Cheap sealant and easy to use for holes in home?

dekaspace1

I have filler but its not suitable IMO for what I need it for, I have large gaps around radiator pipes in wall, I have some holes with wall plugs in where there used to be a fan heater on wall that was removed before I moved in (due to heating upgrade) I have some holes in living room wall where a tv was mounted but I can use filler for that.

I see various types of sealant in stores and want to know best to get, I do have a applicator gun so I can buy a tube and that can squeeze things out as from a tub would likely be impossible to get into gaps unless theres something I can't think of at moment.

Bathroom walls are plastic, rest are plaster.

webjaved

Have you considered expanding foam?

ThisIsWeird

dekaspace1 said:

I have filler but its not suitable IMO for what I need it for, I have large gaps around radiator pipes in wall, I have some holes with wall plugs in where there used to be a fan heater on wall that was removed before I moved in (due to heating upgrade) I have some holes in living room wall where a tv was mounted but I can use filler for that.

I see various types of sealant in stores and want to know best to get, I do have a applicator gun so I can buy a tube and that can squeeze things out as from a tub would likely be impossible to get into gaps unless theres something I can't think of at moment.

Bathroom walls are plastic, rest are plaster.

I suspect you'll need more than one product. 

For the screw plug holes - TV and heater - you'll want a 'filler' - usually obtained in a pot rather than a cartridge - that sets hard (like the wall itself) but, importantly, can be sanded completely flat and smooth to make the holes completely disappear.

The same filler won't work well around the rad pipes as it won't tolerate movement. For these, probably decorator's caulk will fill the hole to prevent draughts, or exp foam as mentioned above if the gaps are large, and then fit decorative round covers over them.

Not sure what the best stuff for the plastic panels will be. The problem with filler is that it's a bit brittle, and with caulk that it can't be sanded smooth. What colour? Perhaps just matching silicone, rubber-bladed level?

grumbler

Sealants aren't for holes in brick/plaster.  For this you need plaster (big holes) and filler (small halls/finish.

For plastic, sealants may work better, but you don't need a lot of it and you want a good match in the first place. Price of one cartridge is pretty much irrelevant.

Richard1212

Bunging in pages from "The Times" and then painting over always does the trick----but never use "The Sun" as it never leaves that really sophisticated look 

Seriously, I have still never found better than good old Polyfilla, which even has different types for different surfaces and different sizes of wall damage.  Happy New Year. 

MikeJXE

Pollyfilla or similar product and fill in layers, don't try to fill the hole in one go, allow each layer to set before applying finishing layer 

ThisIsWeird

dekaspace1 said:

I have filler but its not suitable IMO for what I need it for, I have large gaps around radiator pipes in wall, I have some holes with wall plugs in where there used to be a fan heater on wall that was removed before I moved in (due to heating upgrade) I have some holes in living room wall where a tv was mounted but I can use filler for that.

I see various types of sealant in stores and want to know best to get, I do have a applicator gun so I can buy a tube and that can squeeze things out as from a tub would likely be impossible to get into gaps unless theres something I can't think of at moment.

Bathroom walls are plastic, rest are plaster.

For full advice on the various holes, could you post photos, please?

Norman_Castle

dekaspace1 said:

I see various types of sealant in stores and want to know best to get, I do have a applicator gun so I can buy a tube and that can squeeze things out as from a tub would likely be impossible to get into gaps unless theres something I can't think of at moment.

Bathroom walls are plastic, rest are plaster.

Use a filling knife or similar to apply filler. For internal corners I normally use my finger.
For plastic panels I'd ideally use silicone sealant but wouldn't buy some for a few holes. Try filling it with whatever you've got then seal it with tape or clear varnish or paint or clear nail varnish. If the panels are white try white gloss if you have some.

dekaspace1

I have never used expanding foam but did think of it, looking online I see the "collars" for radiators which will cover them I think.

When I filled holes before I.e from where old screws were (like this) I used filler but it went over not inside the holes so thought something can be done to actually fill them.

Norman_Castle

dekaspace1 said:

When I filled holes before I.e from where old screws were (like this) I used filler but it went over not inside the holes so thought something can be done to actually fill them.

Remove protruding wall plugs and flatten the wall around the hole then push filler into the hole.

ThisIsWeird

Radiators pipes will become hot, and cold, and hot, and stuff, so a 'hard' filler might crack, or end up putting unwanted forces on the pipe itself. Also, copper can be attacked to some degree by alkaline (or acidic if they exist) fillers. So I'd suggest that 'normal' filler would not be the best for around pipes, unless the pipes are sleeved or wrapped in thick tape first. Decorative collars are certainly the thing to use to finish it off - just smoothing filler around a sticking out pipe is never going to look awesome - but it would also be worth first adding something around the pipe to fill any gaps, if only to insulate it, reduce noise, block draughts. This could be anything - pushed-in loft insulation, foam, pipe-lagging, whatevs. And then place the decorative collars over them.

For filling screw/plug holes, the process is to suck it dust-free, dampen it lightly if needed, and then to push in normal filler using whatever it handy and fits the job - the head of a screw, a pencil, whatevs. Just get the stuff in there. Let it set or dry. (On that note, the 'powder' filler you mix with water will tend to set chemically, like cement does. So it'll harden before it's even dry, and you'll have a limited amount of time to use it - once it starts to set, stop moving it or it'll be weakened. The ready-mixed stuff, on the other hand, needs to dry to set.)

Once the main 'fill' has set/dried, then apply another layer to bring it up to surface level. You can smooth it 'level' - by pulling the filling blade over it at a low angle to match the wall surface - and hope that it'll only need a quick wipe-over with sand paper to finish it off, but chances are it'll shrink to slightly below wall surface, and will need a further, very fine skim, to finish. Or, you can deliberately finish it off slightly convex - a very wee mound over the hole - so that it will need more sanding, but then should hopefully be finished.

In either case, ~180 grit on a good flat block should get it all smooth, flat, and blended in to the wall - you shouldn't be able to feel it with your fingertips. Annoyingly, it's quite common for it to show up again when painted - sometimes the filler will absorb some of the paint's water and swell. In this case, allow to dry fully, and one more quick going-over with the grit to get it all flat again.

I wouldn't use expanding foam unless you actually need to - it's great stuff if it's the best solution - it's fast and fills big holes - but it's also messy, usually needs trimming away afterwards, and is often overkill.

If you post photos, folk will advise further on specific jobs.

There are lightweight fillers available these days too - ready-mixed in tubs, and it won't 'slump' as easily 'cos it's so light. I haven't used it, but it sounds like a good option for larger holes in solid walls, tho' not sure how hard and strong they set?