FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions at FibreGlassDIrect
8 Delivery
Delivery related queries for FibreGlassDirect. If you need to track a parcel or enquire about delivery times check out our FAQ guide.
Yes, we can arrange to have an invoice sent by our accounts department. Please fill in our short contact form with your details and a member of our team will respond without delay.
(Product Price + delivery) + VAT at 20% = total cost
The cost of the delivery is calculated according to the weight of the order, the delivery location and the classification of the order (non-hazardous, hazardous and limited quantity). All items are despatched by courier with the exception of small items (non-hazardous items), which are sent via Royal Mail. See the Shipping/Returns page for further information.
For all orders received, we will endeavour to dispatch your order by the following working day and delivered within 2-3 days. For urgent delivery assistance please contact a member of our sales team direct through email or phone.
Yes, as most of our products are classed as hazardous they must be signed for. The exception to this is if the customer specifically asks for the goods to be left at an alternative location when making an order which is at their own risk.
Currently, we only ship to Mainland UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. If you are looking for fibreglass materials to be shipped to other countries, please contact our team for a quote.
As our goods are considered hazardous, delivery costs overseas are often very expensive. If you prefer you can appoint a courier to collect the goods at any of our depots and arrange your own transportation.
To track your order, use our order tracking form and we will contact you as soon as possible with an update on your order.
17 Resin, Catalyst & Laminating
Commonly asked questions on the different types of resins on offer at FibreGlassDirect.
Generally speaking, for Polyester Resins, the mixing ratio is 2% i.e. 20ml for every 1kg of Resin in working conditions at room temperature. For the Water Clear Casting Polyester Resin, this drops to 1.5% or 15ml for every 1kg.
In colder working temperatures you may wish to increase the catalyst addition to 3% but definitely,... Read more
This depends on the temperature of your working conditions and how much catalyst has been incorporated into the mix. Warmer temperatures will reduce your curing time and colder temperatures will increase the length of cure.
Likewise, adding extra catalyst will speed up the curing process - often necessary for colder temperatures and reducing catalyst will reduce curing - again often necessary during warmer temperatures.
We would recommend mixing no more than 1.5 - 2kg at a time. Once the resin and catalyst are mixed, the curing process will begin and you are working... Read more
There are a couple of different options and finishes that you can opt for when skinning a kayak like this. First of all, you could use a layer of 450g fibreglass matting and Lloyd's approved resin. Once cured you could then apply a standard polyester topcoat. All of these materials are included with our Universal... Read more
We recommend that up to 10mm of Clear Resin should be poured at any one time before pouring the next layer. If doing multiple pours of clear casting resin, great care should be taken in regards to the heat that is generated with each pour. Before each pour, it is best to ensure the first pour has cooled (and is cool to the touch) before adding the next batch of resin.
Yes, all Resins, Topcoats and Gelcoats sold by FibreGlassDirect are supplied with sufficient catalyst.
We would recommend priming the lead with a G4 Damp Seal first. G4 should be thinly applied with a brush or roller and allowed to tack before applying the resin and chopped strand matting.
When it first comes it is fully sealed so you snap off the top. The outside is threaded so if you flip the cap you will see the threads are on the opposite side. The cap will screw back on then to re-seal.
Our Low-Cost General Purpose Resin is a re-blended resin which is suitable for non-critical DIY repairs (such as downpipe repairs etc.) Lloyds Approved Resin is a higher quality Polyester Resin which has been tested and approved by the Lloyds Register. It can be used for potable water storage projects, marine, pond and boat repairs. It is also WRAS Approved. Both are polyester resins.
For most resins, add 2% by weight, i.e. 1kg of resin requires 20g of Catalyst (based on room temperature). Alternatively, use our Materials Quantity Calculator For Clear Casting Resin the catalyst addition is 1%.
For colder conditions, more catalyst may need to be mixed into the resin to ensure a cure. In the winter months, our Roofing Kits will increase from 2% catalyst addition to 3%. Likewise, in warmer climates, less catalyst may be needed (or smaller batches mixed) as warmer temperatures will decrease the working times of your... Read more
Work out how much Glass you have by weight and multiply by 2.5. i.e. for 2kg of fibreglass mat, you will require 5kg of resin. Alternatively, use our Materials Quantity Calculator. Roofing applications may require more resin if the resin is applied to OSB3 boards as the boards will soak more resin. Our materials... Read more
8 Gelcoat / Topcoat
Understand the differences between Topcoat & Gelcoat, application details and characteristics.
Yes, our Polyester Topcoat is safe for use for Ponds. It is important to let the Styrene completely evaporate from the Topcoat before re-introducing the fish to the Pond.
The expected coverage of the Standard Polyester Topcoat and Gelcoat is 500g per square metre.
This depends on the type of mould you are trying to make (male or female). In this case, it sounds like you need a gelcoat rather than a topcoat. Please refer to our guide on making a mould which will detail the mould making process.
To answer this question in a lot of detail, we have created a comprehensive guide in our how-to section which is available to read on our website.
If the area has an old layer of Topcoat which you wish to refresh there is no need to prime the area with a product such as G4 for example. You will, however, need to sand down the area, wipe down with Acetone and reapply a new layer of Topcoat/GRP materials if required.
When applying a topcoat after laminating, apply between 500 and 550g per m². Alternatively, use our Materials Quantity Calculator. For Fibreglass Roofing applications, this should increase to 600g per m².
When applying Gelcoat to a mould, apply between 500 and 550g per m². Alternatively, use our Materials Quantity Calculator.
3 Fibreglass Pond Lining
If you are planning on lining a pond using fibreglass, check out our expert answers to frequently asked questions.
Yes, our Polyester Topcoat is safe for use for Ponds. It is important to let the Styrene completely evaporate from the Topcoat before re-introducing the fish to the Pond.
We have written down our top tips on adding a fibreglass lining to a concrete pond. These comprehensive guidelines will ensure you get the best results from your materials. Read about it here.
Use our pond calculator to calculate the surface area of your pond. You should then buy the next available size, so say for example your Pond Surface Area is 18m², you should buy a 20m² kit. For a full range of our Pond kits click here.
9 Fibreglass Roofing
All of your questions in relation to Fibreglass Roofing answered here at FibreGlassDirect. Expert answers on all aspects of application including trims, topcoat and the laminating process.
Quite simply put, it’s down to the quality of the materials. Our Fibreglass Roof Kits have been sold for 30 years throughout the UK and Ireland. We have only ever bought from trusted composite manufacturers who supply material that we have rigorously tested.
What is contained in the Fibreglass Roof Kits?
In our Roof Kits, you will never find a re-blended... Read more
Yes, a Fibreglass Roof can be walked on. Depending on the volume of foot traffic expected for the roof to take, this will determine the weight of matting that should be used in the construction of the roof. A roof with little to no foot traffic expected would suit 1 layer of 450g matting, a moderate level of foot traffic should use 1 layer of 600g matting and a balcony or a roof with regular foot traffic should use 2 layers of 450g matting. A non-slip Topcoat is also highly recommended for areas with foot traffic requirements.
In short, no. The deck would have to be sanded back to the fresh timber and wiped down with Acetone prior to any fibreglass application.
In this instance, a fibreglass roof kit may be used to complete the repair. The first step would be to sand back the exisiting surface to expose the fibreglass and then clean with acetone. Measure the amount of fibreglass mat you will need.
Cut your new fibreglass mat into strips of an appropriate width for covering over the cracks. Ensure there is an overlap of 50mm either side of the crack.
Apply a wet coat of resin to the surface and bed down the new matting. Ensure the glass is completely wet through with resin (it will go transparent).
Taking a paddle roller,... Read more
Before starting laminating, ensure that the weather conditions will be acceptable. Do not lay the roof if rain is forecasted. Temperatures should be at least 15°C to allow the resin to cure. If the temperature is too hot (over 25°C) the resin will cure too quickly.
- Sweep down the roof to remove any debris. We start by bandaging the joints, trims and corners.
- If you are not using T&G, the joints in the decking should be... Read more
7 Roofing Trims
Whilst we would recommend GRP Trims with a fibreglass roof (the fibreglass will bond better). If you decide to use lead or metal trims, ensure the lead or metal is clean and free from contaminants. Use G4 sealer when overlapping with the fibreglass.
- Sand an area of about 50mm around the crack using rough grit sandpaper to create a key. Clean down with acetone.
- Cut a piece of 450g chopped strand mat the same size as the area sanded. Cut a second piece of 450g chopped strand mat slightly smaller.
- Mix resin and catalyst. Brush on the resin to the area and apply the larger piece of glass. Applied more resin until the glass is fully wetted out. Apply the second layer of glass and wet out with resin using a brush. Allow the resin to cure.
- Once cured give the area a light sanding to remove any glass... Read more
It is recommended that 15mm galvanised clout nail is used or s/s staples that will sit flush with the roof.
Roof trims should be measured and cut to size with a 'snips' (to reduce dust). A dab of roofing adhesive should be applied to the batons to prevent rattling in the wind. Roof trims should then be either stapled with s/s staples of nailed using 15mm clout nails into place every 120-150mm. Where two trims have to be joined together, ensure an overlap of 50mm and apply roofing adhesive to seal.
A drip trim is placed at the lowest edge of the roof and is used to allow the water to runoff into a gutter. A raised edge trim is used to prevent the water runoff.
- A200 is a fascia trim for allowing drainage into a gutter. Compatible with C1 C2 and C4 corner trims
- B260 is a raised edge trim which prevents water runoff. Compatible with C1 C2 and C4 corner trims
- A200 and the B260 are compatible with each other
- A250 and B300 - A250 is a fascia trim for allowing drainage into a gutter & the B300 is a raised edge trim which prevents water runoff
10 Clear Casting Resin
Some of the answers to our best-selling Water Clear Casting Resin. Curing times, pours and characteristics.
There is a simple formula for calculating the volume for resin required. Simply multiply length (metres) x width (metres) x depth (millimetres).
In this case - 1.5 metres x 1.5 metres x 5mm = 11.25kg of resin. This method will work for epoxy and polyester calculations.
For river resin tables we would recommend our clear cast epoxy resin as this will be more durable and will have less... Read more
Yes, this Resin may be used for casting penneys onto a table. If using a glass table, great care should be taken with regards to the heat which is generated during the curing process to avoid any cracks in the glass. We recommend several pours, ensuring the previous pour is cool to the touch before adding the next pour. The resin will cure tacky, so once cured the top layer will need to be sanded back and compound paste used for shine. A clear lacquer may also be used to prevent scuffs and scratches. We have made a video detailing the process and it isRead more
No, unfortunately, this resin would not have enough scuff or scratch resistance to be used on a floor.
Yes, this resin is suitable for use with a silicone mould. If there is a lot of detail in the mould, you could use a CIL release spray if required before pouring the resin into the mould.
The Clear Casting Resin will not cure in a uniformed fashion. It will be tacky to the touch with ripples. To remove the tackiness of the cured Clear Casting Resin, you must sand back the top layer starting with a 240 grit sandpaper, working up through 400 to 600 until all bumps or ripples have been removed and the area is totally smooth. To get a shine, use a Farecla Compounding Paste.
Yes, the Water Clear Casting Polyester Resin may be used for making Canvas Micarta (knife handle). Once the resin has adequately cured it can be shaped as required.
Yes, the Polyester Clear Casting odour has a strong, solvent odour. Therefore, this resin is best used in a well, ventilated area.
We recommend that up to 10mm of Clear Resin should be poured at any one time before pouring the next layer. If doing multiple pours of clear casting resin, great care should be taken in regards to the heat that is generated with each pour. Before each pour, it is best to ensure the first pour has cooled (and is cool to the touch) before adding the next batch of resin.
