How to Repair Damaged Trim Molding

Because trim molding is made from soft wood, you can easily damage it. You might damage it by moving furniture or vacuuming. Or a pet could chew or scratch trim molding. You can repair damaged molding, rather than replace it. Follow these steps.

Gather Supplies

Gather the supplies in the following list.

• Wood filler
• Putty knife
• Bowl
• Water
• Sandpaper
• Paint

For a smaller area of damage (such as dents and cracks in your trim molding), buy wood putty. To patch larger areas, purchase an epoxy filler.

Smooth Damaged Molding

If edges of the damaged trim molding are raised, use sandpaper to smooth them. Then you can apply the wood filler smoothly.

Apply Wood Filler

With your putty knife, apply wood filler. It's better to apply too much than too little. When the filler dries, you will be able to sand it even with the molding.

If your wood filler is water-based, use a wet finger to smooth the wood filler. Allow the filler to dry for 24 hours.

Sand and Paint

Using a fine grade of sandpaper with a flat backing, sand the repaired molding. Then paint it to match the existing paint.