How to fix hole in planter?

[jottle]

 Hi, my planter has developed this hole. Is there anything it could use to patch it up? 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jottle. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about repairing a planter.

Is this damage something that’s just shown up by itself, or was it caused by an impact? If it’s started to crumble away on its own, that can be a sign the planter material is failing and may continue to break down over time, in which case patching will only be a temporary fix. If it’s more like impact damage, then you’ve got a better chance of repairing it. In that case, chip away any loose or weak material around the hole, then fill the area with a product like Builder’s bog. Once it’s fully cured, sand it smooth and give the whole planter a fresh coat of paint, such as Dulux Weathershield. That will not only disguise the repair but also help protect the surface going forward.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[jottle]

Thanks, Mitchell. The hole was cause by an impact, although there also other delicate areas on the planter where little cracks have developed over time. They are the Northcote planters and are made of fiber clay which is extremely brittle. Is there a product that could act more like a bandage that I could wrap around the planters to strengthen them? Like a version of a modroc bandage but waterproof? If not, I will give the Builders Bog a go. Thanks.

[MitchellMc]

Builder’s Bog is a good choice for filling those holes because it can be sanded smooth and flush with the existing surface, then painted over to match @jottle. Using any sort of “bandage” or wrap over the top tends to build up above the surface, leaving a noticeable lump that can look messy and distort the nice flat finish of the planter. If the damage continues, especially from impacts, another option is to attach a sheet of fibre cement to the front face of the planter. This can then be painted and will give a similar flat finish while being much more durable and less likely to crack from knocks.

Mitchell

[jottle]

Thanks for clarifying. I was looking at this product and wondered if this would be suitable for wrapping all the way around the planters to strengthen them. https://www.bunnings.com.au/builders-edge-50mm-x-20m-fibreglass-builders-joint-tape_p0730318 I'm not too worried about the surface being lumpy or messy. I'm more interested in finding something I can use that requires minimal tools. Thanks.

[MitchellMc]

I don’t believe that tape will give the planters the protection you’re after @jottle. Because it’s not a solid product, it won’t really prevent further impact damage. At best it might just hold the cracked section together. I get that you’re not too worried about the repair looking lumpy or messy, but wrapping fibreglass tape around the outside wouldn’t look great and probably wouldn’t add much strength.

If you’re after a straightforward repair with minimal tools, a better option would be to fix a piece of cement board over the damaged face. You’d only need a score-and-snap knife to cut it to size and a drill to screw it in place. That way, you’ll get a repair that looks tidier, adds real strength to the planter, and offers proper protection against knocks in the future.

Let me mention @Nailbag, @Ari and @AlanM52 to see if they have any thoughts.

Mitchell

[AlanM52]

Hi @jottle,

I would do the bog, sand and paint thing as @MitchellMc suggested.

Cheers

[Nailbag]

Hi @jottle 

The builders bog @MitchellMc suggests would be ideal for the exposed deep heshian area, and offers significant strength without the need for additional tape. However you will need to also remove the raised cracked sections which will be problematic in opening a can of worms.

With that in mind, I would go with his 2nd thought of laminating cement sheet in front with masonry liquid nails and heavy duty tape to secure it in place during the curing process.

The sheet will then need to be primed before applying your matching colour. I would use a broken section of the cracked area to take to the paint shop to have it matched.

This will provide the closest finish to your original undamaged planter box.

Nailbag

.