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the handymate range has been specially developed and formulated by Terraco, a leading producer of environmentally friendly finishing materials, for do-it-yourself (DIY) usage. we’ve taken our over 40 years of experience working with professional applicators across the globe and developed this range keeping the homeowner in mind and formulating the products with a focus on ease of use, versatility and durability.
short answer: handymate is better and easier to use.
long answer: thanks to the 40 plus years of experience of our research and development team, handymate products offer the best quality products at a highly cost effective price. handymate products are long lasting and offer the best solutions for a wide range of repair requirements.
generally, yes – but it’s always a good idea to check a small area for compatibility before applying on a larger surface.
once they have been applied and have fully-dried – all handymate products will perform in temperatures down to and below -20°c. but please keep in mind that some products are intended for interior applications and you should check the instructions to see that you are using an exterior grade product if you intend to apply it outside. remember to please follow the storage instructions on the pack.
if product has dried on your tools – soak them in hot, soapy water for ~15 mins and then remove. you might need some patience and to redo the procedure a couple of times.
if for some reason that doesn’t work you can also use a thinner / solvent to clean your tools but we would suggest this as a last resort and you should in this case carefully follow the thinner / solvent manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations.
it is always preferable to clean your tools and any areas not intended to be coated / repaired with water before the product dries.
handymate products should be stored in a cool, dry place and you should avoid exposing them to frost and extremes of temperature. once opened, packs may have limited storage life.
unfortunately it sounds like your handymate product may be past shelf-life and have gone off – check the expiry date on the packaging. remember to always store the products in a cool, dry place and avoid exposure to extremes of temperature. once opened, packs may have limited storage life. do not use products which smell bad.
if you have ready-mixed handymate products (sold in tubes or buckets) these are generally not intended to be frozen and may separate once thawed – but there’s no harm in trying. mix the products well for an extended period and visually check that the products are homogenous and creamy before attempting to use. try a small area to verify results before doing a larger application.
handymate multifill interior and handymate multifill exterior are dry-powder products and less sensitive to frost and freezing – so long as they have not been exposed to moisture as this would make the product set / cure.
product safety information is provided on the back of the product packaging – please check carefully before using the products. you can also find material safety data sheets (msds) for all products on www.handymate.com.
you should always use a dust mask and protect your eyes when mixing or sanding handymate products.
if you have sensitive skin, we recommend you wear gloves when using handymate products as some products may cause an allergic reaction. in any case, you should always wash your hands carefully with warm, soapy water if you get product on them.
if you have swallowed product – check the label of the product and then contact a doctor or poison centre immediately providing them with information on what has been ingested. bring the packaging / label with you if you can.
if you have gotten product into your eyes – check the label of the product and unless otherwise stated – flush eyes immediately / continuously with clean, warm (not hot), low-pressure fresh water for 15 mins checking every few minutes to see if the eyes have been thoroughly flushed out. remove contact lenses before flushing – make sure your hands are clean! avoid rubbing your eyes as this may make things worse. then contact a doctor or poison centre and seek further advice. bring the packaging / label with you if you can.
you can apply handymate deep-fill with a range of spatulas and trowels (steel, stainless steel, plastic) just make sure they are clean and rust-free and remember to clean them after use with water before the product dries.
no – there is no need for this.
we wouldn’t recommend using this product for this application.
if you are planning to use a water-based emulsion paint – you shouldn’t need to use a primer. check a small area before applying larger surfaces and if necessary, refer to the paint manufacturer’s recommendations.
yes – you can.
yes – handymate deep-fill is moisture resistant but should not be applied in permanently submerged surfaces such as a swimming pool or water tank.
yes – handymate deep-fill is designed to perform in exterior applications.
once dry, handymate deep-fill does not readily conduct electricity but while it is wet it will behave in a similar way to water with regards to conductivity. you should always take great care when working near any live electrical wires or cables and turn off the main breaker if needed.
you can use handymate deep-fill on interior and exterior surfaces made of plaster, gypsum board, and masonry in addition to many other types of common hard construction substrates.
you can email us at enquiries@handymate.com and our team will be able to assist you with this request.
yes – handymate flexible is moisture resistant and anti-fungal so it’s ideal for use in bathrooms and kitchens. remember to keep the applied product away from water until it is fully dry. remember to angle the applied product so that it sheds water and you avoid water pooling.
we would probably recommend using another product such as handymate genius but if you need a product that is permanently flexible then it’s suitable for use.
can I use handymate flexible filler in submerged applications such as a swimming pool or water tank?
no – handymate flexible filler is not intended to be used in permanently submerged applications.
yes – handymate flexible filler is paintable with any water-based emulsion paint. but keep in mind that if you are repairing or filling a live joint or crack that will continue to show movement – the paint may eventually crack on top of handymate flexible filler if it is less flexible than the handymate flexible filler.
yes – handymate flexible filler is ideally suited for this.
yes – handymate flexible filler is ideally suited for this. if you are filling around a bath we would recommend you fill the bath with water before applying handymate flexible filler and leave the water in until it is fully dry. this helps minimise the risk of debonding due to deflection in the bath when it is empty. remember to angle the applied product so that it sheds water and you avoid water pooling.
no – this product is not intended for use as a wallpaper adhesive.
yes – handymate flexible filler has good adhesion and can function as a skirting board adhesive where a light bond is required.
yes – handymate flexible filler is ideally suited for this.
handymate nail hole filler contains a specially formulated colour indicator which shows you when the product is ready to be painted. handymate nail hole filler is pink when wet and becomes white when it dries.
you can use handymate genius on interior and exterior surfaces made of plaster, gypsum board, and masonry in addition to many other types of common hard construction substrates.
yes – if you intend to paint it afterwards.
you can apply handymate genius with a range of tools including spatulas (steel, stainless steel, plastic etc) just make sure they are clean and rust-free and remember to clean them after use with water before the product dries.
no – handymate genius is not intended to be sanded. instead you should even / smooth handymate genius to your desired finish while it is wet.
handymate genius can tackle deeper holes with minimal shrink-back while handymate deep-fill gives a harder finish that can be drilled into when dry.
yes – handymate genius works well for nail hole repairs. but we also have a dedicated product, handymate nail hole filler.
yes, you can use for spot repairs of cracks – but remember handymate genius is not intended to be sanded after application so you need to achieve the desired finish while the product is wet.
if you intend to use a water-based emulsion paint, there is generally no need for a primer. check the paint manufacturer’s recommendations if required.
yes – but if you are planning to use something else than a water-based emulsion paint you should check the paint manufacturer’s recommendations in detail.
there is no need for this if you have achieved the desired level finish. if you want to skim a larger surface after repairing a hole with handymate genius, then you can use a finishing skim on top.
handymate multi-purpose filler is extremely versatile and can be used on interior & exterior surfaces made of plaster, gypsum board, and masonry in addition to many other types of common hard construction substrates.
you can apply handymate multi-purpose filler with a range of spatulas and trowels (steel, stainless steel, plastic) just make sure they are clean and rust-free and remember to clean them after use with water before the product dries.
handymate multi-purpose filler can be used both for interior and exterior applications. handymate genius is a lightweight product designed for larger repairs.
yes – handymate multi-purpose filler is ideal for smaller cracks and hole repairs. for larger nail holes we would recommend to use handymate nail hole filler.
you can use handymate multi-purpose filler for a wide variety of filling needs
if you are intending to apply a water-based emulsion there is no need to apply a primer.
yes – just make sure the product is dry first.
no – handymate multi-purpose filler is water resistant but will not function as a waterproofing barrier.
handymate nail hole filler is suitable for application on and repair of interior surfaces made of plaster, gypsum board, and masonry in addition to many other types of common hard construction substrates.
you can apply handymate nail hole filler with a range of spatulas and trowels (steel, stainless steel, plastic) just make sure they are clean and rust-free and remember to clean them after use with water before the product dries.
generally not but it will depend on what the surrounding area looks like (smooth or textured etc) – the handymate nail hole filler has been designed to provide a smooth finish ready for painting.
yes – but in this case we recommend you prime any exposed metal to avoid rust creeping through to the surface.
handymate nail hole filler is a light-weight product and is not intended to be drilled in. if you need a drillable repair – try handymate deep-fill.
yes you can – but handymate genius and handymate deep-fill are specially formulated for these types of repairs.
this is to prevent rust from creeping through to the surface at a later stage. if you are sure that the exposed nail / screw is made of stainless steel or is rust proof – you do not need to prime the metal.
no – not if you intend to use a water-based emulsion paint.