How to Repair a Crack on a Wood Surface

Now is the time to repair the cracks in your wood siding. Before you apply a fresh coat of paint, make sure your surfaces are in good condition.

For Best Results:

Follow our how-to for the proper steps to repairing cracks in your wood exterior.

Suggested Tools & Supplies

Step 1
Using 80 to 100-grit sandpaper, remove any loose debris from the cracked area.

TIP: Use a 5-in-1 painter's tool to widen cracks that are less than ¼" wide. This will remove the paint and other debris from the cracks and will allow the patching material to bond tightly to the damaged area.
Step 2
Using 100-grit sandpaper, lightly sand any raised or rough areas. Remove any dust or debris from the area with a lightly water-dampened rag.
Step 3
Using a putty knife, spread a thin layer of patching material into the cracked area. Allow it to dry.

TIP: To create an even surface, always smooth out (feather) the patching material 1"-2" beyond the repaired area.
Step 4
Use 220-grit sandpaper to smooth the patched area and make it even with the surface.

TIP: If shrinking of the patching material occurs, lightly sand and clean the area and apply additional layers of patching material as needed.
Step 5
Remove any final dust or debris from the finished repair.