How to Fill Holes in a Masonite Door
Masonite’s innovative designs and style selection set their doors apart from others. Although long-lasting and durable, Masonite doors are susceptible to damage. Masonite essentially consists of hardboard, a manufactured material made of wood fibers, which may develop holes from applied force or from nails used to hang decorations on the doors. Holes, regardless of their origins, diminish a Masonite door’s aesthetic appeal. Aside from the purpose of improving the appearance of a Masonite door, homeowners must patch holes in the door before staining or painting it.
Step 1
Moisten a cleaning cloth with water. Wipe the hole in the door to remove grime and prepare the area for patching.
Step 2
Wipe the moistened door with a towel until dry.
Step 3
Cover the flooring below the door with a plastic drop cloth. Set up fans nearby and put on rubber gloves.
Step 4
Apply a golf-ball-sized glob of the filler onto a mixing board using a scooping utensil, followed by a 3/4-inch long bead of the hardener. Squeeze the hardener directly onto the filler, and then mix them with a stirring utensil.
Step 5
Pack the wood filler mixture into the hole using a putty knife. Overfill the hole with wood filler to allow for sanding. Wood filler begins hardening in 10 minutes, so don’t linger at patching the hole.
Step 6
Allow the wood filler to dry for 30 minutes.
Step 7
Shave most of the excess wood filler off the door using a modeling knife. Leave about 1/8 of an inch of filler for sanding.
Step 8
Rub the remaining wood filler with medium-grit sandpaper using back and forth movements. Sand the filler until it’s flush with the surrounding door.
Step 9
Wipe sanding dust off the door using tack cloth.
References
Tips
- Select a wood filler system that doesn’t contain waxes and that does include a tube of hardener. Make sure the wood filler matches the door’s hue.
- To fully camouflage the filled hole and beautify the door, stain the entire door with an oil-based stain, followed by a clear topcoat varnish.
- Use acetone to remove any wood filler that accidentally became smeared onto the door during the patching process. Spot-test the acetone on the door first, however, to prevent discoloration.
Writer Bio
April Dowling first started writing in high school and has written many news articles for newspaper and yearbook publications. She is currently pursuing a career as an online writer and affiliate marketer. Dowling writes for several websites and keeps many blogs.
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