The Best Filler For Walls & Ceilings

As any professional decorator will tell you, painting is just the final part of the decorating process. There is a huge amount of preparation work that needs to take place if you are to achieve the finish you are looking for, whether you are working inside or outside. Missing this step or using any filler you can get your hands on is a fast track to achieving a poor finish that you will have to rectify in the future.

What Is Filler For Walls?

Firstly, let's cover what exactly is filler. Wall filler is designed to repair any imperfection, cracks or holes that you want to get rid of, allowing you to have perfectly blemish free walls ready to paint. There are a number of types of wall filler, ranging from ready-mixed filler to multi-purpose filler. These are all designed to offer differing qualities so you have a long-term solution to any decorating problems, so it is hugely important to understand when to use each type of filler.

What Makes A Good Filler?

All fillers vary in terms of attributes as all surfaces have differing requirements, but generally speaking a good filler can be found by opting for a reputable, trade orientated brand. You can find filler in any high-street DIY store, but these are often poor quality. This is contrary to what many DIY'ers believe, as with all decorating equipment & supplies, it is tempting to opt for a cheaper option.

Unfortunately, achieving a long-lasting, attractive finish means that using good quality products is essential. Opting for a cheaper filler may result in very long waiting times, as they often dry much slower, or crumbling filler that will not leave a smooth surface. So, what is the best filler?

The Best Filler For Interior Walls & Ceilings

With an interior wall filler, there are a number of things you are looking for. It ideally must be fast drying, easy to sand down and not require any priming as the last thing you want is to have to spot prime a single part of the wall where you have filled. There are a number of excellent options, but a popular one is by high quality decorating sundries manufacturer Toupret, who have a classic interior filler that is ideal for use on interior walls. This is an extremely versatile filler that can be used on unpainted or painted surfaces such as plaster & only requires one coat filling.

A huge problem for any interior decorating project is to minimise 'flashing', which occurs when some patches of paint or filler are darker than others, resulting in an uneven finish. While some poor quality fillers can result in flashes on the wall, the Toupret classic filler will not flash, allowing you to achieve a smooth, even finish.

If you are a confident DIY'er, the powdered version is ideal for you, which can be mixed when required to the consistency you would like & will last longer than ready mixed filler. If you are less confident, the interior wall filler is also available in a ready mixed paste, making it our choice for the best ready mixed filler.

The Best Filler For Multiple Surfaces

Sometimes ordering a separate product for each project you have can be a pain. That is why a great option for anyone who has multiple projects is the multi-purpose filler from Toupret. The beauty of this product is that is it a 3-in-1 solution that can be used on most interior surfaces and can be used for taping and jointing plaster boards. It is also a slightly cheaper option than Toupret Classic Filler, which can save you money when carrying out a number of repairs. Bare in mind however that it does not come in ready mixed tubs.

The Best Filler For Exterior Walls

Cracks & holes don't only appear on interior walls. Often harsh weathering and moisture can result in cracks and damaged brickwork on exterior walls, which will require filling before painting. If this is not done, moisture would be able to travel inside the crack, which when frozen by cold conditions will expand, thus making the crack bigger and bigger. When looking for an exterior filler, durability is the main factor when deciding what the best wall filler is. Using a cheap exterior filler would be a big mistake, as it is only a matter of time until it fails, or paint can't properly adhere.

The Toupret Murex Filler is extremely durable thanks to it's Rock Hard Finish technology and will adhere to any exterior substrate. It can be coated using any water-based paint without the use of a stabilising solution and very importantly has no depth limit. This means that no matter you deep a crack, the filler is suitable which is a big plus! We'd highly recommend it for spot repairing any exterior walls before you undertake an exterior painting project.

How To Mix Filler

As we have mentioned, you can buy ready mixed filler, however some types of filler do not come ready mixed, which means it's important to know exactly how to mix filler. For this you will need a flat surface such as a large paint tub lid, and two filling knives.

Put roughly the amount you will need on the board and make a volcano shape with the filling knife, which will create a cup for the water to be poured into. Usually a filler will have a ratio of two parts filler to one part water, but check the instructions on the filler you are using. Gradually add the water to the filler, turning the mix over each time to ensure the moisture is evenly dispersed. Continue until you can make peaks with the filler.

How Do You Use Wall Filler?

Step 1

Firstly, identify what damage you are repairing. If it is a fine crack on an interior or exterior wall, then it is important to widen the crack before filling to give the filler a chance to repair the wall. Cut a 1/8-1/4 inch V-shaped notch into the crack using a utility knife.

Step 2

Once the hole is large enough to be filled, start by removing any loose material from the crack or hole using a scraper, as this the filler requires a solid foundation in order to repair the imperfection.

Step 3

If you are using a powdered filler, mix this according to the product instructions to a paste, ready to apply to the wall.

Step 4

Load some filler onto a filling knife and scrape it into the hole or crack at right-angles. Ensure that the filler is fully packed into the area and overflowing ready to sand down. Once done leave to dry completely. Do not rush this step as sanding down wet filler is not going to achieve a smooth, even finish.

Step 5

Sand the filler down using a fine-grained sheet of sandpaper & wipe down the dust left in order to leave the surface clean to paint. Any dust left at this point will prevent paint from adhering.

In summary, the best filler completely depends on your level of expertise & the surface you are treating. We hope this has answered any questions you may have had regarding the best filler for walls both inside and outside! Shop our range of paint, painting tools & decorating supplies we have in stock here at Painters World, all with FREE next working day delivery.