How to Fill Pipe Holes Under a Kitchen Sink
Home improvement or home improvement projects rarely involve solving one problem and then solving it. Instead, one thing often leads to another – either because in the process of fixing or installing something, you discover additional things that need to be addressed, or because the process required for the initial repair ultimately created a need for others.
One example of the latter is the plumbing under the sink. As Chris Desiel writes in an article for Hunker , when working in these areas, which are usually hidden from view, plumbers often create large holes for pipes with a rough cut, but do not necessarily take time to fill in the remaining gaps. once the job is done.
And while it may sound harmless (after all, who will see it?), These holes can cause you problems down the road, such as giving mice, insects, and cold air an easy route into your kitchen. Here’s how Desiel – a construction contractor and renovation professional – proposes filling those gaps.
Use aerosol foam
If you’re new to spray foam, Desiel says it’s “essentially liquefied polyurethane” that expands into curing foam and has the ability to completely fill gaps up to two inches wide (although sometimes more). It is also an insulator and good protection against pests.
Desielle explains that aerosol foam is relatively easy to use, but due to its ability to stick to anything it touches, it can also be quite difficult, especially as it is incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to remove. Solvents are not suitable for this, and if you come into contact with the skin, “mechanical removal will be required,” Desiel says.
Spray foam is usually available in 16-ounce aerosol cans with a removable tube for application. Here is Desiel to explain how to use it:
Slide the tubing over the nozzle, place the end of the tubing in the gap and pull the trigger. Fill the gaps about halfway and the foam will expand to complete the job. Keep a rag handy and cover the end of the tubing as soon as you finish spraying to prevent liquid from dripping to the bottom of the cabinet.
Other ways to fill holes under the sink
Although the foam spray method is simple, it is perhaps the ugliest. If that suits you (again, we’re talking about it under the sink), then by all means, go for it. But if you’re looking to list your home for sale, for example, and want something more appealing, Desiel has a few more suggestions .
The first is to use sealant to fill gaps less than 1/2 inch wide. He says that if you have holes that are wider, fill them with steel wool first and then seal it with sealant.
Another option (and most attractive of all) includes a patch, which Desiel describes as “a powder that hardens when you mix it with water.” Using a spatula, spread and level the mixture, then let it set for an hour. Then apply a coat of drywall sealant (which Desiel says is easier to sand). Finally, apply a coat of paint, leaving the holes out of sight and out of sight.