Getting frame sealant into an inaccessible gap

TuppenceHapenny

Is there a clever way to get frame sealant into a narrow gap at the base of a conservatory? The gap is between the bottom of the frame and a sill that runs all the way along the outside of the base (see diagram). There is very little clearance between the sill and the ground beneath, so there's no way to get a sealant cartridge nozzle into the gap (unless the nozzle was quite long and had a bend in it).

I could try lifting the slabs so there's more clearance to get at the gap but that would have its own difficulties and there still might not be enough clearance to get the cartridge nozzle into the gap.

The gap needs to be blocked to stop ants from getting in and setting up home in the conservatory frame.

maisie_cat

I had a similar problem some years ago. I bought clear plastic tubing from Amazon, possibly 5mm.
I then connected it to the caulking nozzle in a Heath Robinson fashion and poked the end into place.
Hubby held the end of the tube against the wall with a duct taped skewer while I crawled along the ground squeezing the trigger.
Much easier with a powered caulking gun, ours was £36 on Amazon and I wish I had it at the time.

WIAWSNB

Another way is to use a wide-bladed filling knife/scraper, and to run a bead of sealant along the end's top edge. Pass it under the sill until you touches the end frame, and then prise it upwards to squeeze the sealant into the required gap. Obviously you'll be doing the job in around 4" steps! 

Belenus

Would expanding foam work?

You could fill the area between the frame and the slab and trim any excess that protruded beyond the frame.

Please take other advice as I am no expert and there may be good reasons not to do that.

Rusty190

Apologies - can't do links but, would something like "Everbuild joint backer rod polythene foam gap filler" work?
It's like a thin, grey rope (a bit like a swimming pool noodle) that you can cut to length and ram into the gap.
It should stay put without any other fixings, if you've rammed it hard enough! - well, it does beneath my windowsills.
Available in thickness from 5mm - 50mm from ebay.
Far less messy than trying to squeeze tacky stuff up that gap.

Albermarle

Rusty190 said:

Apologies - can't do links but, would something like "Everbuild joint backer rod polythene foam gap filler" work?
It's like a thin, grey rope (a bit like a swimming pool noodle) that you can cut to length and ram into the gap.
It should stay put without any other fixings, if you've rammed it hard enough! - well, it does beneath my windowsills.
Available in thickness from 5mm - 50mm from ebay.
Far less messy than trying to squeeze tacky stuff up that gap.

Or possibly even cheaper, foamed PE pipe insulation cut into suitable thickness strips.
It does fill gaps quite nicely but I guess it could be tricky to cut it straight into long strips.

Murmansk

You can get expanding foam tape - nothing to do with expanding foam in a can which is NOT suitable here I feel. 

It's a foam tape that comes on a roll and once released from the roll it expands over the course of a few minutes so you could maybe push it into the gap? 

TuppenceHapenny

Thanks for all replies.

I think I'm going to have to take the sill thing off to clean out the sand/dirt already carried in by ants. Before I put it back on I'm thinking of attaching some kind of foam seal/gap filler (as suggested above) to fill the gap and then (once its on again) also put on frame sealant as suggested by WIAWSNB (since I've already got the sealant and can't see any harm in using it that way).

twopenny

Spray the immediate area, bricks and such, with vinegar or something strong smelling.
Ants follow trails made by others and their scent lingers. They will find their way straight back.
Do it again in spring.

I bought a house that had stood empty and they had nested in the air brick area, eaten their way through mortar and concrete.  
Expanding foam, thick caulking, ant powder through the air brick a few times and mixed into the new mortar.

But your area will be disturbed regularly? Just give the area a good few goes in spring, early summer and hopefully they will go elsewhere