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How to patch holes on Hebel wall?

Hello, wanting some help as i've ran into issues. I've listed two photos below and one is beforehand (empty hole) which installing the supplied wall plugs on the box but drilled out the hole too big and now it doesnt sit properly. Tried to fill it with exterior liquid nails and install new ramset 12x60mm and let is set for a day. Tried installing bracket and hose reel back on and the top two bolts started to slide out very easily due to the whole being too big and even with the liquid nails being set. Out of ideas, do not want to fill it again and have the same issue. thinking of just moving the bracket higher so that it covers all the holes, but if i drill a hole just above or below the hole, would that area be "weak" due a hole being basically next to it? Ive installed the one at the back yard fine without issues. the panels are the hebel power panel XL

Items used:

1. Holman 20m Retractable Hose Reel with Spray Gun

2. Selleys 350g Liquid Nails Exterior

3. Ramset 12 x 60mm RamPlug Nylon Anchor - 5 Pack

4. Zenith M8 x 75mm Hot Dipped Galvanised Hex Head Coach Screw

Fixing to CSR Hebel Cladding.jpg

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Joison27. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about mounting a hose reel.

In this situation, the best option really is to move the hose reel mount so the new fixing holes are a reasonable distance away from the original failed ones. As a general rule, around 50mm or more away from the existing holes is sufficient. That gives you solid, uncompromised Hebel to anchor into and avoids relying on material that’s already been weakened.

Drilling new holes directly above, below or very close to the original holes isn’t recommended. Hebel is a lightweight aerated concrete, and once a hole has been over-sized or damaged, the surrounding area loses strength. Placing fixings too close together can cause the material between them to crumble or fail under load, especially with something like a hose reel that gets pulled on regularly.

Trying to re-pack the oversized holes with adhesive or filler and then re-fix into the same spot rarely works well in Hebel, as you’ve already found. Adhesives like Liquid Nails are not designed to rebuild the structural holding capacity of the panel for mechanical fixings.

So repositioning the bracket higher or lower is the right approach.

Bear in mind that hose reels apply a decent amount of force to the wall. I've come across fixings failing on concrete walls plenty of times, which are much harder than Hebel. If you continue to have issues, you might consider concreting in a timber post in front of the wall and attaching to that instead.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

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