Filling screw holes and small gaps - white painted skirting

David

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Jun 15, 2016, 11:04:03 AM6/15/16

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I need to fill some screw holes (counter sunk screws), some gaps in angled
joins and some gaps under the skirting.

Looking at various Internet sites the advice is conflicting.

A lot of people advise decorators caulk but some advise wood filler (or
other things including silicone sealant).

What is the best (and/or easiest) thing to seal MDF skirting.

Happy to use different materials for screw heads, joins, wall gaps, floor
gaps.

TIA

Dave R

--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

The Natural Philosopher

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Jun 15, 2016, 11:08:15 AM6/15/16

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On 15/06/16 16:04, David wrote:
> I need to fill some screw holes (counter sunk screws), some gaps in angled
> joins and some gaps under the skirting.
>
> Looking at various Internet sites the advice is conflicting.
>
> A lot of people advise decorators caulk but some advise wood filler (or
> other things including silicone sealant).
>
> What is the best (and/or easiest) thing to seal MDF skirting.
>
> Happy to use different materials for screw heads,

Plastic wood probably, if you are painting

joins, wall gaps, floor gaps.

Decorators caulk without a doubt.

--
The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all
private property.

Karl Marx

Muddymike

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Jun 15, 2016, 11:35:55 AM6/15/16

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On 15/06/2016 16:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 15/06/16 16:04, David wrote:
>> I need to fill some screw holes (counter sunk screws), some gaps in
>> angled
>> joins and some gaps under the skirting.
>>
>> Looking at various Internet sites the advice is conflicting.
>>
>> A lot of people advise decorators caulk but some advise wood filler (or
>> other things including silicone sealant).
>>
>> What is the best (and/or easiest) thing to seal MDF skirting.
>>
>> Happy to use different materials for screw heads,
>
> Plastic wood probably, if you are painting
>
> joins, wall gaps, floor gaps.
>
> Decorators caulk without a doubt.
>

Certainly caulk for gaps between wall and skirting. Over screws depends
on what decor. If your painting almost any filler. If staining use
coloured wood filler or better still wooden plugs.

Not silicone, you cant paint over that.

Mike

The Natural Philosopher

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Jun 15, 2016, 11:39:17 AM6/15/16

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staining MDF skirting? Yuk!

>
> Not silicone, you cant paint over that.
>

NEVER silicone.

> Mike

Andy Burns

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Jun 15, 2016, 11:45:56 AM6/15/16

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Muddymike wrote:

> David wrote:
>
>> I need to fill some screw holes (counter sunk screws), some gaps
>> in angled joins and some gaps under the skirting.

Filling gaps *under* the skirting, or do you mean behind?

> Certainly caulk for gaps between wall and skirting.

I've found one thing better than caulk for gap filling, coving adhesive,
it has a consistency somewhere between caulk and no-more-nails, I think
it's acrylic, I've got several tubes of it because the coving packs I
buy are rather generous with the amount supplied (I probably use 2 tubes
fitting the pack, but they supply 4).

Phil L

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Jun 15, 2016, 2:39:37 PM6/15/16

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David wrote:
> I need to fill some screw holes (counter sunk screws), some gaps in
> angled joins and some gaps under the skirting.
>
> Looking at various Internet sites the advice is conflicting.
>
> A lot of people advise decorators caulk but some advise wood filler
> (or other things including silicone sealant).
>
> What is the best (and/or easiest) thing to seal MDF skirting.
>
> Happy to use different materials for screw heads, joins, wall gaps,
> floor gaps.

Caulk for long gaps like across the top and bottom, also up internal mitres.

water based filler for screw / nail holes and external mitres, us a fine
surface one that is easily sandable, don't use ready mixed as it takes an
age to set if you apply more than a few mm

jim

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Jun 15, 2016, 3:10:45 PM6/15/16

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David <wib...@btintenet.com> Wrote in message:

> I need to fill some screw holes (counter sunk screws), some gaps in angled
> joins and some gaps under the skirting.
>
> Looking at various Internet sites the advice is conflicting.
>
> A lot of people advise decorators caulk but some advise wood filler (or
> other things including silicone sealant).
>
> What is the best (and/or easiest) thing to seal MDF skirting.
>
> Happy to use different materials for screw heads, joins, wall gaps, floor
> gaps.

Caulk in screw holes is no good ime. It shrinks whilst drying so
if filled flush they will dry concave... And look
shit.

In internal corners for e.g. this shrinkage is not usually a problem.

--
Jim K

----Android NewsGroup Reader----
http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

WeeBob

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Jun 15, 2016, 3:20:41 PM6/15/16

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Sugru (https://sugru.com/)

Easy to use, like plasticine - you can hand work it into shape without
creating an almighty mess.

Expensive, but for one-off, small, jobs maybe worth it.

2p.

polygonum

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Jun 15, 2016, 3:36:46 PM6/15/16

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Provided your repairs don't need to be physically strong, the
ultra-light, non-slump fillers available from many sources work very
well. Effectively no shrinkage. Easily overpaintable - even when still
slightly damp (assuming water-based paint).

I used some several years ago for persistent gaps between skirting and
wall - had tried several other options over many years but they always
shrank a bit and often cracked again. This just filled the gaps and
stayed there.

--
Rod

David Lang

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Jun 15, 2016, 5:09:19 PM6/15/16

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On 15/06/2016 19:40, Phil L wrote:
> David wrote:
>> I need to fill some screw holes (counter sunk screws), some gaps in
>> angled joins and some gaps under the skirting.
>>
>> Looking at various Internet sites the advice is conflicting.
>>
>> A lot of people advise decorators caulk but some advise wood filler
>> (or other things including silicone sealant).
>>
>> What is the best (and/or easiest) thing to seal MDF skirting.
>>
>> Happy to use different materials for screw heads, joins, wall gaps,
>> floor gaps.
>
> Caulk for long gaps like across the top and bottom, also up internal mitres.

Agreed.

>
> water based filler for screw / nail holes and external mitres, us a fine
> surface one that is easily sandable, don't use ready mixed as it takes an
> age to set if you apply more than a few mm
>
>

Not this stuff - incredible, I don't use anything else;
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Painting+%26+Decorating/d150/Fillers+%26+Putty/sd3169/1+Strike+Filler/p20822

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman

F Murtz

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Jun 15, 2016, 11:48:39 PM6/15/16

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Bog.

http://www.chemspec.co.nz/?page_id=181

Andy Burns

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Jun 16, 2016, 3:44:41 AM6/16/16

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F Murtz wrote:

> Bog.
> http://www.chemspec.co.nz/?page_id=181

Maybe Homebase/Bunnings will send us a crate over?

F Murtz

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Jun 16, 2016, 3:59:43 AM6/16/16

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You would have the same stuff by a different name,it is basically a
building version of polyester body filler used in auto panel repair.

Andy Burns

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Jun 16, 2016, 4:07:12 AM6/16/16

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Yes, the MSDS says it's styrene/polystyrene, our sheds sell generic
"bodyfiller", I thought you chaps called that 'Bondo'?

F Murtz

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Jun 16, 2016, 4:07:14 AM6/16/16

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Andy Burns

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Jun 16, 2016, 4:13:08 AM6/16/16

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F Murtz wrote:

> Similar stuff,UK
> http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/Sundries/Fillers_Stoppers_and_Putties/

Never seen the "onion paper" before

<http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/u/UPOL_ONION_FILLER_MIXING_BOARD_100_TEAR-OFF_SHEETS/>

I usually run out of offcuts of plastic to mix it on (it recommends you
don't mix it on wood to avoid it setting too quick).

F Murtz

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Jun 16, 2016, 5:10:37 AM6/16/16

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Yes there is different sorts even epoxy but the builder one is usually a
polyester based two part putty.
In most cases the trades men both auto and building here in AU call all
of them affectionately "bog"

David

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Jun 16, 2016, 11:58:53 AM6/16/16

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Thank - and so much choice :-)

Cheers