How to Repair a Hole From Wood Rot, Fixing a Damaged 2X Framing Board

In this video I show how to fix a deep hole in a wood board. When removing old deck boards on the deck rebuild project I found a section of wood rot in one of the 2 x 10 framing members. The hole went deep into the interior of the wood board and needed to be repaired before installing the new decking.

Wood Repair Fillers:
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Make sure to watch the other deck rebuild videos in this video series:

To fix the wood hole it needed to be filled and sealed to prevent future water infiltration. I started by examining the extent of the rot damage to the wood. I then cleaned out any debris from the cavity with a shop vac. Next I mixed up a liquid fiberglass resin and poured a layer of the mixture into the bottom of the hole. I applied a second resin application after the first batch cured. Then I mixed up a 2-part filler putty and filled the rest of the whole with it in multiple layer applications. When the wood filler was cured I sanded down any high spots over the wood hole repair. Then I attached a second framing board (to the repaired framing board) to add strength as the repair did not likely add significant structural reinforcement.

Please leave any comments below.

#woodwork #FixIt #DIY

[sahmadi]

Good for you. The man got to do what the man got to do. You sure gave some more life to that beam.

[robertyunaska]

Since the area repaired is in compression (top half of board in compression, bottom half in tension--unless a cantilevered section, then reversed) this is a sound repair. There is a shear stress in the middle that should be considered if it is a long repair, screws into the sound bottom address this.

[strategicthinker]

A simpler, cheaper and more secure way would be to simply cut out the block with rot (if it's not over half way through) and glue a healthy wood block of the same thickness in. That would completely eliminate bending-break possibility coming from the weight up top, which a resin does partially but not as well as actual wood.

[birdman]

For extra help, should have covered the exposed wood with joist tape to stop water from sitting ontop of the wood.

[jobfour]

Doubling up planks makes wood rot faster, if needed, the planks must be sealed from top side or at least put tarpaper in-between planks/deck

[rashellyohn]

If the wood is wet will resin set. I sprayed with pressure hose to blow out the splinters a bit.

[CFUK]

Always consider fall protection when working at height

[MrKistel]

The goal of this repair was to limit the rate of future wood decay by eliminating the void space in the wood that would trap and pool water in the board. This trapped water would surely expedite future rotting. To eliminate the void two different fillers were used in multiple layers. The first filler applied was a liquid resin and the second was a putty like compound. The liquid filler would seal off the surfaces of the hole as well as any additional deep cracks. The 2 part putty mix would fill in the bulk of the void space and provide a sand-able finish.

[arthur-rizo]

OSHA VIOLATIONS:
02:35...No gloves when working with Bondo.
02:42...No eye protection when sanding Bondo.
02:44...No dust mask when sanding Bondo.
$10, 000 fine. Mail cashiers check to me.

[RedRupert]

It would have been better and quicker to replace the top half of that board and then to reinforce from both sides.

[lasinmt]

Love it but your repair is horizontal and mine is vertical. So I'm going to use numerous layers of wood hardener but there's a lot of debate about the product I bought locally and to buy any other brand it's a 200 mile round trip and not happening right at this moment due to other pressures and the need the job needs to be done asap. So I'm absorbing everything I can about repairing rotted wood and what might be the best fillers etc too. I don't see a means to use 2 part resin which I have a half gallon set of but maybe could drool it down into the floor and wall seam area where they meet but not the upper area around 20" high and maybe 16-18 wide. Due to leak from a window that's gone on a long time by previous owners. I bought not knowing there was any water damage and now have run into two major issues. Both different one had to do with bad plumbing and not fixed by previous owners where they allowed the air intake outtake hose to just rattle about unattached to the discharge fixed pipe. By doing that the fresh water tank also has several small dots of black mold in it's bottom. It'll be fully sanitized or replaced along with all plumbing hoses before we are done and yes new hoses will be sanitized as will the fixed pipes etc. that are plastic or metal all throughout the RV. I took care of this mess after scraping out around 7 cups of damaged wood through out the box that makes up the bay that holds the fresh water tank. But dang about a week later I smelled mildew a bit...and finally tracked it down to the wall in another area of the RV. And once I sliced open the wall paper sure enough it was damp behind it and that is the source of the smell though much milder than the original mildew the rot is more extensive and vertical. I just learned there's products like putty fillers and wood hardeners so the more I learn the better. I don't have time to mess about though or order which right now is taking around 7-10 days from Amazon prime orders. However our towing mirrors did arrive 5 days sooner than they said they would and today Amazon sent a notice they will arrive today? I hope not because we are in the throws of attaching them as I write this. We have to do a DIY on the mirrors to make them work as this truck is 2 years shy of when these mirrors are suppose to fit this model of Ford. The problem is no one has mirrors that fit the truck and many are doing what we are including right here on Youtube a couple videos showing what they did...cut off one or two of the 4 bolts to make them fit an earlier Truck. Yeah for Youtube. Yeah for folks like you that take the time to make shows like this and so well done too.

[kolosalny]

how would you apply that repair to wall in log cabin where 1 wooden wal have rotten hole

[jacm]

what do you suggest when you have a significant checking going on a deck post (6x6) from top to bottom. What product do you recommend to fill those cracks? tnx

[eleanastipsexperiences]

Please show us how to fill in a hole inside of a drawer in the dresser instead of replacing the whole dresser or replacing the whole drawer I just want to fill in the hole what could I use

[rashellyohn]

Thanxs for the Vid. Could I use Bondo at the ends of some deck boards where the nails connect to the frame of deck but are now blown out. The boards at the nails are barely holding. The rest of the board is fine. Could resetting the nail into the frame 1St. Then putting resin/bondo set around the screw and hold it? Tips anyone? Thanks again.

[feelgoodace.]

What kind of fiberglass resisn you use and brand?

[johnhermansky]

How do I reinforce a 2 foot by 4 foot cut I made in a 2 x 6 tongue and groove roof deck?
The roof might be spanning 6 - 8 feet.

[christianbrown]

Good video. Question: I have some termite damage that formed a large crack on a teak wood column of a building. What type of resin or putty do you reccommend to fill the crack? I need something hard that complements the structural integrity of the column. Thanks in advance for any advice!

[patton]

What’s the best way to fill the resin to a vertical hole(fascia board) without making a mess?

[PilarAYah]

My ex boyfriend punched and threw out the bed frame of the bed I purchased for us, I think I can fix it watching some of your tips