Using Durhams Water Putty To Patch Holes in Wood Columns

[@vivianallen9772]

Thank you for your excellent demonstration. I have several spots of rot that I want to repair, and now I feel confident that I can do it.

[@JayVisnansky]

Glad it gave you the confidence to do it. It really is easy to work with and does the job. Good luck on your project.

[@dwb2518]

I've been painting in Texas for over 50 years and I discovered that prepping the surface after cleaning of rot with wood glue let it dry. Then mix the Wood glue and Durham powder to make a putty mix to force it into the damaged areas by hand. Let that set up and Then come back with a smooth coat of Durham powder with a 6" Drywall knife. Block sand with long strokes sand the repair and the existing undamaged post overlapping as I sand. Prime, paint. VOILA WORKS EVERY TIME.

[@JayVisnansky]

Great information DWB ! Thanks for sharing. And thanks for watching.

[@jenniferlane4771]

Thank you for the DIY on Durhams. I have the exact project as yours, and since you made it so simple, I can't wait to start on it. Thanks again!!!

[@JayVisnansky]

Hope your project turned out great Jennifer. It’s an easy product to use. Thanks for watching.

[@jenniferlane4771]

@@JayVisnansky My project was perfect! It was easier to just replace the post, but I wanted to try the Durham's first, then top coat some spots with Bondo Wood Putty. So glad I came across your tutorial....made the "diffcultness" out of my head and made it seamless and easy. Thank you!!!

[@JayVisnansky]

@@jenniferlane4771 Excellent Jennifer !

[@josephmartin3279]

Good video Jay I'm a house painter central NY and have used the Durham and Bondo.I would oil prime the old wood prior to either patch material. Patch/prime again/top coat. With Durham you can add paint during mix stage,time saver. It also allows you to shape rotted shapes like wood gingerbread. handy stuff We'll done.

[@JayVisnansky]

Good information Joseph ! I would have never thought about adding paint during the mix stage. It’s been a little over two years and the patch has held up great. Thanks for watching Joseph.

[@gillsmith6230]

It states on the can to not mix with oil-based as it will not harden. I followed your advice in prep before I read the side of the can that said that.

[@TheHeadincharge]

@@gillsmith6230I would imagine he meant latex paint, not the oil-based primer to be added,

[@gptrix]

Good to now others are using the same combination of products for a successful wood repair! Great job and video! Thank you!

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Gregg ! And the porch columns still look good after all these years. Thanks for watching.

[@KenSerpico5450]

Thanks for the video. I was about to pay a carpenter nearly $400.00 to repair rotted wood on my garage wall due to rain damage. This worked great instead.

[@JayVisnansky]

Excellent Russ ! My patches still look great after 2 1/2 years too. Thanks for watching.

[@brot5246]

Russ , I wish you would have filmed it.

[@georgekalyou4019]

Jay, I had fun watching this video. I purchased a tube of elastomeric patching compound and it worked ok for filling wood holes but since I had such a large project, I switched to the Durham's Water Putty and was able to fill in my entire patio wood trim (after nailing back in place of course), but the Durham's is not only cheaper than the patching compound, it dried faster and harder, problem was the constant mixing and ladder climbing :) Great video thanks for sharing, George from Scottsdale AZ.

[@JayVisnansky]

That’s great that it worked for you George. It does dry hard, doesn’t it ! Thanks for watching.

[@JoseReyes-xs3js]

Great job I love it . I just bought some and im going use it on my shed doors to fill in the screw holes and stuff .

[@JayVisnansky]

It works Jose ! Good luck on your project too. Thanks for watching.

[@YouTubeHandleUnknown]

Thank you Mr. Vesnansky, that was very informative.

[@JayVisnansky]

Glad you found that helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@abqdor]

When my dad passed on, he had a can of Durham's in his garage that I put away and forgot about. I had some rotting wood in the eaves of my house and decided to try it. You are correct, it's super easy to use for filling wood that has trouble spots. The only exception I take with your demonstration, is that it is called "rock hard" for a reason. If you leave the patch too proud, it is almost impossible to sand without taking some of the softer wood around it. So my suggestion is to not leave it too proud. Try to get it as close to the finished surface as possible and it will save you a lot of work.

[@JayVisnansky]

I agree with you Dave, try and get Durham’s as smooth as possible before it sets. It will make sanding go a lot easier. Thanks for watching.

[@annat6905]

I was using a product that was a lot more expensive. I'm so glad that I came upon this video. Save me a lot of money.

[@JayVisnansky]

Great Anna. Glad it helped you. Thanks for watching.

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

awesome video. Thank you, just what I needed.

[@JayVisnansky]

That’s great David ! It’s held up too thru the years. Thanks for watching.

[@heyitsbroski]

For something like this, Durham's water putty is a great solution. It's cheap and dries rock hard and great for flat surfaces. If you need to shape something then Bondo is the superior product. I carry both of these.

[@JayVisnansky]

Yes, I agree. And it stills looks great after all these years. Thanks for watching.

[@Gumby1978]

Thanks for the demonstration. I will try it on some lightly damaged wood.

[@JayVisnansky]

You’re welcome Gilbert. It works and the holes I patched still look good.

[@joeaguilar-teacherofthewor4166]

Great video. Made me decide to use Durhams and the hardener on some exterior projects I have. Thanks.

[@JayVisnansky]

Good Joe. It does the job and it still looks great almost three years later. Thanks for watching.

[@VendingJunkie]

Great video . Thanks . I am going to try this out on a couple arcade cabinets

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Vending Junkie. It worked great for me. Thanks for watching.

[@papajoeknows8355]

Well done video 👍🏻

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Papa Joe !

[@papajoeknows8355]

@@JayVisnansky also, your idea to use counter sink bits like a dentist is brilliant… I ran a repair & remodeling company for years, and that never dawned on me lol. 👌🏻

[@donnaporr8813]

I just purchased Durham water putty to repair the bottom of wood trim by my garage that rotted. I was looking on store sites figuring there must be something not too expensive to repair it because the rest of the boards are fine. Thank you for the information on how to do it.

[@JayVisnansky]

You are welcome Donna. Way to go ! It’s been almost two years since I patched my columns and they look as good as the day I did them. Thanks for watching.

[@philliplow5379]

Shot a hole in a table with an "empty gun" and used Durham's Water Putty to patch it. Finished project hard as rock, easily sanded - this stuff is wonderful! Three years later same as day one.

[@JayVisnansky]

And it’s inexpensive too Phillip. Watch those empty guns 😁. Thanks for watching.

[@AyalaJD2730]

Thank you for this video, this was 5 years ago. have you posted an update on how it has held up?

[@JayVisnansky]

It’s still looks great Josue! No problems at all. Thanks.

[@Wisdomseeker_777]

Looks great.

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Mecka. And it has held up great too. Thanks for watching.

[@jacklucas7265]

I am curious how the Durham's worked out for you? My experience, here in Texas with on a west facing full sun exposure repair, was that the product shrank and cracked even with two coats of high quality paint in less than a year. I used an epoxy product for a similar repair and it is still shows no signs of degradation. Personally, I would not use Duraham's on any exterior project.

[@JayVisnansky]

It’s been 2 years now since I did the repair Jack and it’s held up just fine. My repairs also faces west so it gets plenty of sun here in Phoenix and it doesn’t show any cracks or shrinking. I have a bigger area to repair and I was going with bondo or an epoxy. What brand of epoxy did you use ? Thanks for watching Jack.

[@jacklucas7265]

@@JayVisnansky I used the bondo for wood. Works very well. Best regards.

[@JayVisnansky]

@@jacklucas7265 Thanks Jack.

[@stevel1475]

@@jacklucas7265 I wonder if Bondo metal reinforced filler is even better than the wood filler, possibly even stronger and compatible with metal as well?

[@chronobot2001]

I wonder if you can use the wood hardener in a spray bottle.

[@JayVisnansky]

I won’t think so chronobot. When you mix the powder with water you want the consistency to be like cake batter. That wouldn’t be able to work in a spray bottle. But heck, who knows, give it a try and let us know. Thanks for watching.

[@Pyridox]

Thanks for the demo. I heard that Durham's Rock Hard Putty works well for patching wood. A lot of people like it better than Plastic Wood (Wood filler). The only thing I heard was that it doesn't take stain well, so probably best to use it where you are going to paint over it like you did.

[@JayVisnansky]

I haven’t try using Durham’s where I needed to stain it. Just on areas that I painted. And those areas still look good and they’re outside areas that get sun exposure. Thanks for watching Pete.

[@AbersonPlastering]

Hi Jay. Your columns look great. How long did you wait before you primed it. I am doing my old facia boards on my gable ends. I let the first gable dry 24 hrs before painting it, but paint was wanting to come off the Durhams when I brushed back into the drying paint+primer. I read somewhere that it takes weeks to dry Thoroughly , but most folks don’t wait that long but Durham recommends it. Ken in Casa Grande Az

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Ken. I just waited a day before I painted over the Durham’s. And it’s coming up on three years already since I patched and painted the columns and they still look great. They get that Phoenix sun too. Good luck on your project. Thanks for watching.

[@SanctuaryGardenLiving]

I mix Durhams with acrylic cement admix instead of water. Definitely harder to sand so don't over do it if anyone else tries this.

[@jdreynolds29]

You cannot use Durham's water putty for those types of repairs weather going to be outside or anywhere else where it is going to be vulnerable to moisture ingress. Anywhere with a potential of getting wet or even damp is a no-go on using Durham's water putty has any type of repair solution. Durham's water putty will immediately turned back into putty when contacted with water or any other liquid. Bondo on the other hand would be a viable solution, but I would not recommend using theBondo wood filler I would recommend using the automotive Bondo body filler.

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Jason for your comment. It’s been a year now since I patched those holes in my columns and I just checked and they look as good now as they did a year ago. But I’ll keep checking on them. Thanks for watching.

[@jeepers2bronco]

I have to agree with Jason. Used a wood restorer and then Durham's on our facia boards to fill in some cracks and it looked great for about 10 months. Now where ever the putty was used the paint is flaking off.

[@jamescc2010]

I have some wood damage medium size irregular size holes, and rust on my patio post at the bottom ends due to water and whether. What do you recommend? I will need to prime and paint it. With Bondo, do I need to apply wood hardener?

[@jamescc2010]

@@jeepers2bronco Did you try some other products ? Water base won't be good for outside.

[@jdreynolds29]

@@jamescc2010 yeah they got as much rot as you can then put wood hardener. Then put your Bondo. Then sand then caulk then primer then paint

[@Mr._Lister_The_Sister_Phister]

So did that putty really fill those holes or did it kind of just cover the top of them? I think I might have plugged the holes with some Dowell rod and then Mr Durhams Rock Hard wood putty on top of that

[@JayVisnansky]

It really did fill the holes Dylan. Those spots weren’t that deep so it worked. If they were deeper, I might have pounded in some small nails as an additional point for the putty to grab. But this worked fine. Thanks for watching.

[@funstuffonthenet5573]

You did good work. How is it years later?

[@JayVisnansky]

It looks as good as the day I finished it FunStuffOnTheNet. Thanks for watching.

[@LHill-zr6gm]

Came across this quite by accident. Question: Outdoor cedar arbor (almost brand-new) which lawn service managed to scrape/gouge/ding at the bottom of the trellis/post when edging our lawn - grrrr. Fortunately, damage contained to one area, but wondering if Durham's Water Putty applied to damaged spots/gouges would be effective in outdoors and secondly, once repaired/sanded, would the putty take wood stain as well or would the damaged area look different from the rest of the arbor?? Thanks for you input. Good video.

[@JayVisnansky]

My first thoughts L Hill would be to get a test piece of cedar and put some gouges in it with a screw driver or whatever. Then use Durham’s to fill those gouges in the test piece. Then try staining it. See how it takes. I painted mine and it worked great that way. You might pick up a piece of cedar at HD when you get the Durham’s. Thanks for watching L Hill.

[@steveo7624]

Jay I have used Durhams on old porch window sills an it worked good

[@JayVisnansky]

It’s held up on my porch columns too Stephen. Thanks for watching.

[@jeremypearson6852]

I went out and purchased this product to patch some rotting fascia. Q; Are the patches on the column still holding up? The directions on the label state that product is not waterproof and paint will peel from damp water putty.

[@JayVisnansky]

Yes Jeremy, the patches on the columns look as good 18 months later as when I first did them. I need to replace some rotting fascia too but I didn’t think Durham’s was a good fit for that. I plan on cutting out the foot of fascia and replacing it with new wood. If your rotten piece of fascia isn’t too large, maybe look into one of the bondo products.

[@jamescc2010]

Will it prevent termite, water damage, and dry rot? It is easier and cheaper than wood epoxy, or Bondo glass filler. I have some wood damage and rust on my patio post at the bottom end. How is it holding up?

[@JayVisnansky]

I don’t know about termites Simple Living but it should help with the water damage and dry rot if it’s not always exposed to water. Mine looks as good today as when I put it on 18 months ago. As you saw in the video, I cleaned the area out pretty good before applying the Durham’s. Good luck on your project. Thanks for watching.

[@Mike__james]

How has the Durhams held up after all these years?

[@JayVisnansky]

Very good Mike. No cracks or peeling.

[@jeremypearson6852]

Clear and concise presentation. Interesting that Durhams is a powder, haven’t seen that before. I guess the drying time also depends on how thick the mixture is. How long do you have to work with it once its mixed?

[@JayVisnansky]

I don’t remember how long I worked with it once it was mixed Jeremy but it wasn’t an issue. It seemed that I had plenty of time to use it. Perhaps 20 minutes or so. I only mixed what I could use for one post at a time. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching.

[@charredskeleton]

How has this held up after nearly 2 years? I like Durhams. Cheap, easy to use, doesn't smell bad.

[@JayVisnansky]

It has held up well charredskeleton . It looks every bit as good as when I first applied it. Thanks for watching.

[@RonKris]

Looks good. Great information

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks RonKris. And it’s easy to work with. Thanks for watching.

[@nelmenendez8023]

Thanks

[@JayVisnansky]

You’re welcome Nel. It’s still holding up well.

[@426superbee4]

lmao termites got that This Durham's is some good stuff

[@MHS_ART]

Hi love this video. Got a new exterior door and frame but need to cover the screw holes. Can you use a gel stain over this?

[@JayVisnansky]

Hey Michael. I painted over those patches that you saw in the video and it’s held up well but I don’t know about gel stain. I’d suggest trying it out on a piece of scrap wood to see how it does. Thanks for watching Michael.

[@MahinaExpeditions]

Many Thanks, well done.

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Mahina Expeditions. And it still looks great after 18 months. By the way, nice thumbnail picture you have there. Thanks for watching.

[@MahinaExpeditions]

@@JayVisnansky I followed your instructions for our condo deck and post and did a bonzer repair! Amanda

[@JayVisnansky]

@@MahinaExpeditions That’s awesome Marina Expeditions ! Glad the video helped.

[@RD-dn4vs]

THANKS

[@JayVisnansky]

You are welcome. And it still looks great. Thanks for watching.

[@robertjosephs2629]

Jay It's acceptable to apply the filler over the hardener while it's still tacky

[@JayVisnansky]

That’s good to know Robert. Thanks and thanks for watching.

[@willizabeth]

Durhams is great stuff but needs to be sealed if used outdoors. It will dissolve in high moisture environments. I prefer PC Woody for outdoor applications.

[@JayVisnansky]

Good thoughts Willzabeth. After using it on these porch columns, I did paint the columns. It's still looking good after about 18 months. Thanks for watching.

[@stevel1475]

What is your experience with PC Woody? How durable has it been? Thinking of using Bondo metal or fiberglass on rotted wood.

[@raulgutierrez5920]

New piece of wood if you know how is better and solid, what you think🤔?

[@JayVisnansky]

Those holes were really small ones Raul. Maybe 1/8” or 3/16” deep at the most. Really didn’t affect the integrity of the column. I did check on that. Thanks for watching.

[@caspiana3623]

With holes that deep I would use a small piping bag to fill them all the way in.

[@JayVisnansky]

Good idea Caspiana. Thanks.

[@lynnwhite3220]

It is like watching grass grow. Needs a producer.

[@JayVisnansky]

Oh no Lynn. I checked and timed it. It’s more like watching paint dry 😂. Thanks for watching though.

[@cornopeanus]

how did it hold up to the weather and water and rain? any issues there?

[@JayVisnansky]

It’s been a little over two years now and the patching looks just as good as the day I put it on Christopher. And it's in the direct sunlight too. Thanks for watching.

[@kimnimbus1291]

Great video! Can you do follow up videos... Like 6 months or longer. Thanks!

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Kim. It’s been about 6 months now since I patched those spots and I was just checking them out. They look as good as the day I did them. And they get a lot of direct sun. So it’s holding up. Thanks for watching.

[@alanbennett91]

Hi did you screw the rail back into the repaired area, also can you screw into this material ?

[@JayVisnansky]

No I did not screw the rails back in Alan. I left them off to open the area up. But it would be interesting to see if Durham’s would hold screws. I might check that out in a different piece of wood. Thanks for watching Alan.

[@kayBTR]

I’m looking forward to your video when you repair your fascia board.

[@JayVisnansky]

Excellent kayBTR. I’m planning to do the fascia repair in a few weeks. Thanks for watching.

[@goodreamsjake]

Do you have to sand it?

[@JayVisnansky]

Yes you do Jake. Try and put it on as smooth as you can then it’s just some light sanding. Thanks for watching.

[@crashsawyer4998]

Really helpful thanks.

[@JayVisnansky]

You are welcome Crash. It was very easy to do and still looks great. Thanks for watching.

[@markpinther9296]

I had trouble getting paint to stick to it. I bet its my lack of primer that was causing my issues.

[@JayVisnansky]

I just checked my columns that I used Durham’s on and the paint looks just as good as when I put it on Mark. And it’s been about 18 months now. Thanks for watching though.

[@garymoore216]

Does anyone know where you could buy this in Canada?

[@JayVisnansky]

Here in the States, I got it at Home Depot. Try going on Durham’s web site Gary and look for locations. Thanks for watching.

[@garymoore216]

@@JayVisnansky thanks for taking your time to answer me. I will give this a try. GARY

[@sonny2435]

'' Mr Rogers Brother Located ''

[@JayVisnansky]

LOL !

[@amronasser8469]

Hi Jay, Thanks for the video, just wanna know how is it holding now ! Did it shrink ?

[@JayVisnansky]

I was just looking at the Durham’s patches and they’re holding up just great. No shrinking or peeling at all. Thanks for watching !

[@brot5246]

The bondo is twice as expensive per can, so youtube views be aware of the cost difference. Plus the bondo is mixed with a hardener.

[@JayVisnansky]

Right Bro T. Bondo is more expensive. I’m using Durham’s on another project and it works gets. Thanks for watching.

[@huejanus5505]

I bought some bondo for the 3 big dings, from the previous owners, in my front steel door. Wasn’t sure if durham’s would work well there.

[@thegipper6535]

How did it hold up?

[@JayVisnansky]

Really well J Hanson. In the 2 1/2 years since I did the patches, it still looks as good as the first day. Thanks for watching.

[@chartimbe946]

Thank you just remove my railing from my porch, and need patching.

[@JayVisnansky]

You’re welcome Char. It’s been about two years now and the patching looks just as good as the day I put it on. Thanks for watching.

[@suznuzify]

Durhams is not made for exterior use. It is not water resistant.

[@JayVisnansky]

So far Susie it’s been over three years and it still looks good. Maybe I lucked out. Thanks for watching.

[@skim193]

i think the can sez protect or paint the dried putty to keep water out

[@donalso]

water exposure a problem??

[@JayVisnansky]

No, not at all Don. Thanks for watching.

[@Avital4414]

why not cut out the whole rotten section and replace with PVC?

[@JayVisnansky]

For a couple of reasons Rt. The rotten spots were small and I wanted to try the Durham product to see how it held up. And if i cut those spots out and replaced them with PVC, I’d still have to fill the edges somehow. But I did use PVC in my Porch Column Makeover where water would be a problem. Thanks for watching. Check out that video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/haSzg6unq9iBg9U

[@Avital4414]

@@JayVisnansky thanks! would you recommend the same approach and the same materials for an indoor post?

[@JayVisnansky]

I would. And maybe even more so because it wouldn’t be affected by the weather being inside. These outside patches have held up really nice too.

[@harley092355]

👍

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks Michael !

[@pcatful]

Video turns black and won't play.

[@JayVisnansky]

Works okay for me Peter.

[@jameshankssr466]

Just do it right and replace it! It cost more money but cheaper in the long run! Your gonna put putty on a post that is obviously holding something up like a porch roof not too smart

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks James but this wasn’t a load bearing post. It was just to hold a gate. And the rot and nail holes were pretty shallow so using Hurham’s worked out for me. Thanks for watching.

[@bumpsterw7625]

He didnt seem to be familiar with Durhams. I would'nt have used it for a supporting column. I would have changed out the column. Works great otherwise

[@JayVisnansky]

Those holes were really superficial ones Bumpster. Maybe 1/8” or 3/16” deep at the most. Really didn’t affect the integrity of the column. I did check on that. Thanks for watching.

[@colemanmccurdy231]

;how do you clean u[p

[@JayVisnansky]

Just soap and water Coleman. Very easy. Thanks for watching.

[@cookinitmax]

I patched the hole house foundation the beams under house had rot everywhere so I slapped on a hole bunch no one will ever know lol just kidding.

[@JayVisnansky]

You’re right Cookinitmax. This stuff works. Thanks for watching.

[@ParagonGarage]

That stuff smells horrific cant be good to inhale

[@JayVisnansky]

I worked on my Durham project outside so I was spared the odor Peter. Thanks for watching and good luck on your projects Peter.

[@tomfields3682]

Peter, are you sure you are talking about the same stuff? I've used Durham's for years, both interior and exterior and never noticed an odor. It's made of gypsum, which doesn't have an odor.

[@brot5246]

@@tomfields3682 Tom , wait until he smells that BONDO WOOD RESTORE. That stuff is bad, like 1970's model car glue..

[@tlbeedy]

It literally doesn’t have a smell at all 🤣

[@scor440]

Advice like this should be a crime

[@JayVisnansky]

Why Gary ?

[@willworthoberg6818]

Gary Rosema Seems like good advice to me. Perhaps you could provide some support for your statement.

[@skim193]

cuz ur cheatin carpenters outa money ! ha

[@ccccen]

OMG why not just buy another column instead of covering up a rotted one, if it brake of in 2 in the future, some one can be hurt.

[@JayVisnansky]

Those holes were really superficial ones Carl. Maybe 1/8” or 3/16” deep at the most. Really didn’t affect the integrity of the column. I did check on that. Thanks for watching.

[@ccccen]

Your video bothers my conscious seeing you covering something that should be replaced completely and avoid the roof from falling on some one in the future, besides. build equity with a new one.

[@JayVisnansky]

OK Carl.

[@directapprec]

45 year builder here. Excellent example of repairing instead of replacing. Enormous strength remaining in columns. Saving resources begins with me.

[@JayVisnansky]

Thanks pulaskifarm. Those holes were really superficial ones. Maybe 1/8” or 3/16” deep at the most. Really didn’t affect the integrity of the column. I did check on that. Thanks for watching.

[@victorcastro9440]

I see overkill in this job