DIY Help

Welshchris · 28-11-2009, 05:38

Im doing some DIY In the flat and i have a few cracks appearing around the window frames which i think is due to vibration from the traffic as i live on a main road.

Is there anything easier i can buy rather than fiddle about with fillers to use such as some kind of tape or something?

Jon T · 28-11-2009, 08:40

If the are is subject to vibration and movement, i'd have thought you need some kind of flexible filler. I know it's not what you want to hear, but i'm not aware of another option(AFAIK).

Taf · 28-11-2009, 10:32

Cracks around the frames? Drying mastic around UPVC? If so you have to remove and replace it, if you want it weatherproof.

Best to do the job right once than fiddle with it many times.

Jon T · 28-11-2009, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

Cracks around the frames? Drying mastic around UPVC? If so you have to remove and replace it, if you want it weatherproof.

Best to do the job right once than fiddle with it many times.

......and if it is this, applying the new mastic, silicon or whatever isn't that hard, get it in tubes that have a screw on nozzle on the end, and buy or borrow a mastic gun(cheapo one's are under a fiver).

Hardest part will probably getting rid of the old sealant, but a Stanley knife will do wonders.

webcrawler2050 · 28-11-2009, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon T

......and if it is this, applying the new mastic, silicon or whatever isn't that hard, get it in tubes that have a screw on nozzle on the end, and buy or borrow a mastic gun(cheapo one's are under a fiver).

Hardest part will probably getting rid of the old sealant, but a Stanley knife will do wonders.

There's a special solvent you can buy for, removing silicon. It's called PVC solution and once you've used a Stanley, that will remove the rest and sealing up is actually a fine art. To get it right, is a pain in the rear end!

joglynne · 28-11-2009, 11:57

If it's not the mastic around the frames then you can consider using Decorators Caulk. It's a bit like polyfiller but it remains flexible once it has dried. You get it tubes which makes it easy to apply to cracks and most DIY shops will stock it and should only cost you a couple of pounds.

Just make sure you get any loose material/dust out of the cracks as they will stop the caulk from getting a good seal.

Jon T · 28-11-2009, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by webcrawler2050

There's a special solvent you can buy for, removing silicon. It's called PVC solution and once you've used a Stanley, that will remove the rest and sealing up is actually a fine art. To get it right, is a pain in the rear end!

I know of a variant of that, called "Silicon Eater", I'd still just rather use a Stanley knife on it.

Pain in the rear? No, it's just technique and a little bit of practice. Apply evenly, smooth of with your finger and lots of fairy liquid, job done. Then again, I was helping my Dad to these sorts of things from being 7-8yr old!

webcrawler2050 · 28-11-2009, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon T

I know of a variant of that, called "Silicon Eater", I'd still just rather use a Stanley knife on it.

Pain in the rear? No, it's just technique and a little bit of practice. Apply evenly, smooth of with your finger and lots of fairy liquid, job done. Then again, I was helping my Dad to these sorts of things from being 7-8yr old!

Yeah, when I was out of work, 6 years ago, I was an apprentice, fitter, took several months to get the sealing up just right. Got it in the end.

Wurth make a solvent, it's deemed as "one of the best" http://www.online-buildingproducts.c...t-cleaner.html

Just don't use Jiff (Or whatever it's called) will turn the UPVC yellow and also, make sure your in a well vented area, if your going to use solvent.