Dutch Patching is a technique used to replace rotted wood as part of the restoration process. Once completed, the new wooden patch becomes invisible.
The first step is to locate and remove the rotted wood. Sanding off the existing finish down to bare wood will reveal the true extent of the rot.
Complete removal of all of the rotted areas is key. If any rot is missed, it will spread and the fungus that caused it will continue to deteriorate the wood.
Once the mushy, rotten wood has been cut out, back to where the area has not been affected, the next step is to create the wooden patch itself.
Straight cuts are made on the wood that will receive the patch. The patch is then sized to fit in terms of length and size.
The patch is applied using adhesive and fasteners, usually epoxy glue and screws. The screw heads will either be covered with putty or sunk into the wood and covered with wooden plugs.
Clamped in place until the glue dries, the patch is then shaped. Using either a sander or a block plane, the excess wood is removed until the profile is identical to the original profile.
Wood filler is applied, if needed, and allowed to dry. This would be followed by a light sanding before primer and paint are applied.
When the finished restoration piece is to receive stain, it’s very important to match not only the species of wood from the original, put also to try to match the exact wood color as closely as possible for an invisible result.
This handy technique can save many original doors and windows from being replaced altogether. It's a preservationist's best friend.
RELATED POSTS:
Timbabuild is the ideal solution for making permanent repairs, while saving both time and money. Easily fix only the affected areas, with no need for replacement. This high performance epoxy resin makes short work of large projects.