Need Advice on Fixing an Architrave Please! (Desperate Here!)

[allendsmeet]

Hey Everyone,

I moved to Sydney from Toronto, Canada with a small dog that was stuck in quarantine for a month. While I had to move furniture and confine him in my bedroom at the house I'm staying at, he pawed and tore at the architrave on the bottom-right side of a door. The whole experience was a nightmare. My landlady wants this fixed asap, and my dog landed up at an emergency clinic from consuming wood. The whole thing's SNAFU, but right now I just need to get this fixed.

I need to:

(1) Figure out what fill to use on this wood (TimberMate? Saw it on this forum) so I can then sand, prime, and paint it back to appear at its original state (this is what I've been advised to do when given quotes on replacing the wood and getting the architrave custom cut).
(2) I assume getting fill requires I know the type of wood. A handyman dropped by and said it looks like cedar, not timber, which raises the question of whether or not I could/should use Timbermate on cedar, if this in fact is not timber. How can I tell since I'm not a carpenter?
(3) If anyone here can link me to a guide on repairing/filling/sanding/priming/painting a torn up bit of architrave or something similar I'd appreciate it as I don't know what I'm doing but from an amateur's perspective it sounds easy enough - just time-consuming.

This house is very old. The architrave is painted white. Architrave width is about 12 cm. Damage goes up about 0.5m. I have attached pictures. If you can help identify the wood (if that's necessary) or point me in the right direction of what I need to buy at Bunnings and how I should go about patching this up, I would be extremely grateful. To experts like you guys on this forum this job should be a piece of cake. I just need the low-down on how an amateur like myself needs to go about it.

Thanks in Advance,

-Michael

[Glider]

Whatever you did to attach pics, they didn't make it to the post so it's a bit difficult to provide definitive comments. However, Timbermate will work in cedar, no problems. It's fast drying & soft enough to sand to a good finish. If any of the edges have been damaged, you will need a much harder (read more durable) filler like Plastibond. While Timbermate can be hand sanded, Plastibond will need an orbital sander to smooth off. For smaller surface scratches etc., use Timbermate. For larger chunks & damaged edges, Plastibond.

[allendsmeet]

Maybe this works... ?

[allendsmeet]

Whatever you did to attach pics, they didn't make it to the post so it's a bit difficult to provide definitive comments. However, Timbermate will work in cedar, no problems. It's fast drying & soft enough to sand to a good finish. If any of the edges have been damaged, you will need a much harder (read more durable) filler like Plastibond. While Timbermate can be hand sanded, Plastibond will need an orbital sander to smooth off. For smaller surface scratches etc., use Timbermate. For larger chunks & damaged edges, Plastibond.

Hey Glider,

When I look online to see what an orbital sander is, I don't know how I can reshape the waves or curves as it were, of the architrave, since it looks like a clumsier sander than doing it myself. I thought there might be a way to make a mold of a section of the architrave and then press that mold down onto the portion that's damaged to make it take shape. I'm being quoted $400 to get a piece custom-cut because the tool has to be made to do it. I still wouldn't know how to do a good job of putting it back on and fixing it all up.

Would you or anyone else here be interested in helping with this for a fee? I just don't want to be throwing away $550-600 once all is said and done if I can get it done for under $250-300 that would be ideal, even if it takes me some time.

Killara is not even 15 minutes from St. Leonards, where I am. Do you do this sort of work?

Let me know please. At the least, I just need someone to guide me along repairing it, even if it's just a few quick phone calls for advice.

Thanks again for your prompt reply. Landlady keeps hassling me on this so gotta get it fixed asap.

-Michael

[Andrew_B]

jeez, iv had my fair share of dogs (and a ferret)
but i have never seen a pet do that much damage to timber!....

Michael is that lower piece grafted on?
there looks to be a angled cut where the damage begins.....
if thats the case i would see if you can get that single bit off and go to a timber recycler.... Be careful of wires that may be behind the timber......
theres a few recyclers around sydney... one in marrickville i think... google sydney timber recyclers or look it up in the yellow pages....
but yea take the bit of wood to them and see if they have anything in their older section that matches...

cut it the same angle and slip it in and paint :)

i would offer you a piece of timber from my collection, but i dont think i have any that looks like the one you have pictured....

if you cant find something that matches then you will need to redo the original with some filler of some sort....

when working with wet fillers/putties the trick (well my trick, an idea i got when plastering a wall) is to make a plastic or cardboard pattern piece....
that is basically just a rectangullar piece a bit wider than the timber, with the patern of the architrave filed/cut into it....
then you use it simillar to a trowl...
slap the filler onto the wood and drag the bit of plastic along it forming the pattern...
if that makes sence :)

i have rebuilt a few bits of furniture...

my best job would be an old carved frame a few months ago,
had to use filler and cut some small strips to match the original pattern.....
took a long time and many many hours with small chisels and lots of sanding...
then i gave it a distressed finish to tie it all in just right...
but it came up alright....

can you see the fixes :D

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o47/ANDREW_SHOULD_DIE/DSC02062.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o47/ANDREW_SHOULD_DIE/DSC02065.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o47/ANDREW_SHOULD_DIE/DSC02064.jpg

[Glider]

I think Andrew is right. It looks like the bottom section is a replacement piece which has been scarfed in; judging by the angle shown in one of your pics. A pretty dud repair to my eye. The timber is almost certainly Western Red Cedar which is pretty toxic, to say nothing of the potential for lead based paint, hence the vet.

There are four alternatives open to you.
1) Visit Chippendale Restorations at Rozelle to see if you can get an exact replacement. They will be able to punt you on to another supplier if they can't help, but they do have a huge range of recycled timber pieces.
2) Visit Fedwood (also at Rozelle) who sell mouldings which are reproductions of all the commonly used profiles from the Edwardian era.
3) Try to fix it yourself which is the cheapest option including buying the few tools needed. However, I sense you may not be a handyman but you never know what you can do until you try. Any corners would have to be built up with Plastibond & you could sand them back by hand. Using Andrew's profile, I would build up layers of Timbermate softened by mixing it with a bit of water. Then finish it by carefully sanding using both cork & foam blocks. It's a long & fiddly job but doesn't require much skill, just care.
4) Pay the money to have it fixed professionally by someone who specialises in heritage work but expect to pay at least $500. A good painter could fix the damage. Be careful of so called handymen unless they are qualified tradesmen.

Andrew's idea with the cardboard profile is a good one. :2tsup:. I would pop down to Bunnings in Artarmon & buy a profile guage. This will allow you to take an exact silhouette of the moulding for reference with 1 & 2. It will also provide a pattern for option 3.

I am not a builder, just a keen woodie. Send me a PM if you want to talk.:U

[silentC]

If I was fixing that I would pull off the scarfed section (that was a common way of extending material and using up offcuts), rip the damaged edge completely off and replace with a new bit of cedar planed to size. I would avoid using timber fillers on an edge like that because it wont be strong enough. You could use a 2 part epoxy or polyurethane filler which would be much stronger but as I say I would just rip it off and replace.

The rest of the damage can be fixed with some ordinary wood filler and then painted over.

I would make sure the landlady understands that the original was scarfed because she might kick up a stink and want the whole stile replaced if she thinks you've done it.

Edit: having had another look at the photos, I would use two part filler on the inside edge as well. A brand to look for is "Builder's Bog". It sets hard and can be sanded, filed or chiselled away.

[Glider]

If I was fixing that I would pull off the scarfed section (that was a common way of extending material and using up offcuts), rip the damaged edge completely off and replace with a new bit of cedar planed to size. I would avoid using timber fillers on an edge like that because it wont be strong enough. You could use a 2 part epoxy or polyurethane filler which would be much stronger but as I say I would just rip it off and replace.

Quite right, so would I. :2tsup: However Michael had to search the Net to find out what an orbital sander was, so I don't think he is up there in the practicality department.

I have used both Builders Bog & Plastibond, both of which are two part products. Bog is much thicker to mix and retains air bubbles too easily whereas Plastibond reminds me of panelbeaters "nicky". It's as hard as....but works well when set. The boys in the joinery at Chippendale restorations put me onto it when I was restoring our farmhouse. Michael's piece of timber would be a cinch to fix on the bench.:)

[Andrew_B]

chippendale restorations doesnt ring a bell... i may have to go for a visit :U

timbermate is water based and no good for this type of large work in my experience...

plastibond is the stuff i have in a yellow pack i assume, that stuff is decent...

good to see your all jumping on my profile idea :U works well for lots of stuff