Hi, could you guide me on what would be the solution for a little hole near the water tape? It's a wooden top. * Can I fill this hole with anything * Can i place plywpode sheet over wood near tape Currently, place a cyclone sealant on it which can easily be noticed from the photo taken from underneath the basin. Please advise

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How to repair rotting timber benchtop with a hole?

Docnhabib

Hi, could you guide me on what would be the solution for a little hole near the water tape? It's a wooden top.

Can I fill this hole with anything
Can i place plywpode sheet over wood near tape

Currently, place a cyclone sealant on it which can easily be noticed from the photo taken from underneath the basin.

Please advise

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Docnhabib. It's fabulous to have you join us and many thanks for your splashback question.

Have you considered tiling this area between the sink and wall? A tiled surface would provide a much more water-resistant finish and help prevent water from tracking under the sink and into the exposed edge of the benchtop. This part of a benchtop is one of the most susceptible areas for water penetration.

While you may be able to fill the small hole with a suitable wood filler as a temporary repair, it's important to stop the water ingress first. If the timber underneath is soft or rotten, the damaged material should be removed before any repair is carried out.

I wouldn't recommend covering the area with a sheet of plywood. Standard plywood isn't suitable for a wet environment and is unlikely to last very long in this location, even if it's sealed. If the damage is only localised, repairing the affected area and improving the water protection may be enough. However, if the timber is extensively swollen or rotten, replacing that section of the benchtop may be the more durable long-term solution.

Here's a helpful step-by-step guide: How to tile a wall.

Let me mention @57giles, @LorenClayton, @beginnerDIY2, and @davidfko, to see if they have any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Docnhabib

Hi @MitchellMc thank you for your reply

If I am not wrong, did you recommending me add tiles over this wood between the sink and wall?
After tiling on top, can I fill the hole underneath by adding a plywood sheet down and filling with wood filler would be a good idea?
See photo after cutting this wood of what to add on the edges for any wood bruising in future, please

Asking for a solution, as I can not afford a whole part replacement, please

MitchellMc

Hi @Docnhabib,

Yes, that's what I was suggesting. Tiling the top of the benchtop between the sink and the wall will provide a much more water-resistant surface and help prevent water from tracking into the benchtop.

If you'd like to support underneath the damaged section, you could glue and screw a small piece of plywood underneath before filling the hole. However, once the top is tiled, that extra support may not even be necessary, as the tiles will help bridge and protect the area.

I recommend sealing any freshly cut or exposed timber edges with a polyurethane coating.

One other thing, do you know that the benchtop is actually rotting away? The hole appears to be where a previous tap was located, and to me, it looks like a larger-sized sink was here previously.

Mitchell

Docnhabib

@MitchellMc

Which tile do you recommend for this job? (2) anything I need to apply to wood before placing tiles on it? And (3) For finishing, can I apply cylecon sealant?

Any chance to find helping materials for installation?

EricL

Hello @Docnhabib

Any of the following tiles should work nicely on your benchtop, but I suggest visiting your local store to see what's available and what will go with the colour of your kitchen.

You'll need a Tile Cutter to cut the tiles down to the size that you need. Technically you would need to use a https://www.bunnings.com.au/james-hardie-1800-x-1200-x-6mm-2-16m-ceramic-tile-underlay-flooring_p0716142 on top of the benchtop. I suggest using Dunlop 5kg Trade Resaflex Tile Adhesive to anchor the tiles to the tile underlay. Yes, you can use silicone to seal the edges of the tile and sink.

Let me tag my teammate @MitchellMc just in case he has anything else to add.

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Docnhabib

@MitchellMc the old sink was small but tape was installed directly through wood.

There was a leakage so we changed sink and now want to cover the hole and wnat to use it for few more years if installing tiles gives stability

For small hole small piece of ply wood of few inches will be sufficient? Or I nee to cover hole part underneath

MitchellMc

Hi @Docnhabib ,

Thanks for clarifying. If the timber around the old tap hole is still firm and dry, then yes, a small piece of plywood underneath should be sufficient as a backing plate. It only needs to be large enough to bridge past the damaged area onto solid timber, so a piece extending at least 30-50mm beyond the hole on each side would be a good guide.

I’d glue and screw the plywood from underneath, then fill the old tap hole from above with a suitable timber filler or repair filler. Once that has cured, sand it flush before tiling over the top. The tiles will help protect the area from water and add some rigidity, but they should not be relied on to hold together timber that is already soft or rotten. They are really there to provide a more wipeable surface and to help prevent further water penetration and damage.

Before closing it up, I’d strongly recommend checking that the surrounding timber has fully dried and that there is no active leak from the new sink or tap connections. If the timber is soft, swollen or crumbly, cut out as much damaged material as you can first, as filler and adhesive will not bond well to rotten timber.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

Docnhabib

Is there anything to repair rotten timber just in case

MitchellMc

Hi @Docnhabib,

Unfortunately, rotten timber can’t truly be repaired once the decay has taken hold. If the timber is soft, crumbly or has lost its strength, the best and safest option is to cut out and replace the affected section.

If it still has some integrity left and the area is non-structural, you could try stabilising it with a product such as Earl's 250ml Wood Hardener. It can help firm up softened timber before filling and painting, but it’s important to treat it as a temporary or cosmetic repair rather than a structural fix.

Mitchell

Docnhabib

Hi recently installed a new sink for that purpose. We cut the benchtop for adjustment and we noticed its bruising.

What to apply on the edges to stop this issue please

JacobZ

Hi @Docnhabib,

Is this the same benchtop from your post here? -

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/344588/how-to-repair-rotting-timber-benchtop-with-a-hole

What you are seeing is water damage, and if it is the benchtop in the post above, then you should follow the advice from my colleagues as there is not much more that I can add. You need to seal the benchtop from above to prevent water getting to the exposed edges. Using the methods my colleagues mentioned will help.

Sealing around the sink with silicone can also help to prevent water getting to that exposed chipboard.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can really do to reverse water damage to chipboard once it has happened. You can limit further damage, but the only true fix is to replace it.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob