The last thing you would want to do is to reuse an old screw hole that could compromise the structural integrity of your wooden object. So is it ever safe to reuse screw holes in wood?
Screw holes are only safe to reuse if the screw fits well and isn’t loose. If the hole is stripped or loose, you will need to repair the damage before screwing into the hole. Damage can be fixed using repair kits and commonly used tools. If the wood is not structurally sound or has rotted, it’s better to drill a new hole.
I will now walk you through the necessary steps to repair a damaged screw hole and help you identify when it’s better to drill a new hole.
What to do with stripped or loose holes
As screws are usually placed at the joints of the wooden object, the strength of the joint (and whole object) is dependent on the screw being firmly seated in the wood.
Occasionally, you might find that the screw hole that you intend to use has become damaged or stripped. If that happens, then there are a few things you can do, which I’ll now discuss.
How to fix a damaged or stripped hole
There are quite a few ways that you can repair a damaged screw hole, and they should all enable you to reuse the hole. However, you will need to decide which is the best method for you to use, depending on what has caused the damage and what materials you have available to use.
If a screw was torn from the screw hole, then it will probably have enlarged the hole. If this has happened, then there are a few easy ways that you can repair the hole.
Gather your tools
Particleboard or wood that is of poor quality often ends up with stripped or damaged screw holes, and most methods of repair are unable to be used with this type of wood. However, you can use a dowel or hardwood plug to repair a screw hole in this sort of wood.
To do this you will need the following:
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Wood glue
- Wooden dowel
- Hammer
Repair the damaged hole
- First of all, you will need to drill a hole that is the size of the dowel in the same place as the stripped screw hole.
- Next, you will need to use wood glue to glue the dowel into the hole you have just drilled.
- Allow the glue to dry for around 24 hours.
- Now you should be able to drill a pilot hole into the wooden dowel for your screw to go into.
Use bigger screws
A quick and simple way of solving the problem is to use a bigger screw, which is one that has a wider diameter. The larger screw should have threads that are either the same as the old screw or coarser.
It’s important to make sure that you don’t force the new screw into the hole or you could just end up damaging the hole even more. You should only use a screw that has a slightly bigger gauge size, either one or two sizes bigger should be sufficient.
This is so that the screw will fit snugly in the hole without damaging the wood further. If you need to, then you can always drill a pilot hole to fit the size of the new screw.
Use a repair kit
There are quite a few different repair kits that are available online and most of these use either plastic or an adhesive to create a firm base for the screw to bite into.
If you use this method, then it’s a good idea to check the guidelines from the manufacturer and reviews of the product first to see if it is suitable for your needs.
The good thing about these kits is that they are quick and easy to use, which is good if you don’t have much experience with DIY. On the other hand, the bad thing is that they can be expensive compared to other methods.
Here are the kits that I recommend:
When it’s best to replace rather than redrill
Sometimes you might need to replace the entire piece of wood if the screw hole is extremely worn, such as in the following circumstances:
- If the wood has already been redrilled or reused several times, then it might not be as strong or structurally sound, meaning that replacing it would be the better option.
- If the wood is damaged or cracked. Even though you could use filler to repair it, the wood will be weakened from the damage.
- Wood such as particleboard often breaks down quite easily as it is made from compressed fibers. The damaged area often spreads beyond the screw hole and so the entire piece should be replaced.
- Wood that has got rot (either wet or dry) should be replaced.
How to prevent issues with screw holes
If you take the appropriate measures, then it is possible to make sure that screws will last for many years without any issues, which would mean that you never have to worry about having to try and reuse or repair a screw hole.
Secure the joint
If the wood joint is not properly secured, then it is always going to be put under pressure, which can cause the screw hole to become stripped as the wood around it breaks.
You can prevent this by adding some wood glue to help secure the pieces of wood and also by using some thread-locking glue in the screw hole.
No sudden pressure
Sometimes the wood fibers in a screw hole become torn and damaged when the joint comes under sudden pressure, either from pressure on the screw or on the wood surrounding it.
It’s best to avoid this happening if possible, and you can prevent it by making sure that nothing too heavy is hung on things such as window frames, doors, or handrails.
Always use the correct screws
Indoors: It’s always best to make sure that you are using the correct screws for the job, and it’s important to always use screws that are long enough for the project you are doing as you want to have as many screw threads in the wood as possible.
A great tip for working out the length you need is to remember that the length of the screws should be twice the thickness of the wood that you are using.
Outdoors: if the project you are doing is something that is going to be located outside, then you should make sure that your wood has a protective coating to protect it from bad weather and issues such as rot.
You should also ensure that you are using screws that are suitable for outdoor use so that they don’t rust or corrode, which could affect the strength of your project.
Stainless steel screws are the best ones to use outdoors as they are weather-resistant, which should help to prevent rusting and other issues caused by extreme weather conditions.
