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Adhesives And Gap Fillers Comparison Chart ...or... Types and Uses Of Gap Fillers ...or... Preparing,Applying,Clean up Of Adhesives
There are also many kinds of sealants and fillers used for gap-filling and waterproofing.
However, sealants are often used where an adhesive would be more suitable.
The handyman can make up a basic glue kit which will cope with most household jobs.
All-purpose glue will deal with small repairs where strength is not too important.
Epoxy and 'super' glues will stick pottery, glass and metal.
PVA woodworking glue is suitable for general carpentry.
Manufacturers' charts, available in shops or on the reverse of glue packaging, will tell you the right glue to use for sticking a large selection of different materials to each other. The following fact sheets above are only a general guide for most situations. We will compare what adhesives or sealants are best used to adhere different materials, together with the appropriate cleaner to remove excess glue before it dries. Some makers also produce solvents that will remove glue after it has dried.
There is also a range of elastomeric adhesives which are designed to stick slightly uneven surfaces. Flooring adhesive is an example of this type.
Sealants are not adhesives; they do not stick the surfaces of materials together. Sealants form a gasket between two surfaces but depend on mechanical fastenings to bind the materials together.
When used as gap-fillers in internal situations, some sealants have an adhesive effect. Selleys 'No More Gaps' and Fullers 'Fulacryl' are good examples, but the adhesive effect will only hold under a minimum of tension.
External sealants, especially those used in gutter and downpipe repairs, can be either gap-fillers or semi-liquid gaskets. Gutter repair sealants are gap fillers; Poly Flexiseal is an example of a gasket sealant.
