Daily Discussion Thread: Wed 08 Nov 2023

The Boost app is so horrified by this repair that it crashes every time this photo loads. Or maybe it is trying to protect me, as it reminds me of my ex-husband's work.

Like @[email protected] says, you need to sand it back and paint over it. It's hard to fill a hole without something behind it - too late now, but put a piece of thin wood or similar inside the hole and then glue (you can use some string to pull it forward). That gives you a solid base to work on. I found the best technique for getting a smooth finish is to hold the spatula or scraper at close to a 90 degree angle and scrape off everything you can. If you hold the spatula more parallel it bends a little and won't create as flat a finish.

The Boost app is so horrified by this repair that it crashes every time this photo loads. Or maybe it is trying to protect me, as it reminds me of my ex-husband’s work.
🤣🤣
What type of wood do I get and where from?
Boost-wise I thought it was just me... Mine is crashing out on open.
- I spent way too long trying to get it to stay open, and found that after I have cleared the cache I can look at everything except the daily thread, and if I can quickly scroll down in the daily thread before it opens the photo it will stay open. So I'm 98% sure the photo is the issue, although I have no idea why. If I don't clear the cache it just keeps crashing on open.
  
  Can confirm. Can open anything but the daily. Same issue not present on Sync.

mate…

I did my best 😭😭 I am hopeless.
Ok real talk, how do I fix this / make it better? the door is hollow so the putty just kept falling inside - so I started shoving some paper in there in hopes that I can fill enough for the putty to hold. And now the colour is a slight bit off as well - do I just go back to Bunnings and ask them for a new one or
- Well you need to sand that right back to smooth.
  Get like a 200mm wide taping knife or scraper
  Apply a finishing coat (top coat) enough so there’s no visible inclusions (little divots like you see in photos). Don’t be afraid if its much bigger than the hole cause it’s easier to sand.
  Sand that back and really feather it out so when you run your hand across ot you can’t tell where the repair stops and the door starts.
  Now you have to paint the entire front of door because it will never match anyway. Use a foam roller and probably a semi gloss or satin paint(I can’t really tell from photos but paint guy at Bunnings will know)
  or just wear the cost from the rental agency? Door repairs line this are easy to spot in an inspection so it’s gotta be good.👍
  
  Apply a finishing coat (top coat) enough so there’s no visible inclusions (little divots like you see in photos). Don’t be afraid if its much bigger than the hole cause it’s easier to sand.
  mmm can do this one again.
  can i go to the bunnings dude and ask him to give me a colour that matches (and how do i get him to give me an exact match)? i don't think painting the entire door is an option..
  
  You will need a sample piece size as big as a 20cent piece minimum for the colour spectrometer for a paint match
  Or ask the property manager (?) what the colour code is
  
  Or ask the property manager (?) what the colour code is
  Yup, just texted him to check, might even drop by tomorrow and chat in person
  You will need a sample piece size as big as a 20cent piece minimum for the colour spectrometer for a paint match
  ahh no wonder bunnings guy wasn't able to match. i might have taken a 2 mm piece with me LOL
- start again
  remove as much of the putty as you can
  look up YT on how to fix with foam
  
  remove as much of the putty as you can
  I was advised by many people to fill with putty 🤔 Why remove now and replace with foam?

For next time there are little wall repair kits from Bunnings which include special netting with a slightly sticky back. You trim it to size with a little overlap at the edges and stick it over the hole. It gives the layers of putty something to grab onto.

Apply the putty in really thin layers with the spatula scraping it as smooth as possible, letting it fully dry and sanding it flush before the next one. Sand it really flat with sandpaper around a foam sanding block because doing it with sandpaper on your fingers can leave it uneven.

For the paint it really helps to cut a 50c piece sized layer of paint from somewhere really hard to notice of the same colour (use a razorblade and kind of slice at an angle) and get it put through the paint matching machine at Bunnings.

Use a roller not a brush because you don't want visible brushmarks. Bunnings sell little disposable rollers and paint trays. Do really thin layers too with drying between, feathering the edges out with the last tiny (barely any) bit of paint left on the roller each time so it's harder to see a sudden transition. Putty and paint the sneaky spot you nicked the chip from too.

The paint colour you got mixed may differ slightly from the main spot due to different rates of fading (ie if the sample paint chip was taken from inside a wardrobe) but do your best, let it fully dry and rub a dusty rag over it at the end so it doesn't look too new.

Source: Renter

Thanks friend. I asked the Bunnings guy what to use and he recommended just the filler and not the kit so I went with that.
From here, would the best option be to sand it, re putty it, re sand till flat, then paint entire door with roller or just the patch?
- No worries. I just used the mesh because it was a larger hole and that really helped to have a stable base for applying thinner smoother layers.
  Personally if it was me? I'd just try and sand it as flat as possible, see if I could get it flat. You might need a rougher grade of sandpaper and a sanding block if it's slow going. Then smooth it with finer. Then paint the spot in a few thin layers drying in between - if it's still looking very obvious you might then choose to paint the whole door.
  I'm not a professional though. Just a renter that had to do this a couple of times

Sand it until it's flush then paint the whole door. Give it a couple of coats.

Dude, that’s the definition of don’t trust utube. If you are inner west ping. I might be able to send Boyo without airtasker fees.

On second thought. It’s a hollow core door. Just buy a new one, the things are nearly cardboard anyway.
- I'm renting in an apartment, and I leave next week. Also renting privately, so I really only need this to look half decent before I go. I live in the city btw
  
  II’m just thinking you’ll end up spending more on multiple failed self attempts than one paid small job. Doesn’t sound like you have a tool box to begin with.
  
  Cmon mate we won’t learn anything that way. Let’s all go on a door repair journey together.
  
  I admire the enthusiasm. Shall we Crowdfund him a roller?
  
  My shout lol.
  
  You do get the point though? By the time you buy a roller, sample pot, scrapper, tape, sandpaper, to properly use that patch kit, it’s spiralled upward muchly. This is why sheds and craft hoards work long term.
  
  Yes of course, but why let common sense stop us?
  
  Schadenfreude may be later applied.
  
  yesss i'm keen to learn how to fix this myself! i'm ok failing a little bit along the way
  
  I have spent $15 so far. How much would this job cost on say, AirTasker?
  
  I shall ask when himself gets in….
  
  Thank you!!
  
  Hey, apparently you’re looking in the region of 150 as it is. Would have been less if you’d left it alone. A new door would be cheaper if you can do the hardware switch. Good luck!
  
  Lol fuck me. I think I might re do the putty ing and re paint the entire door. 💁‍♂️ Thanks anyway!
- Changed my mind. If you can’t patch, switching the hardware will be too complicated. Shutting up now. Blargh.