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How to Fill Holes Left When a Door Strike Was Moved

Kim Blakesley
Woman looking at her face in a mirror

Changing out a door knob, adding a deadbolt or changing the position of a door knob can cause an opening or gap where the old door strike was located. The integrity of the door could be at risk if the opening is not filled. Two possible ways exist to fill the hole. Fill the hole with a non-shrinking wood filler or a paintable new wood epoxy. Either process will fill the hole and allow you to redrill or cut in the general vicinity if you so desire.

Step 1

Remove the door strike and any hardware from the area. Sand the edges of the opening to remove splinters. It is not necessary to create a smooth surface but one that is solid.

Step 2

Wipe the opening with a lint-free cloth to remove excess sanding dust.

Step 3

Choose either the non-shrinking wood filler or paintable new wood epoxy. Mix the epoxy according to the manufacturer's directions on a scrap piece of wood, plastic lid or paper plate. Each manufacturer has suggested mixing ratios so follow the instructions carefully. Be as exact as possible when mixing the ingredients to create the longest malleability of the mixture. This will also make sure the epoxy cures and hardens properly. If you are using non-shrinking wood filler, no mixing is required.

Step 4

Load the end of a putty knife or plastic scraper with your filler. Press the filler into the opening. Continue with this same process until the opening is completely filled.

Step 5

Place the edge of the putty knife or plastic scraper on the wood just above the filler. Hold the tool at a 45-degree angle and pull it across the surface of the filler to level.

Step 6

Allow the filler to dry the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer. Different manufacturer's have different drying times so read the instructions carefully.

Step 7

Sand the dried filler with 180-grit sandpaper until smooth.

Step 8

Seal the dried filler with a water-based sealer prior to painting or staining.

Tip

Read the directions prior to purchasing an epoxy product. Some products require an epoxy primer to seal the wood.

Tip

Both wood epoxy and non-shrinkable wood filler are sold in various colors to aid in ease of color matching. They are also sold in various mixtures for paint or stain application. Read the information on each container prior to purchase.

Warning

Epoxy products produce fumes that may be unpleasant. Open a window or start a fan to help dissipate the fumes.

Warning

Mix only as much epoxy filler as you can work with in the recommended time frame of malleability by the manufacturer. Epoxy hardens due to a chemical reaction between the ingredients. This causes the epoxy to get hot during the process. You may find that the epoxy will get too hot for you to handle the longer it sits. Epoxy's normal range of setting is between 5 to 20 minutes.