7 Best Exterior Wood Filler Reviews in 2022

Wooden surfaces are everywhere. From interior to exterior, wooden structures are basically all around you. And when it comes to the exterior ones, they have a high chance of having blemishes on the surface over time because of prolonged use or exposure to the weather for too long.

However, there is no need to throw them away or get them refurnished just because the surface has some rots, holes, and cracks on it. You can bid goodbye to those blemishes by purchasing the best exterior wood filler. And with one of these, it will be a piece of cake for you to hide those blemishes.

Alongside that, most of the fillers are water-based or solvent-based. That means they will not even cause any harm to the environment if they somehow get washed in the rain.

7 Best Exterior Wood Filler Reviews

Because of the wide variety of these being available in the market, it will get a bit tricky for you to get the right one that will offer you good blemishes hiding performance. However, you do not have anything to worry about a thing because we have picked the ones that do provide such kind of performance. They are:

1. FamoWood 40022126

FamoWood 40022126

Having to deal with odor after applying something on the wooden surface can be a big hassle. However, you will not have to go through that if you get this one.

To start with, it utilizes a solvent-free formula. The amount of VOC that is in the formula is considerably low. For having such a low amount of VOC, the odor amount will be low, which means you would not have to worry about pesky smells after applying this.

Aside from that, the low VOC amount makes this one easy to use as well. You are not going to need anything extra to clean these up. All you would need is water, and you should be able to clean up the places where you have accidentally applied this on.

Alongside that, it does not take that long to dry up either. You need to only wait for about 15 minutes, and it will be dry as desserty. And once it does dry up completely, it will not crack, neither will it shrink. The looks that you are going to get will last for a long amount of time.

Other than that, you would not lose any functionality of the surface after applying this. It can absorb stains and paints like natural wood, thanks to the formula being permeable. So, you should be able to get the exterior looks that you were shooting for without any issues.

Pros

  • Contains a low amount of VOC
  • No disturbing amount of odor
  • Takes a short time to dry up
  • Does not crumble or shrink after drying up
  • Accepts paint and stains like natural wood

Cons

  • Container is not that easy to work with
  • Might not take some of the stains that well

2. Abatron WoodEpox 2 Gallon Kit

Abatron WoodEpox 2 Gallon Kit

If you are conduction a reasonably large restoration project, you are going to need a decent of these fillers. Well, Abatron has got your back covered in that matter with this kit that they are offering.

As the label suggests, you are going to get a kit that will contain 2 gallons of filler. That amount is more than enough to finish an entire deck's restoration project and have more left for other projects – making it one of the best wood fillers for decks. So, you should not find yourself opting for more after getting this kit.

Aside from the amount that it comes in, the formula that Abatron has utilized offers high performance as well. The compound is easy to work with. And it bonds exceptionally well with the wood. You would not have to go through any extra hassle in applying this on the surface.

Alongside that, the layer that you are going to end up with will be exceptionally durable. It will resist shrinkage and crumbling. And as the compound is reasonably lightweight, there would be no need to worry about adding extra weight to the structure as well.

Apart from that, the compound can resist sagging exceptionally well. So even if you do apply this under the wooden structure, it will not sag over time. And once it does dry up, you can work with it like regular wood. You would be able to sand, stain, drill, paint, and nail on it. And we found it particularly useful while painting on plywood.

Pros

  • Comes in a kit of 2 gallons
  • Easy to work with
  • Bonds exceptionally well
  • Resistant to sagging, shrinking, and cracking
  • Can be sanded, nailed, stained, and painted

Cons

  • Containers are prone to leaking
  • Hard to take the lid off after getting it out of the box

3. PC Products – 163337

PC Products – 163337

Though it is good to have more than what you are going to need, the project you are carrying out might not be that large. And in such cases having options in the case of sizes can be handy, which is what you will get from PC Products.

First of all, there are four different size options available. It is available in 1.5 oz, 6 oz, 10 gallons, 12 oz, and finally, 48 oz size. Depending on how much you are going to need, you can choose any of them.

Aside from the size options that it is available, the formula that the manufacturer has utilized is high efficient. The compound is of two-part epoxy paste. And that formulation is going to make it easier for you to restore the looks of blemished wooden surfaces because of how easy it is to work with.

Alongside that, it does a great job in resisting mildew, UV light, rotting, and saltwater. As a result, once it dries up, you would not have to worry about the blemishes coming back anytime soon. Also, the formulation is capable of withstanding high temperatures as well.

Other than that, the working time that you are going to get is 30 to 40 minutes. That amount of time sufficient for you to shape it according to your preference. You would not have to go through the process of reshaping it just because it dried up too fast.

Pros

  • Available in six different sizes
  • Can resist mildew and other environmental elements
  • Working time is 30 to 40 minutes
  • Capable of withstanding high temperatures
  • Easy to work with

Cons

  • Not resistant to molds
  • Does not accepts stains that well

4. System Three 1600K10

System Three 1600K10

Having the capability to reshape and accepting paint and stains is quite important for these putties. And System Three had factored that in when they were manufacturing this for the market.

To start with, it comes in different sizes as well. By factoring in how much you are going to need, you can choose the 0.5 gallon, 1 quart, 2 gallons, or the 8 oz. Each of them will ship in a resealable container, which means storing them around after you are done using it will be pretty easy for you.

Alongside the size options, the formula that the manufacturer has implemented is reasonably efficient. It does a great job in hiding the blemishes that the wooden surfaces tend to obtain over time. You should be able to easily restore the looks of cracked, molded, chipped, and rotten surfaces.

Apart from being easy to use, the formula will offer you a good amount of working time. And the working time that it will provide should be more than enough for you to shape the putty according to the corners and the wooden structure's shape. You would not have to go through too much hassle for that.

Other than that, once it cures properly, the layer that you would get will be long lasting. It will not shrink or crack over time. So there would be no need to worry about the blemishes coming back that quickly.

Pros

  • Comes in four different sizes
  • Features a highly efficient formula
  • Offers a good amount of working time
  • Easy to shape and easy to work with
  • Long-lasting and can resist shrinking and cracking

Cons

  • Does not take some stains that easily
  • Offers a sheen that some users might not like

5. DAP 00585

DAP 00585

Even though there are plenty of putties in the market, there are only a few that will induce real wood fibers in the formula. And this one that is from DAP is one of those few.

First of all, the formula that DAP has utilized is professional-grade. It does not contain only the essential compounds but also real wood fibers. Those will enable it will to not only look like real wood but also act like one. You should be able to make it receive paint and stains pretty easily.

Apart from that, you will have no trouble in sanding, screwing, anchoring, and drilling it either. So, it would be pretty easy for you to reshape it too. You can even varnish it if you want to. It will accept it like real wood, like the other solvents that we have mentioned above.

Alongside that, the formula is heavy-duty. When it dries up, it will offer you a layer that will harden itself to provide up to three times more protection. That means you would not have to worry about the surface catching blemishes that easily after you apply this.

Other than that, it would not take that long to cure either. You would only have to wait a couple of minutes. And after drying up, it will not shrink, nor will it crack that easily. Plus, you can use this as a nail hole filler as well.

Pros

  • Formula contains real wood fibers
  • Looks and acts like real wood
  • Can be sanded, drilled, and screwed
  • Provides a three times stronger protection
  • Dries up reasonably fast

Cons

  • Container that it comes in is not durable
  • Odor level is a bit too high

6. Bondo 20082

Bondo 20082

Most of the fillers that are out there will cure reasonably fast. However, not all of them can claim to be the best stainable wood filler that can be painted so quickly. Well, that is where this one that is being offered by Bondo stands out.

Unlike some of the other putties out there, this one utilizes an advanced formula that makes the filler cure exceptionally fast. It will only take 15 minutes to dry up. And you should be able to work with it after 10 minutes of it drying up. That means you would not have to wait that long to paint and stain the surface.

Alongside that, the capability of it accepting paint and stains is reasonably high too. You would not be able to distinguish the applied surface and the non-applied surfaces after you paint or stain it. Also, the formula is water-resistant, which means it should not fade away that easily.

Other than that, the formula that it utilizes has a durable two-part solution. Because of how durable the solution is, the layer that you are going to end up with after it cures properly will last for an extended amount of time.

Besides that, you are going to receive a hardening solution with the package. After you mix that with the formula, you should be able to enhance the curing process. That will enable you to make quick and easy repairs on blemished surfaces. This one is also regarded as the best wood filler for large holes by many experts. 

Pros

  • Cures within 15 minutes
  • Accepts paints and stains after 10 minutes of curing
  • Blends reasonably well with paint and stains
  • Formula is water-resistant
  • Bundles with a hardener

Cons

  • Quantity of the container is not as advertised
  • Does not offer that much of a working time, even without the hardener mixed

7. Minwax 21600000

Minwax 21600000

Shrinking and cracking are a few of the problems that most of the fillers in the market has. But you will not have to worry about those if you get this one that is from Minwax.

First of all, the formula that it utilizes is capable of offering high performance. The looks that it will provide you with should be able to hide most of the blemishes that occur on wooden surfaces over time. It bonds exceptionally well with the wood, which will offer you a clean look after curing.

Talking of which, it does not take that long to cure either. After you apply this one to the surface, it would take only 15 minutes to harden. And you should be able to sand it after 30 minutes. That means you will not have to put that time into restoring the looks of your old wooden structures with this.

Apart from that, the layer that it creates after curing is long-lasting as well. It does not show any signs of shrinking, nor does it show signs of cracking. So it gives you the layer that will make sure the blemishes are hidden for an extended amount of time.

Alongside that, the layer is capable of resisting water. It can withstand high temperatures as well. So there would be a low chance of it sagging and fading away over time.

Pros

  • Utilizes a high performing formula
  • Takes a short amount of time to harden
  • Becomes sandable after 30 minutes
  • Layer it creates is long-lasting
  • Can resist shrinking and cracking

Cons

  • Not that easy to make it accept some stains
  • Container is not that easy to work with

Things to Consider Before Buying

We know how thrilled you are to get your hands on one of the well-performing ones for restoring the looks of your exterior wooden structures. But before you make a purchase decision, you need to keep some points in mind. By keeping them in mind, you will have a high chance of ending up with the right one. They are:

Formula

The formula is all that it counts when it comes to performance for these. And the manufacturers are going to use two types of formula. One will be water-based, and the other one is going to be solvent-based. If you were on the lookout for something with a low amount of odor, you should get the water-based one.

Exterior Wood Filler

On the other hand, if the odor is not that much of a factor for you, you can get either of them. It should be noted that the water-based ones are easier to clean. You would not require any sort of cleaning agents for them. So if you are most likely to apply or coat the wrong surface with these, you should go for the water-based ones.

Drying Time

The drying time is something that you should consider by factoring in your skill first. And the skill that we are mostly referring to is the skill of applying solvent and compounds on wooden surfaces.

The ones that dry up fast are convenient, but you are going to get a low amount of working time with those as they are going to settle exceptionally fast.

Exterior Wood Filler

So if you are good with your hands and have a good amount of skill in shaping the solvents and compounds on the surface quickly, you should go for the ones that dry up fast. On the other hand, if you are not that skillful in this regard, you should opt for the ones that take about 15-20 minutes to cure.

Shrinking and Cracking

As we have mentioned earlier in our exterior wood filler review section, shrinking and cracking are a few of the problems these putties suffer from the most. And if you happen to get one that does have this kind of problem, the layer you are going to get will not last long.

Well, you would not want the blemishes to resurface again that quickly, would you? For that reason, it is important to opt for the ones that are resistant to cracking and shrinking. Those are going to last for a prolonged amount of time without showing any issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do all of the fillers accept paint and stain?

Yes, most of the putties should be able to accept paint and stain. However, the capability of accepting them well will vary from one to another. The ones with a good formula can naturally take them, and the looks that you would get would be indistinguishable.

2. Can I mix paint with the putties before applying?

No, you should not mix anything with the formula before applying. If you want to paint and stain the surface, you should wait for the putty to cure and then apply those on the surface.

3. How much time does it take for the fillers to dry?

Actually, it depends on the formula. The ones that will have a good amount of wood hardeners induced into them will take about 15 minutes. Nevertheless, most of them should cure up within 20 to 25 minutes.

4. Can I sand the fillers after drying up?

You should be able to sand the surface after it dries up properly. However, do make sure that the filler is cured and dried up properly before you start sanding.

5. Do all fillers smell weird?

These do tend to have a little amount of funky smell to them. However, if the odor is the main factor for you, you should opt for the ones that utilize water-based formula.

Final Words

If you want to efficiently restore the looks of the surfaces of your exterior wooden structures, there is not really an alternative to the best exterior wood filler. And we are hopeful that we were capable of making it easy for you to get one of them.

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