How to Fix Dings in Wood Door Facings

Minor Scratches

• 1

  Clean the scratched wood thoroughly with a damp cloth before you proceed with the repair. Dry the wood with a towel.

• 2

  Rub a wax filler stick that matches the wood over the dinged door facing, overfilling the scratch with wax. Follow the direction of the wood grain.

• 3

  Scrape the excess wax filler off the door facing with a rubber spatula.

Gouges

• 4

  Clean the dinged door facing to remove grime with a damp cloth before you proceed with the repair. Dry the wood with a towel.

• 5

  Follow the instructions included in a two-part wood filler kit that contains filler and hardener. These instructions generally advise you to scoop filler the size of a golf ball onto a plastic coffee can lid with a putty knife. Squeeze a 3/4-inch-long bead of hardener from its applicator tube and onto the filler.

• 6

  Mix the filler and hardener with a stirring utensil. Use the putty knife to fill the gouged portion of the door facing with the wood filler. Overfill the gouge with an extra 1/8 inch of filler to allow for sanding.

• 7

  Let the wood filler mixture dry for 30 minutes.

• 8

  Rub medium-grade sandpaper over the excess wood filler until the patched gouge is flush with the surrounding door facing.

• 9

  Touch up the sanded wood filler with the same finish used on the door facing. Apply the appropriate finish according to the manufacturer’s instructions.