Hey guys, I’m normally out on the Woodworking forum. But I have a question re. Filler. I’m painting my 100 year old house…clapboards are still in pretty good shape but I have some holes, gouges to fill. I’ve heard of everything from Caulk to Bondo works best. Could you guys be kind enough to offer me some advice?
thank you.
Replies
Many here have recommended Bondo, but I've never used it. I have used Minwax 2-part wood epoxy which is very similar, but is marketed as expressly for wood. It works well... I haven't seen a failure yet.
For small holes, I don't think epoxy is necessary. Caulk or exterior spackle works fine.
Thompson's Durham Rock Hard Water Putty.
And don't mix it with water. Mix it with primer.
Woodk,
I asked FHB contributor Tim Leahy what he recommends. Tim's a finishing foreman for Kirby Perkins, a custom builder in Newport, RI. Here's his reply:
I like the Elmers exterior grade spackling compound. It sands well and is creamy, so it works well off the knife. Typically, I prep the surface and spot prime the holes to seal the old wood, then force in the putty. Deep holes may require a second application, as it shrinks just slightly. I also make it a point to re-prime the area so that rain doesn't re-wet the putty and soften it. Bondo is also used on deep gouges or old bolt holes, etc. It doesn't like to adhere to paint, so I scrape or sand with #100 to bare wood about an inch around the repair, fill, and then sand smooth until the surface is level.
Hope that helps.
Chris, associate editor/FHB
Edited 6/4/2009 2:14 pm ET by Cermides
WOW!
Never dreamed I would get a response from Editors and This Old House. I'm very grateful, guys. I've been a subscriber to Fine Woodworking...Believe I will now subscribe to FHB! You guys are the best. Thank you
I second the Elmer's. I just kind of lucked into it at WallyWorld one day and thought I'd give it a try. Application is a cinch with a putty knife, and it sands well. There is also a spackling in a tube that has an applicator built in. I can't remember what it is called but it works pretty good, it can be hard to squeeze out of there sometime. Follow the directions with whatever product you use.
As someone else has already mentioned, don't caulk the holes. Caulking will shrink and will really show through your finish. Use a good quality exterior grade caulk for the siding/trim joints (polyurethane is my favorite, but it is extremely messy, follow the manufacturer's recommended clean-up).
Hope this helps!
Hi
I also have 100 year old clapboards. I have not used the products metioned in the other responses you received, but I will relate my experience. 10 years ago I pulled many of them off (carefully) with the intent of sealing the backs and edges so they would hold paint better. Because the backs were in pristine condition, I decided to reinstall them with the backs facing out. I sanded them smooth and then filled all of the old nail holes with Abatron two part epoxy wood filler. Generally a second application on the "new" exposed side was needed. I used the liquid version as a glue to seal minor cracks. Once installed, I set the nails and also filled with Abatron. A decade and one paint job later , it looks like the day I completed the work.
Caulk is for caulk joints, not for surface repairs like gouges and holes.
No matter what product you use, be sure to get some fresh wood and no loose paint left. If there is gray wood, it has been damaged by the sun and needs to be sanded more for primer or filler to stick.
If there has been some rot start just enough to soften the wood, use Minwax wood hardener first.
Mostly I use their two part mix filler, but sometimes bondo. Either works if you let it have a good bond.
For lighter touch up and filling simple scrapes or pecker tracks from hammers, plain exterior vinyl spackle. For that, I prime first, the spackle, sand and prime again.
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