When I tell homeowners I sometimes offer up to a five-year warranty on exterior paint jobs in Westchester County, they’re surprised. New York weather is no joke: freezing winters, humid summers, heavy rain, blazing sun. For paint to last through all that, every step of prep has to be right.
One lesson I’ve learned the hard way? I don’t use Bondo outdoors anymore.
Why Painters Use Bondo Outside
Bondo, or auto body filler, looks like a quick solution for rotted or damaged wood. It hardens fast, sands smooth, and can be painted right away. A lot of painters reach for it because it feels efficient.
But here’s the problem: Bondo was designed for metal, not wood.
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Why Bondo Fails on Exterior Wood
Wood is alive. It expands and contracts with temperature swings and moisture changes. In Westchester, we see 90° summers and below-freezing winters, not to mention storms and humidity.
Bondo dries hard and rigid. It doesn’t move with the wood. Over time, the bond line cracks, water seeps in, and the repair fails. Instead of protecting the siding, Bondo actually speeds up deterioration.
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How This Affects Your Warranty
When a Bondo patch fails, water gets behind the paint film. The homeowner sees peeling paint and thinks the paint job failed — but the truth is the repair material failed first.
If I used Bondo outdoors, I’d be setting myself up for callbacks and warranty claims year after year. That’s not sustainable for me, and it’s not fair to homeowners.
So I made the switch.
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Better Alternatives for Exterior Wood Repairs
To make sure I can confidently stand behind my work — and offer multi-year warranties — I use repair methods designed for exterior conditions:
• Epoxy consolidants and fillers that flex with wood movement.
• Full wood replacement when rot is too advanced for repair.
• End-grain sealing and proper priming to prevent water entry at weak points.
These methods take more time and cost more upfront, but they’re the only way I can confidently guarantee a paint job in New York’s climate.
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Why This Matters for Homeowners
When you see “up to five-year warranty” on my website, it’s not just marketing. It’s backed by materials and methods I’ve tested through real Westchester winters and summers.
• On newer wood and stable siding, with the right prep, I can safely offer five years.
• On older wood with existing issues, I’ll be upfront about what warranty length makes sense.
Either way, you know you’re getting work built to last — because I don’t take shortcuts with fillers like Bondo.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use Bondo on exterior wood?
Technically, yes — but it won’t last. Bondo doesn’t expand and contract with wood, so it cracks and lets water in.
What should be used instead of Bondo outside?
Epoxy wood repair systems or full wood replacement are the best options for exterior durability.
How long should an exterior wood repair last in Westchester?
With proper epoxy repairs, sealing, priming, and coating, repairs can hold for many years, even in harsh New York weather.
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Learn more about our exterior painting services in Westchester County\
