Putties

With the advent of both flexible and rigid fillers in recent years, putties have become less and less common but they still have a place. Glazing putty is still used when glazing wooden windows and doors, while woodfilling putties and other products like Selleys Plastic Wood are still available for a more traditional approach to woodworking.

One recent advent has been the introduction of two-part epoxy putties, the perfect example of which is Selleys Knead It. Knead It (which has a couple of different varieties) comes in a roll that allows you to cut off what you need and then knead the two components together to create a putty that can be used for a range of different tasks. Knead It cures to an extremely hard, durable finish and can be sanded, filed, sawn, screwed and painted when dry.

Foam fillers

When undertaking renovations or repairs to a home, it’s often easy to be left with quite large cavities where pipe work or ducting goes through a wall. These can reduce the insulating properties in a wall or ceiling and provide spaces that can be draughty and cold. It’s also possible that awkwardly-shaped cavities and voids (such as under the edges of sheets of roofing material) will provide a haven for birds to nest or vermin to make their home, so it’s a great idea to fill them and seal these spaces off. 

 Expanding foam fillers, such as Selleys Space Invader or Polyfilla Expanding Foam, are an excellent solution to these difficult areas. Available in a spray can, expanding foam fillers can be applied through a nozzle into these gaps where they expand to fill the empty space. If it expands too far (through over application) it can be trimmed back with a sharp utility knife to sit flush with it surroundings.

Rigid fillers

If you have ever filled a nail or screw hole or had to repair a blemish in a wall, ceiling or on the surface of a panel, a rigid filler is the type of product you would have used. Normally these come as pre-mixed products in a tub or tin and can be used directly from the container and applied to the affected area with a putty knife, where they will cure (dry). They can be sanded back to match the surrounding area. In some cases, a second application of filler may be required.

 

CRC has a product called Builder’s Fill, which can be used on a wide range of materials, while Selleys has a variety of fillers including Permafilla and Rapidfilla, the latter of which also comes in a version called Coloursmart, which changes colour from pink to white when it has cured and is ready for sanding.

Mind the gap

Fillers and sealants are a necessity for your home workshop and can be used in a wide variety of applications. From filling nail or screw holes and fixing blemishes in the surface of panels, through to bathroom renovations, sealing up leaks in a gutter and filling annoying gaps around architraves.
There is a massive range of sealants and fillers available at Mitre 10, which can cause some confusion when selecting the one for the job you are undertaking. No need to feel overwhelmed, though, because a bit of How To knowledge will help you get what you need.

Flexible fillers

Flexible fillers are one of the most versatile on the market and are designed for sealing gaps where some type of movement will still be required. This makes it ideal for along the top of skirting boards or around door and window frames, which need that flexibility due to natural contraction and expansion. Although a wide range of flexible fillers area available for interior use, there are also a number designed for outdoor applications or where there may be high levels of moisture, such as in bathrooms or laundries.

The Selleys range of No More Gaps products has a number of solutions to your flexible gap-filling needs. One of their latest products – Selleys 3 in 1 – is a multiple-use product that seals, bonds and fills, so offers the versatility of a filler, adhesive and sealant in one tube. Ados has a flexible filler called Gap Filler, while Sika’s Fast Gaps Filler is also designed for this application. Another option is Bostik’s Fill-A-Gap, a
water-based, paintable, acrylic gap filler.

In almost every instance, you’ll find that flexible filler is paintable but it pays to check on the packaging beforehand. Generally, flexible fillers can’t be sanded so they require careful application to ensure the best
finish.