Grout Polyfilla > Reviews (7)

Having recently moved house I've been rather busy on the DIY / decorating front and have stumbled across a product which is new to me.

Traditionally I've always used Polyfilla powder which needs to be mixed with water to the required consistency prior to use. However I've now discovered ready mixed Polyfilla in a tube. But not only is it ready mixed, you can also buy a quick drying version, this is the one I used.

APPEARANCE

Made by Polycell, "Quick Drying Polyfilla", comes in a 330g tube, a bit similar to a giant tube of toothpaste. The tube is white and blue with a red and yellow tick on the front and naturally the product name, it has a blue cap.

WHERE CAN I GET IT ?

Most DIY stores and local hardware stores sell it. I got mine from B&Q for £2.98 only to discover it on special offer in Wilkinsons two days later for £1.98, Grrrrrrrrr !

HOW TO USE

Before using any sort of filler for cracks or holes it's best to do a little preparation first.

- First, ensure that the surface / crack to be filled is dry and free from loose material. Otherwise the filler may not adhere.

- If you are filling a surface which has visible nail or screw heads, dab a touch of oil based paint on them (something like gloss or model paint will do). This is because filler doesn't stick to metal too well.

- Before filling a crack I prefer to rake it out a little bit more, with the corner point of a scraper, to form a v-shaped groove, as this helps the filler adhere better.

YEH YEH THAT'S THE PREP, BUT HOW DO YOU USE IT ?

Before use it's best to knead the tube between your fingers for about half a minute to get the filler 'moving'. After removing the cap you have to cut the end of the nozzle off with a sharp knife. I would recommend cutting this at a slight angle, as it makes the filler easier to use.

For filling cracks simply squeeze the filler directly into the crack and level off with a filling knife or a scraper, keeping the knife / scraper as flat to the surface as possible. A useful tip here is to wet the knife / scraper prior to use as this stops it sticking to the filler too much.

For filling holes you simply squeeze the filler directly into the hole and as above level off with a filling knife or scraper. Hole filling is a major advantage this product has over conventional 'powder and water fillers' as it's so easily directed out of the tube.

Another useful tip when filling holes, concerns old screw holes. Often after removing the screw (maybe from a shelf bracket) the wall plug is still left in the hole, sometimes protruding from the surface. To remove the wall plug simply screw the screw back in about a quarter of the way and then pull it out with a claw hammer, which should remove both the screw and the plug.

After filling the crack / hole this product, as it's name suggest does dry very quickly, in any time ranging between 5 to 20 minutes depending on the depth / surface area filled. Should the filler be slightly proud of the surface you have just filled, you simply need to lightly sandpaper the surface until it is smooth and level.

The surface is then ready to decorate. I filled in a couple of cracks in my lounge ceiling, and was sanding them smooth in around 15 minutes, and painting them some 5 minutes later. It really does dry that quickly.

One final tip is that if you are filling a crack which is deeper than 5mm (1/4 inch approximately) it's probably best to build up the filler in a number of layers. This enables it to dry quickly, and gives a more secure fill and better finish.

After use you should replace the cap and wash any tools used in warm water to remove filler residue.

OTHER STUFF

This filler does have quite a strong smell to it, a bit like mild ammonia, so it might not be the most pleasant thing to use. When first applied it is dark grey in colour, but dries to a plae grey colour. It also holds a new wall fixing very well, I've put some roller blinds up having had to fix a screw into an old hole, and it's very secure.

OVERVIEW

I found this product very easy to use, and a great boon for decorators in a hurry. It's particularly useful for 'todays' decorators who need to do everything quickly a la 'Changing Rooms'. It may be a tad on the expensive side when compared to powder and water fillers, but does a good job and is very convenient.

So if you want your crack or hole filled in a hurry 'Quick Drying Pollyfilla' is the man for you.

This product is made by :-

Polycell
ICI Paints
Wexham Road
Slough
Berks.
SL2 5DS

They have a Polycell advice line, the number is:-

(01753) 550555