As a homeowner or DIY enthusiast, you know that maintaining your property’s exterior is just as important as taking care of the interior. A critical aspect of exterior maintenance is ensuring that any rot damage or cracks and splits on your siding and trim is properly repaired and filled before you repaint.
If these types of damages are left unchecked, they will cause further damage over time since water will be able to seep in and cause decay, leading to costly repairs.
That’s where wood fillers come in handy, providing a solution to fill gaps, cracks, and holes, ultimately prolonging the life of your wood surfaces.
In this article, we’ll discuss the factors to consider when choosing the best wood filler for exterior use, present our top picks and more.
Table of Contents
What is the Best Wood Filler for Exterior Use?
The best wood filler for exterior use is a filler that offers durability, weather resistance, quick drying time, ease of application, compatibility with sanding and painting, water resistance and it shouldn’t shrink or crack when filling larger gaps.
These characteristics will ensure a long-lasting, effective repair that withstands harsh outdoor conditions while seamlessly blending with the existing wood surface.
Recommended Wood Filler Products for Exterior Use
Here are some products that we recommend for exterior wood filling and repair.
Ready Patch
The Rust-Oleum Zinsser Ready Patch Professional Spackling & Patching Compound is a great solution for your heavy-duty repairs, both indoors and outdoors. This alkyd product combines the strength of plaster with the workability of spackling paste, ensuring top-notch performance in a wide range of applications. Whether you’re dealing with dents in metal doors or damaged siding, the Ready Patch is designed to adhere to various surfaces and cure rock-hard, outperforming traditional vinyl spackling.
Pros:
- Full-bodied for heavy-duty interior and exterior repairs
- Cures rock hard for exceptional durability
- Easy to sand
- Can be painted once it is dry to the touch
Cons:
- May not be as easy to apply as some other spackling products due to its full-bodied consistency
- Potentially longer drying time compared to lightweight spackling options
- Strong smell
Bondo Wood Filler
Bondo Wood Filler offers a fast, permanent, and fully paintable solution for a wide range of wood repair projects both inside and outside the home. Its two-part formula creates a strong bond that will not shrink, making it suitable for various applications, from filling minor holes to rebuilding entire missing wood pieces. With a curing time of just 15 minutes, this wood filler is perfect for quick repairs, allowing staining or painting in as little as 25 minutes. It’s also water-resistant, providing long-lasting results that save both time and money.
Pros:
- Quick curing time of 15 minutes for sanding and 25 minutes for staining or painting
- Permanent bond that will not shrink
- Suitable for various applications, from minor scratches to major rebuilding
Cons:
- Requires mixing with a hardener, which may be inconvenient for some users
- Strong smell
Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler
Gorilla Wood Filler is the go-to solution for strong, durable repairs on cracks, gouges, and holes in wood surfaces. This easy-to-spread filler provides a smooth, natural finish that complements your wooden surfaces. It boasts high-performance stainability, paintability, and sandability, ensuring a professional-looking outcome for your projects. With its shrink and crack-resistant formula, Gorilla Wood Filler also anchors nails and screws and is compatible with high-speed sanders. Suitable for both interior and exterior applications, this wood filler is a versatile choice for various repair tasks.
Pros:
- Strong and durable repairs on cracks, gouges, and holes
- Smooth, natural finish that is easy to spread
- Shrink and crack-resistant formula
- Compatible with high-speed sanders
Cons:
- Requires a drying time of 1 hour for shallow repairs and 2-6 hours for deeper holes before sanding
- Needs to be kneaded before use
Minwax Wood Filler
Minwax High-Performance Wood Filler is a reliable solution for permanently repairing damaged and rotted wood, both indoors and outdoors. This all-purpose wood filler is designed to fill gouges and holes in split, damaged, or rotted exterior or interior woods, making it an ideal choice for various repair projects. With its quick hardening time of 30 minutes, this wood filler will not crack or shrink, ensuring lasting results. Once hardened, it can be sanded, carved, planed, or drilled, allowing for seamless integration with the surrounding wood.
Pros:
- Suitable for both interior and exterior applications
- Permanently repairs damaged and rotted wood
- Will not crack or shrink, ensuring lasting repairs
- Quick hardening time of 30 minutes
- Can be sanded, carved, planed, or drilled for versatile finishing options
Cons:
- Requires isopropyl alcohol for cleanup, which may be less convenient for some users
Key Features to Consider
When choosing wood filler for exterior use, it’s essential to keep a few important features in mind to make sure that you get the best results.
Sandability
One important aspect to consider for exterior wood fillers is sandability. This refers to how easy it is to sand the filler after it has dried. A good exterior wood filler should be easy to sand, allowing for a smooth surface that can be primed and painted or stained.
Durability
Durability is crucial for exterior wood fillers, as they must withstand the elements and resist shrinking or cracking over time.
Flexibility
Considering the natural expansion and contraction of the wood due to temperature and humidity changes, a flexible filler is essential for outdoor use. This feature ensures that the filler can move alongside the wood without breaking or cracking.
Ease of Application
A user-friendly product is always a plus, so it’s important to choose a filler that’s easy to apply. Water-based fillers typically offer the simplest application process, often requiring only a putty knife or other basic tools.
Drying Time
Finally, consider the drying time of the wood filler before making your decision. Quicker drying times can make it easier to move on to the next stage of your project, such as sanding or painting. Some products dry as fast as 15 minutes.
Application Tips
Applying the wood filler is usually easy. Just follow these steps:
Surface Preparation
To get the best results when using exterior wood filler, you should begin with proper surface preparation. This includes removing any loose or rotting wood, dirt, and debris from the area to be filled. If necessary, a wire brush or sandpaper can be used to clean the surface. Additionally, the surface should be dry and free of any moisture or grease.
Applying the Wood Filler
Once the surface is clean and dry, you can proceed to apply the wood filler. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding mixing and application methods.
In general, a putty knife can be used to apply the wood filler.
Sanding and Finishing
After the wood filler has cured according to the manufacturer’s recommended time, you can move on to sanding and finishing. Use sandpaper to smooth the filled area, ensuring that it’s level with the surrounding wood surface.
Finally, apply the desired paint, stain, or finish to the wood surface.
Conclusion
Maintaining your property’s exterior is vital to prevent expensive repairs and ensure the longevity of your wooden surfaces.
The best wood filler for outdoor use should be durable, weather-resistant, sandable, and easy to apply. By using a wood filler you can easily repair and restore your wooden exterior before repainting, keeping it visually appealing for years to come.