Putty
Putty is a material used as a filler and sealant in the construction industry. It is traditionally made by mixing finely ground chalk (sometimes referred to as whiting) with linseed oil, kneaded to the consistency of dough. Putty is available in a range of colours and can be painted when dry.
Putty is highly plastic and is commonly used in traditional single glazing to seal panes of glass into timber frames. It can also be used as a general filler, and intumescent and plumbing versions are available.
Wall putty can be used to give a damp-resisting, smooth surface to walls prior to painting.
Pratley Putty is a strong epoxy adhesive putty originally developed as an insulator and adhesive for fixing brass terminals in cast iron junction boxes. It can be used for steel bonding.
Synthetic putty can be made using polybutene, and this and other fillers and sealants have largely replaced traditional putty.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Conservation in the age of the fourth (digital) industrial revolution.
Shaping the future of heritage
Embracing the evolution of economic thinking.
Ministers to unleash biggest building boom in half a century
50 major infrastructure projects, 5 billion for housing and 1.5 million homes.
RIBA Principal Designer Practice Note published
With key descriptions, best practice examples and FAQs, with supporting template resources.
Electrical businesses brace for project delays in 2025
BEB survey reveals over half worried about impact of delays.
Accelerating the remediation of buildings with unsafe cladding in England
The government publishes its Remediation Acceleration Plan.
Airtightness in raised access plenum floors
New testing guidance from BSRIA out now.
Picking up the hard hat on site or not
Common factors preventing workers using head protection and how to solve them.
Building trust with customers through endorsed trades
Commitment to quality demonstrated through government endorsed scheme.
New guidance for preparing structural submissions for Gateways 2 and 3
Published by the The Institution of Structural Engineers.
CIOB launches global mental health survey
To address the silent mental health crisis in construction.
New categories in sustainability, health and safety, and emerging talent.
Key takeaways from the BSRIA Briefing 2024
Not just waiting for Net Zero, but driving it.
The ISO answer to what is a digital twin
Talking about digital twins in a more consistent manner.
Top tips and risks to look out for.
New Code of Practice for fire and escape door hardware
Published by GAI and DHF.