your location will always be another contributing factor to the average cost for this service.

How Do You Fill A Hole In A Hollow Metal Door?

Fixing a hole in a metal door is somewhat similar to fixing that in a wood door. Let's take a look at the steps to get it done.

Things you'll need:

  • Paintbrush
  • Plastic drop sheet
  • Multi-grit sanding block
  • Wire brush
  • Metal filler or bonding autobody filler
  • Putty knife
  • Sandpaper
  • Paint
  • Primer

1. Prepare and sand the area

Start by laying down a drop cloth or newspapers around the door. Next, take your sanding block and sand in the area around the hole until you reach the layer of unsheathed metal. Then, sand down any surrounding paint that may have peeled away. If you notice any other splits or dents in the wood, be sure to attend to them as well. After you have finished sanding the door, use a damp sponge or rag to wipe down the area.

Take a look at this drop cloth on Amazon.

2. Treat the rusted areas

Next, take your rust remover and apply it to the hole in the surrounding areas to remove any traces of corrosion and rust. You may also need to use your wire brush for this step as well if the rust proves difficult to remove. You can clean the metal surface using dishwashing liquid or CLR.

Find CLR on Amazon.

3. Apply the metal filler

Next, take out your metal filler and apply it to the door. Keep in mind that some metal fillers come with a compound and an activator which will need to be combined before applying them to metal surfaces. Use your putty knife to apply a small amount of the filler to the door according to the manufacturer's directions. Be sure to smooth over the surface using the putty knife as much as possible. When you're done, the hole should be completely filled.

4. Sand down the metal filler

Take the coarse side of your sanding block and sand down the metal filler until the hole and surrounding area are flush with the rest of the door. After sanding the area, take a damp cloth and wipe down any sanding dust from the door. Next, take the fine side of the sanding block and go over the area once again, but lightly. This will help create a better surface for the paint application.

5. Apply a primer

Next, take a rust-inhibiting primer and apply it to the door using a paintbrush or roller. Be sure that the door is dried completely before applying a primer.

Learn more about this metal primer on Amazon.

6. Paint the door

Once the primer has dried, apply the paint to the patched-up area or the entire door if needed. After that, apply any additional coats as needed, but first, make sure that the previous coat has dried completely. It's also helpful to sand the area again between each paint coat.

Learn more about this metal paint on Amazon.

Can You Plaster A Hole In A Door?

A white painted door inside an empty living room

This is typically not recommended. Most doors are either made of wood, metal, or fiberglass. Repairing holes in these doors is typically done with a wood filler, bonding metal, or fiberglass filler. Plastering is typically done with a plaster bonder and used on drywall products, which interior and exterior doors aren't made of.

Wrapping Things Up

We hope that this post has been helpful and illustrating how to repair a hole in a door. Remember, always be sure of the material the door is made up of before repairing any damage to it.

Before you go, be sure to check out our other posts:

How To Fix A Hole In Vinyl Siding [7 Steps]

What Happens If You Don’t Etch Concrete Before Epoxy?

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