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Adheseal Gap Filla: A Technical Overview
Adheseal Gap Filla is a high-quality acrylic polymer sealant specifically formulated for applications where rigidity leads to failure. Curing through simple water evaporation, it forms a durable, plastic-elastic seal that is ideal for static or low-movement joints. Its smooth consistency makes it easy to apply and tool, providing a cost-effective solution for creating seamless, professional finishes on a wide variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces. Unlike brittle fillers, Gap Filla provides just enough flexibility to resist cracking and falling out, ensuring your work stands the test of time.
15-20 MIN
Tack-free time at 25°C, allowing you to move on with preparation and painting sooner.
Core Features & Specifications
- Perfectly Paintable Surface: Formulated to be fully over-paintable once cured, providing a seamless, professional finish between substrates and hiding repairs perfectly.
- Fast-Skinning Formula: Becomes tack-free in just 15-20 minutes in typical conditions, significantly reducing downtime and allowing for quicker job completion.
- Effortless Water Cleanup: Uncured sealant and tools clean up easily with just water, saving time and eliminating the need for harsh solvents on site.
- Versatile Multi-Surface Adhesion: Bonds reliably to a wide range of common building materials including wood, brick, metal, concrete, glass, plasterboard and ceramic.
- Ultra-Low VOC Content: Contains less than 1 g/L of Volatile Organic Compounds, making it a responsible choice for maintaining indoor air quality during and after application.
The Gap Filla Advantage
- Achieve Flawless Finishes: Fill unsightly gaps and cracks to create a smooth, consistent surface that's ready for painting, ensuring the high-quality end result your clients demand.
- Work Faster & Smarter: The rapid tack-free time and simple water cleanup streamline your workflow, letting you complete prep work and move on to the next task more efficiently.
- Cost-Effective Reliability: An economical solution for static joints that provides a durable, flexible seal, preventing call-backs for unsightly cracked or failed fillers.
- The Tradesman's All-Rounder: One cartridge handles a multitude of interior and exterior finishing tasks, from skirting boards to window frames, simplifying your toolkit.
Proactive Troubleshooting
Scenario: Application in a High-Movement Joint
Potential Outcome: With a dynamic movement capability of +/- 5%, the sealant may crack or lose adhesion if used in joints designed for significant expansion or flexibility.
Adheseal Best Practice: Gap Filla is engineered for static or low-movement joints. For joints requiring higher flexibility, such as expansion joints, choose a dedicated high-performance elastomeric sealant from the Adheseal range.
Scenario: Application to a Wet or Contaminated Surface
Potential Outcome: Poor adhesion will occur, causing the sealant to fail to bond correctly, peel away from the substrate, or blister during curing.
Adheseal Best Practice: Ensure all surfaces are clean, dry, and completely free from dust, grease, oil, and any loose material before beginning application to guarantee a tenacious bond.
Applications in Practice: Trade Scenarios
For Painters: Preparing for Interior Repainting
The Professional's Challenge
Efficiently filling gaps between skirting boards, walls, and around window architraves to create a perfect, seamless surface that is ready for paint without long delays.
The Adheseal Solution: Engineered Certainty in Practice
Apply a consistent bead of Gap Filla into the joint and tool off for a smooth finish. Its 15-20 minute tack-free time allows for rapid progress around a room, and its excellent paintability ensures the final coat is flawless.
Best Practice Note
For the smoothest finish, tool the sealant with a wet finger or a clean spatula immediately after application. This creates a neat, concave surface that blends perfectly with the surrounding substrates.
For Carpenters: Finishing a New Door Installation
The Professional's Challenge
Sealing the interior perimeter of a newly installed door or window frame against the plasterboard to cover the gap neatly and prevent draughts.
The Adheseal Solution: Engineered Certainty in Practice
Gap Filla adheres strongly to both the frame material (wood, metal, or aluminium) and the plasterboard wall. It provides a flexible seal that accommodates minor building settlement without cracking.
Best Practice Note
Ensure the gap width is within the product's capability. For very large or deep gaps, use a backing rod to ensure the correct sealant depth and prevent slump during cure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I paint over Gap Filla?
Gap Filla is tack-free in 15-20 minutes at 25°C. However, for best results, you should wait for it to fully cure, which typically takes 24-48 hours depending on bead size, humidity, and temperature. Painting before a full cure can cause the paint to crack.
Is Gap Filla suitable for use in bathrooms?
Gap Filla can be used for general sealing in dry areas of a bathroom, like around a vanity or skirting board. However, it is not recommended for applications with direct water immersion, such as inside a shower recess or around a bath. Use a dedicated sanitary silicone for those areas.
Can I use this product outdoors?
Yes, Gap Filla is a universal acrylic sealant suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. For outdoor applications, ensure the product has fully skinned and cured before it is exposed to rain to prevent it from washing out.
How do I get a smooth finish?
For the best possible finish, tool the sealant bead immediately after application using a spatula or a wet finger. This will push the sealant into the joint for good adhesion and create a smooth, neat surface that is ready for painting after curing.
What surfaces will Gap Filla stick to?
Gap Filla exhibits good adhesion to a wide variety of common construction surfaces. These include glass, ceramic, wood, brick, metal, concrete, plasterboard, and cornices. Always ensure the surface is clean and dry before application.
Applications & Benefits
| Application / Use Case | Key Benefit | Primary Trades |
|---|---|---|
| Filling gaps around skirting, architraves, and cornices | Creates a smooth, paintable surface for a seamless finish. | Painters, Carpenters, Builders |
| Sealing interior window and door frames | Flexible seal prevents draughts and resists cracking. | Carpenters, Installers, Painters |
| Repairing minor cracks in plasterboard | Fast tack-free time allows for quick repairs and painting. | Painters, Plasterers, Handymen |
| General sealing of sidings, vents, and tiles (static) | Excellent multi-surface adhesion for versatile use. | Builders, Roofers, Tilers |
Applying Adheseal Gap Filla: Enhanced Protocols & Best Practices
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Surface Preparation
A successful, long-lasting seal starts with a properly prepared surface. This step is critical to ensure maximum adhesion.
Cleaning the Joint
Ensure the joint is completely clean, dry, and free from all dust, dirt, oil, grease, and loose or flaking paint. Use a brush or vacuum to remove all dust.
Pro Tip: For a neater finish and easier cleanup, you can mask both sides of the joint with painter's tape before applying the sealant. -
Application & Tooling
Apply and finish the sealant bead for a smooth, professional result.
Applying the Sealant
Cut the nozzle at a 45° angle to the desired bead size. Using a caulking gun, apply a steady, continuous bead of sealant into the joint, ensuring it fills the entire gap.
Tooling for a Smooth Finish
Immediately after application, tool the bead with a wet finger or a clean spatula to create a smooth, concave surface and ensure intimate contact with the substrates.
Timing: The sealant will be tack-free in 15-20 minutes. Full cure takes 24-48 hours, depending on conditions. Do not expose to water until a durable skin has formed. -
Cleanup & Painting
Final steps for a clean job site and a perfect painted finish.
Immediate Cleanup
Clean up any excess sealant from surfaces and tools immediately using a damp cloth. Once cured, the sealant must be removed mechanically.
Painting
Once the sealant is fully cured (allow 24-48 hours), it can be painted over with most conventional water or oil-based paints.
Pro Tip: If you used masking tape, remove it immediately after tooling the sealant bead to create a perfectly clean edge.
Limitations & Safety
Product Limitations
Not recommended for applications involving continuous water immersion (e.g., swimming pools, inside water tanks).
Not suitable for use in high-movement expansion joints. Designed for static or low-movement joints only (+/- 5%).
Not suitable for food contact applications or for use in high-temperature environments such as fireplaces or stoves.
Store in a cool, dry place. Protect from frost. Do not store below 10°C.
Safety & Handling Requirements
Personal Protective Equipment
Wear safety glasses and protective gloves (Nitrile Rubber is suitable for intermittent contact). If sanding the cured product, wear a suitable respirator (AS/NZS 1716).
Handling & Hygiene
Avoid skin and eye contact. Wash hands thoroughly after handling and before eating, drinking, or smoking. Keep out of reach of children.
Emergency First Aid
Eyes:
Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. If irritation persists, consult a doctor.
Skin:
Wash skin with plenty of soap and water. If an allergic reaction or irritation occurs, seek medical advice.
Inhaled:
Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. If asthmatic symptoms occur, seek medical advice.
Swallowed:
Do not induce vomiting. Call a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for advice.
This product is a Schedule 5 (S5) Poison. Read safety directions before opening or using.
Substrate Adhesion & Preparation Guide
Wood & Plasterboard
Surface Preparation
Ensure surfaces are clean, dry, and free from dust, sawdust, and loose paint. For best results on new plasterboard, a coat of primer is recommended before sealing.
Primer Requirements
No primer typically required
Adhesion is excellent on most prepared wood and plaster surfaces.
Brick & Concrete
Surface Preparation
Surfaces must be free of all loose material, dust, and efflorescence. Ensure the substrate is completely dry before application.
Primer Requirements
No primer typically required
For highly porous surfaces, pre-priming the substrate can improve adhesion and prevent water loss from the sealant into the substrate.
Metals & Ceramics
Surface Preparation
Ensure surfaces are clean, dry, and free from any grease, oil, or oxidation. Clean with a suitable solvent if necessary.
Primer Requirements
No primer typically required
Gap Filla shows good adhesion to most common metals and glazed ceramics.
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