Repairing a rotting door step

I've had water getting in behind the front door screen trim and rotting the threshold. I've repaired this in the past, but it's got worse. I now know what the problem is but I can't do anything about that this side of winter. However, I needed to fix the threshold before it got much worse, so this is a video of me doing that.
DISCLAIMER: This video is for entertainment and informational purposes only. I am not professing to in any way know what I am doing!
Music: "Vintage News Short" and "Vintage News Long" are copyright Apple Inc. and used here with their permission, according to their terms of use.

[@Chandransingham]

Seen on 26th June 2020. Thanks. Very useful. I like the powerful tool used.

[@judearmitage9122]

Thank you for this. I have a dry rot architrave in my bathroom which I cant afford to replace right now so will try this x

[@ciaartin2221]

Thank you so much. I have been dreading this repair but you have made it doable.

[@myoldreteacher]

Thank you for your kind words. All the best for the repair. Mine is still holding up 😁

[@benjaminfisher5809]

When I seen you putting all that filler on I was speechless but you know what looked perfect at the end.

[@sandrosbackyard343]

well done and you can't even notice where the wood was rotting out!

[@jenniecockburn8811]

Fancy coming to do mine. Lol 😂🤣😂 Well done.

[@PRNadh]

Excellent work done 👍

[@raulgutierrez5920]

For a bakery embalming a cake🤣🤣🤣

[@stephenrobbins2931]

A good effort, and well done for getting stuck in and doing it yourself. It is often the case that when you start digging the rot is worse than it first looks. For a good long lasting repair it is important to get all of the damaged wood out. Then treat the rest of the exposed area with wet rot wood hardener which will strengthen any remaining damaged fibres. Pick up a few different pieces of hardwood from a DIY store and get a piece that is slightly oversized and cut it to length so it is a snug fit. Plane it so it is close to the correct shape, then glue it in and fix with some good length stainless steel screws, having countersunk the holes first. You will find the extra cost of the hardwood will be more than saved by the reduced amount of wood filler needed, you should only need it to fill the small gaps around it and the screw holes. You can now sand the wood until it is flush with the surrounding area, then finish with primer and finish of choice. The repair should last the lifetime of the rest of the threshold.

[@dougb8207]

Hardwood; so it doesn't need to be treated lumber? I hope that makes sense.

[@YKATO871]

Actually come out quite good.

[@bcampbell1826]

I like the pre-hung exterior doors available now at the big box hardware stores. Gaskets and seals all around the door eliminating a lot of draft from the wind.and come with R value like insulation. Many accents available to age the door look, stained glass etc. I like the Repair. Its cheap and works. You could replace the door too if you change your mind.

[@jeffthewhiff]

You did an excellent job and the patched area is not even noticeable!

[@fungames24]

It will be noticeable after expansion and contraction. He didn't seal everything. It will expand and contract even more once water seeps in.

[@argotype8995]

Great job man!

[@raulgutierrez5920]

!!!Good job you funny🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍!!!

[@emmasheriff6157]

You did a great job! Wow! Your wife owes you anything you ask for! Lol

[@neelamsubba6992]

Just amazing 😎👍

[@nicholasthompson6574]

Nice work

[@alisonnorcross951]

I would have got wood hardener and soaked and then used a filler. My sill has a crack along where it sticks out and ready to fall off. What do you use to stick it back together wood hardener or unibond

[@heyitsbroski]

Pretty good results mate.

[@sudhakarchowdary4536]

Good work well done

[@philnewman1110]

Nice job! Never easy scarfing in to rotting timber! Well done, like your pipe by the way!

[@myoldreteacher]

Thanks fella! I actually enjoy the process of putting stuff like this back together - just not the moment I find out it needs to be done! :D

[@ratchriat1716]

top work save you to reaplace the hall door seal enjoyed the video.

[@RamBabu-ub5wl]

Hard work.Very much self satisfaction

[@The-Bridgewater-Triangle]

He did a fine job

[@tjfSIM]

2 hours later: "unfortunately it turned out the whole house needed come out, so I've cut it all out and now I just need to make a new house to the right shape and glue it back in"

[@mazenqarout1309]

Very good

[@ziep7865]

Which culk product did you use

[@MrKfq269]

I just did mine. Took 7 hours till completion including caulk. I might get 5 more years out of my threshold. What a drag.

[@charredskeleton]

How long did the first repair last?

[@JonnyDIY]

Great fix. Nice job! 👍🏻

[@myoldreteacher]

Thanks!

[@sankartoday6453]

Nice sir

[@carl24bpool]

Why so much filler? Why not a more precise piece of wood. Or oversized then work it back down to size? Too messy.

[@myoldreteacher]

I explained this somewhere in the comments or in the video. I realised I could have chopped less wood away.

[@carl24bpool]

I didn't mean cut less wood away. I meant you should of put more wood back and only used filler in the joins. Surface should if been timber not filler.

[@myoldreteacher]

Ah, I see... yes, that would have been a good solution. One of the reasons I approached it this way was to address a water issue I had at the time. I needed a non-natural product in there to stop rotting. Fighting a deteriorating step has been a long battle, but I got there. I have now fixed the issues causing the step to fail. In theory I could rip out this repair and replace it with wood, but this is holding up well so I’ll leave it for now.

[@SMCDisaster]

myoldreteacher they sell non wood materials. Decking and such. Poly boards etc. that bondo is going to give way a lot sooner. Good job, looks good, trial run for the actual fix

[@sinorthey2507]

Yes a more precise piece of hardwood would last longer. That filler will all crack out in a year

[@ygolzar1]

well done

[@maryannehickey2741]

I don’t want to deal with that, I don’t want to deal with that, I don’t want to deal with that...”😂

[@ontargetthomunclesam3926]

Band-aid the wood rot is still eating it way up the door jam the threshold needs to be cut out and replaced with pressure treated lumber the Bondo will help the rotting continue because of the moisture it holds that is why the jam is starting to rot away up the door frame

[@dominicpetruzzelli3134]

Looks like a very temporary job, I would have replaced all the rotted wood....but thats me.

[@ernieland2480]

Great job!

[@alexcordero6672]

My entire house, "I don't wanna deal with that.. " but i do. 😑

[@alexcordero6672]

What is that tool??

[@DennisMathias]

I would have made a piece of wood to just fit and glued it in place with Titebond or something. But your end product looks good! Silicone caulk or latex?

[@raeraesvu]

Why just cut the piece out? Why not replace the whole door step? (As I need to do🤦‍♀️)

[@harrymonaghan1994]

Useing a expoxy filler will expand and contract. Bonda filler too stiff and will blow after a summer and a winter

[@stevepenney2245]

Fix the new piece of wood with as resin such as Repaircare. No screws required and will last for evermore as it flexes with the wood. Or replace the whole step just as easy and can also be fixed with resin so no screws required again.

[@tonygoshive785]

Perfect example of how NOT to repair a rotten door step.

[@peterhansen2412]

Shitty work 🤮🤮🤮

[@andreasbertram2761]

Now he had 5 years to replace the hole frame *lol

[@jassman1]

Agreed 110% should of Dove Tailed it in with a piece of wood and glued, easier to do and stronger joints.

[@dawgzero]

@@jassman1 or just replaced the whole thing 🤔🤔

[@jassman1]

@@dawgzero that of been another option :D

[@nikitashah9697]

Your video was like asmr sounds 🤪

[@dlc2724]

It's been two years can you post update on how well it held up? Or a link to the update

[@myoldreteacher]

Actually, it's held up well. It's just started to fail just a little on the top around the edges where the Bondo meets the wood, but it appears this is because the new screen door is such a tight seal around the bottom that it does not allow rain to seep outside quickly. So water sits there a little longer and over time has exposed the join, but nothing too bad. Just a little cosmetic tidying up! However, the repair is sold and lasting well. Eventually the entire step will need to be replaced, but my MO is why do that if you can get a few more years out of the current set up. Besides, even if it's not the correct way to do it it caused the house no structural harm and was fun to do. Thanks for your comment.

[@vkims1839]

name of tools plz

[@camman61]

thicker wood and less Bondo ! pilot drill the wood ! quick fix :)

[@dallas69]

Water is soaked up by cured Bondo. Bondo (polyester) when cured will soak up water and fail. Ask any car body repair guy. Bondo and wood is a really bad idea. Wood no matter how dry has water content and the Bondo will soak up that water and fall apart. Bondo is cheep but is a poor idea to use around the house with wood any wood. Bondo with metal is ok but even then you need to prime and paint bondo repairs or Bondo will fall off metal.

[@richjones5432]

Could you show us how same repair looks 3 years later ?

[@dcforever3537]

it would be easier to remove the hole thing and just put a new one lol

[@infinityexplorerram]

Yeah

[@stevel1475]

Nice paint, don't see any brush strokes.

[@nAarp]

Super super good welcome to

[@lagg-alot8308]

You could have ripped out the entire wood sill, cut a new (pressure treated wood better) one and tapped in in, in less time it took for that crap to harden. Would looked nicer and been permanent repair.

[@flexiblestrategist9922]

Couldn't agree more. Door sill thresholds are oak and would last indefinitely.

[@charredskeleton]

How many sills have you replaced?

[@lebronjameslol3521]

I just make a profile of the wood from a plastic putty knife instead of cutting out good wood. Have to work the edges with sand paper to match it but it saves time and less sanding and money on material

[@billprezioso3677]

You should really have 2 sparkle knives so you can keep one clean a clean knife is essential you would be able to patch better and there would be much less mess and sanding to do.

[@bossman68]

this how not to repair rotten joinery

[@raulgutierrez5920]

That's embalming poor wood!!😂😂😂😂

[@robertlanz3124]

I like his enthusiasm, but really. Surely could have a done a much better job. A nice piece of hard wood cut to size would have been a better approach. Wasted a lot of money buying bog filler. As for for the caulking, was he pissed at the time.

[@SKumar-rb1tz]

Better to use sal chaukath in your house construction. Look non sal wood may be damaged after some days.

[@krisrickson853]

Looks like u were attempting to make a cake

[@raulgutierrez5920]

He can be good doing bakery👍🤣🤣🤣😥

[@ronnyraygunz8718]

Yeah, you made more work for yourself by removing a little too much, but so what? I think it turned out great!

[@jinsworld890]

Whts that . White cement or putty!?

[@garvielloken3929]

brilliant

[@raulgutierrez5920]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙏

[@mikespainting291]

I hope that isn't a costumers house

[@trevorsmith5946]

bit of a mission, also I wouldnt recommend the car bog that stuff wont last with people walking over it

[@rayfarrell9444]

Cowboy 🤠

[@tedwarden1608]

What a bodge up:(

[@lewisway6811]

Should have did the job proper, and replaced the entire door sill.

[@gianfrancocartella3598]

Purk ahhhhhhhhhh ahahahahahah

[@kiri5104]

👍👍🇫🇮😉

[@jimmytwizzle7836]

What a s mess.

[@raulgutierrez5920]

Go to home Depot get a new piece of wood and "bingo" you save time and $ 🤔👍👍

[@raulgutierrez5920]

@dhantej yadav you to old to smoke that "SHIT"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@raulgutierrez5920]

@dhantej yadav Get a job in a bakery😎👍👍

[@jonathanlevi53]

Very amateurish and temporary repair job. Looks like most of his house is patched together with Bondo! By the way, I saw rot further in beyond the spliced piece, so it's just going to continue to rot. A new hardwood cill only costs about £25-30.

[@myoldreteacher]

You’re right, there was more rot underneath and because of that I needed to do another repair on it this year, but as you point out, the better solution is to replace it all. I’ll get there, probably next year, but this year I had some more urgent things to attend to. Thanks for your comment.

[@martinallenuk]

What the hell did I just watch?...

[@linkstale]

i wouldve just replace the whole house

[@charredskeleton]

You sir are the hero we don't deserve.

[@raulgutierrez5920]

That job is not pro is amateur!!!😂😂😂

[@fredbotello7486]

Terrible job....can you imagine who is the rest of his house....A DISASTER...

[@davidriley4343]

That's not good,

[@rodgraff1782]

That’s what happens when you do a half ass job with bondo. You should set that new wood with epoxy, not putty. Still a poor repair. What a shit show. All of that polyester crap you used will just absorb more moisture and lead to more rot.

[@charredskeleton]

How long did the first repair last?

[@eddies8527]

Lo siento pero este trabajo es una porquería

[@khndenmark]

Amateur!!

[@fava7753]

This is what's known as a bodge job . Fkn disgrace . Easier to replace the whole threshold , faster job , done the correct way . .

[@charredskeleton]

How many have you replaced?

[@michelvidal7666]

It's not work! It's DIY! ...

[@jimmytwizzle7836]

What a mess of a repair. Another amateur diver KZbinr

[@cl3786]

Awful ! Dont give up your day job ! 👎👎