Wooden doors, particularly hollow core doors, are often more fragile than we’d like, and nothing eliminates privacy more than a big hole in the middle of one. Contacting a door repair company to replace an interior door is a surefire way to fix the problem, but there’s a fairly simple DIY fix. Keep reading to learn how to fix a hole in a door yourself with just a few minutes of working time.
How to Fix a Hole in a Door Step-by-Step
Give door holes the heave-ho
Photo: Dariusz Jarzabek / Adobe Stock
Photo: Dariusz Jarzabek / Adobe Stock
Written by Mizuki Hisaka
Contributing Writer
Updated May 14, 2024
Difficulty
Simple
Turn an idea into an I-did-it.
Time to complete
4 hours
Cost
$20–$30
DIY with what you have.
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
- Utility knife
- Plastic putty knife
- 2-inch paintbrush
- Protective gloves (optional)
SUPPLIES
- Drop cloth
- Newspaper
- Aerosol foam insulation
- 120-grit sandpaper
- Spackle
- Touch-up paint
- Wooden dowel (optional)
- Wood filler (optional)
Get Rid of Ragged Edges
Clear up the hole first, cutting away ragged edges around the hole using your sharp utility knife. Grab the knife and work slowly, holding it at a slight angle to create an even, beveled cut. Use a gentle sawing motion to remove any splintered edges.
Stuff Paper Inside the Hole
Now, it’s time to start insulating the hole, which helps prevent another accidental hole later on. Start by crumpling up a small amount of newspaper or printer paper and slide the wad into the hollow area, pushing it to occupy the open space surrounding the hole. Make sure to go all around the perimeter, as this crumbled paper acts as a barrier to contain the insulation.
Spray Foam
Next, spray your low-expansion aerosol foam insulation into the hole, using the straw accompanying the can unless otherwise instructed (avoid high-expansion foam to prevent excessive pressure and damage to other parts of your door). Start at the back of the hole and spray slowly and carefully. Aim to fill the void with the DIY spray foam insulation, using the paper inside as a border. Try not to spray foam too far outside the door's surface, but don’t worry too much if you do.
Let the foam sit for 15 minutes until the insulation is soft and rubbery, but be careful to let it sit longer if the manufacturer calls for a longer curing time.
Trim the Insulation
Foam insulation likes to expand. If some insulating foam expands outside the hole, cut away the excess. Start by waiting until the foam is fully dry and putting on some safety gloves. Cut away at the excess with the utility knife blade flush against the door’s surface and trim the foam slowly and carefully.
Spackle and Smooth
Once the foam insulation is flush with the door, lightly sand it with 120-grit sandpaper. Next, use your putty knife to apply some spackle. Apply a thin layer of the substance directly over the filler. Once the spackle dries, go back to sanding and add another fine layer of spackle. Let it dry before doing another very light sanding. Run your fingers over the surface to test for smoothness, and repeat the process until it’s completely smooth.
Paint and Admire Your Handiwork
Use matching paint to cover up any inconsistencies or signs of repair. Use your brush to apply an even layer of paint over the hole. Let the paint dry for a couple of hours, and apply another coat. For best results, go for two to four coats, with adequate drying time between each. Once it’s thoroughly dried, enjoy your fine handiwork.
Tips for Repairing a Hollow Core Door vs. a Solid Wood Door
The steps above apply to hollow core doors, which are empty in the middle. When repairing a hole in a solid wood door, you don’t have to stuff the hole with paper materials (as described in the second step). For the third step, use spray foam to fill the gaps or a wooden dowel trimmed to size. Once you install the dowel, apply wood filler and sand until smooth with 120-grit sandpaper. Finish up with a paint job, and your door will be like new.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Hole in a Door?
The cost to repair a door depends on the extent of the damage. Average labor costs for a local door repair company run between $40 and $90 per hour. If you contact a handyperson in your area instead, you'll pay less, at $30 to $40 per hour. All in, fixing a large hole or crack costs $50 to $100 when you hire a pro.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Repairing a hole in an interior door is a DIY-friendly project, so you can save some money on door repair costs by doing the work yourself. If you don’t have the time to repair your interior door or feel uncomfortable handling the necessary tools, hiring an expert will ensure a professional finish—as if there was never a hole in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most pros use wood putty to fill in holes in a stained wood door since attempting to match new stain to old stain—even using stainable wood filler—is difficult. Start by buying a wood putty similar in color to your stained wood door and blend different colors of putty if needed. For larger holes, it might be a better idea to replace the hollow core door, as hiding the hole will prove to be a challenge. You could also fix the hole with spray foam and spackle and then paint your entire door for a fresh appearance.
Yes, spray foam is simple and effective for filling in holes in a door. Use low-expansion aerosol foam insulation to avoid creating too much pressure. Stuff some old newspaper around the inside perimeter of the hole to contain the spray foam, and then fill the void with foam. Once it dries, cut the foam flush with the door's surface, apply a few coats of spackle, sand it down, and paint.
Wood putty is a great tool for fixing a hole in a door, especially if you’re working with stained wood or if the hole is relatively small. If you have a stained door, make sure to match the putty to the color of your door. Otherwise, it will be obvious that there was once a hole there. To fix larger holes in a door, you might need spray foam to fill the void and apply wood putty on top (to avoid using a large amount of putty).
While wood putty and wood filler are compounds you can use for wood-related repairs, they have distinct differences. Wood putty can cover nail holes, scratches, and small dings, but it doesn’t react well to sanding or finishes. Wood filler is actually made from wood and can be used for smaller and larger scratches and dents. You can sand and paint it, but it’s limited to indoor use and on unfinished wood.
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