How to repair rotten sliding door?

[johnk]

Hi all,

I am repairing the rotten section of a timber sliding door which faces on the inside. 

Thus far I used multiple coats of Earl's Wood Hardener over several days including a medical syringe to pump the hardener in multiple places along the section I am  repairing. The section now has a glazed look to is and it quite hard to the touch. I then plan to undercoat, then wanting to use a filler, sand this back, undercoat, and then paint.

I have not had good success with Turbo Builders Bog and I have found that for applications like this it will eventually crack. So I was hopping for a flexible filler to use that can cope with flex. Wondering if something like the Polyfilla 450g Exterior Timber Filler might be a better solution?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/polyfilla-450g-exterior-timber-filler_p1210571?region_id=116310&gad_sour...

Many thanks!

John.

[JacobZ]

Hi @johnk,

Thank you for your question.

What you've done so far is brilliant and it sounds like it's done a great job of hardening up the rotten sections. I've been surprised in the past by just how effective the Earl's Wood Hardener is. 

The Polyfilla Exterior Timber Filler is the perfect product for filling those small cracks as it is slightly flexible to account for the movement and impacts the door will experience. 

As you've already said, the process would be to fill the hole, sand it back, undercoat and then paint. It is likely worth taping the glass with ScotchBlue 48mm x 55m Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Masking Tape to prevent any scratches or errant paint, but other than that, there's not much I can add as you are already on the right track. 

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jacob

[johnk]

More than 3 months after this repair, the repair is holding up really nicely considering the door is used many times every day.

The use of a syringe to jab the rotten wood multiple times with the wood hardner over a week and then coat it again and again with a brush created a really hard and glassy finish. Primed, and then filled in with the Pollyfilla Exterior timber filler, sanded and then primed and finally painted, has delivered a good result.

It appears that unlike the two pack Bog type fillers which are more brittle, this type of filler perhaps is more flexible.  

I could have done a better job with the trip part hitting the window, but unless I pointed to people, it's hardly noticable, and I can in the future replace this with a small new piece.

Repaired Window Frame

[EricL]

Hello @johnk 

Thank you veery much for the update. The door looks great and there is no indication of rot or damage. Good work!

Eric