Knot Sealer or Filler- Which First?

[julesapple]

I had planned to do lots of sewing this week, but as the three day craft fair isn't happening, I've decided to finish my unpainted kitchen.

Some very dodgy builders (highly recommended by OH's uncle) came to install our new gas central heating last year. There were loads of copper pipes all over our kitchen walls as they couldn't recess them into the concrete blocks our walls are made of (don't ask, the house was built by a cheapskate) so I asked them to cover the pipes with a false wall of tongue & groove.

This they did, out of the cheapest knottiest softest pine you've ever seen. Now I want to paint it a beautiful duck egg shade of blue, but first I need to apply knot sealer. I'm going to apply it with a little roller as there are so many millions knots. I also need to fill cracks (where the cowboys/builders made a bodge) with flexible filler......

Can any wise DIYer's please advise me which do I do first, filler or sealer?

Jules

[TEB]

If it was me and I knew that the filler would accept the colour of the sealer when dried then I would fill and then stain, if the filler wont accept the sealer colour when dry I may try to colour the filler before applying.

[Pumpkin Becki]

If you've got big holes in the knots (where the centre has fallen out) fill those first with wood filler, then apply knottting (two coats), then I would use a decorators caulk to fill the cracks as this is much more controllable than a spread-on filler. Then use a 'bare wood' primer over the whole thing. You'll need at least two coats possibly three to cover the knotting (if its the dark brown kind) but this usually dries very quickly, and then you can apply your colour.

[Nicos]

i've used loads of decorators caulk- as Becki suggests- it's smooth/can be rubbed down easily and is flexible !
( we came back here with 10 tubes of the stuff ...and most of it's already gone!!)...you'll need to buy a gun for it unless you know someone you can borrow one from...not v expensive if you're using a few tubes. Seems to store well too

[julesapple]

Yay!

Turns out the tube of flexible filler my Dad gave me is indeed flexible decorator's caulk! And we have a 'mastick' gun thingy to use with the tube.

Great advice everyone, I won't have a wasted week now

Ok...off to gather tools whilst the sun doesn't shine...

Thanks

Jules

[Pumpkin Becki]

Great advice everyone, I won't have a wasted week now

Thanks

Jules

You're welcome Jules, we all accept chocolate as payment for our advice (just kidding!! )

[julesapple]

Ewww....

....the pale pine is nicotine yellow now...yuck! Will it give it a second coat shortly, then prime it after I've got the casserole on the go.

Hopefully, I can paint it tomorrow and the kitchen will look a lot better (not completely finshed, sadly) for my parent's arrival on Saturday evening. I hope my tin of paint is still ok, or I'll need to go get another one mixed up at B&Q.

Despite the cancelled fairs, I now have a sense of having achieved something this week! Hurrah!

Jules