Polyfilla vs plaster

[Lieutenant Scott]

Is there any point in polyfilla? Isn't plaster better?

[Roger Mills]

Horses for courses!

[Weatherlawyer]

For small patches it is easier to sand down polyfilla. Ideal for painters who need to get on with it. Plaster is cheaper but requires a lot of fettling and you never geta flush finish as it takes days to shrink. After wich it goes hard as stone.

[F Murtz]

Polyfilla is flexible, plaster is rigid and cracks easier

[Lieutenant Scott]

Depends on the polyfilla. I used some which requires the use of a belt sander to get anywhere at all. And I've gone through many sheets of sandpaper. It would be easier to sand rock. I suggest the "lightweight" polyfilla!

[Lieutenant Scott]

I see. Thanks.

[D.M.Chapman]

Eh? Pretty sure normal pollyfilla isn't flexible...

Darren

[Lieutenant Scott]

Relative to plaster I can believe it is.

[D.M.Chapman]

I've used easi-fill as a compromise before. It's like plaster in someways, but much easier to work with (even I can skim with this stuff :-)) and is sandable (well, much more than proper plaster) for the times it doesn't quite go so well :)

Not sure what the max depth is though.

[Andrew Gabriel]

In addition to the other points, finishing plaster has very little bonding capability, so you will need to use a bonding agent to make it stick.

Plaster isn't much good for tiny repairs (dries before it sets, doesn't bond to substrate, etc), where polyfilla works much better.

Plaster needs pressure to make a smooth surface, which isn't easy when you're doing a small repair flush with existing surface. Polyfilla just needs a wetted flat edge to make a smooth surface as it sets, without the pressure, so you can do it flush to existing.

[Charles]

And toupret is probably better than polyfilla. The question really is what do you want to do with either of them?

:-) Charles

[Martin Brown]

In a similar related vein what is the difference between the stuff sold as joint filler (for plasterboard joints) and classic polyfilla? The former smells to me like there is some active lime in it how does this help and are the two usable interchangeably?

I have some joint filler left over (and no polyfilla to hand).

Also what is the stuff that they used in Victorian/Edwardian houses that to all intents and purposes sets into a high density limestone almost a marble finish? The appearance is inbetween the two rocks.

[Weatherlawyer]

sander to get anywhere at all. =A0And I've gone through many sheets of san= dpaper. =A0It would be easier to sand rock. =A0I suggest the "lightweight" = polyfilla!

as for that nights dinner he cooked it.

k. He pulled one aside and asked, "Did I screw up the cooking?"

TROLL.

[Lieutenant Scott]

sander to get anywhere at all. And I've gone through many sheets of sandpaper. It would be easier to sand rock. I suggest the "lightweight" polyfilla!

For making a sensible suggestion about polyfilla? What the f*ck is wrong with you?