Patching pipe holes in the ceiling - getting rid of draft

Fwarder · 14-11-2025 10:04PM #1

hey guys,

I have these monumental holes in the ceiling leading to the attic.

I wanted to pick you brain as to what would be the best way of sealing them all up? PUR foam or a similar sealant? Some fire rated window and door sealant? Polyfilla 😅?

I'm not sure if there's some "industry standard" way of filling them up but the draft is actually mad so I'd like to get it done sooner rather than later.

I swear to God these old bungalows are money pits 💰

Lumen · 15-11-2025 12:49AM

The standard approach is grommets

https://www.partel.ie/kabseal-airtight-grommets-sleeves/

…but they're tricky to retrofit, they're supposed to be applied when the pipe/cable is initially installed.

For retrofitting to individual penetrations you can use flexible fabric or butyl air tightness tape.

That big bundle is going to be tricky though.

10-10-20 · 15-11-2025 09:51AM

PU foam was my treatment method for much of what I patched here. I dont feel too guilty about it in contact with wiring as its not known to react with PVC coatings, nor is it sufficient to cause concern due to the wiring passing through insulation as its only a matter of a few cms deep. You can get fire-rated PU foam too.

Fwarder · 15-11-2025 06:39PM

Thanks guys. I went to woodies and bought the soudal gap filling foam. It explicitly said that it was safe for wiring so hopefully it'll be alright 😅

And if the house goes on fire, a few holes filled with non-fire rated foam will be the least of my worries 😂🔥🚒

monseiur · 15-11-2025 09:10PM

Pack the attic insulation around/over ducts when you finish with filling foam. You should have at least 300 mmm insulation in attic.

Also check plug tops and light switches for draughts, a squirt of foam on top of conduit/trunking in attic (where it protrudes thru the ceiling) will solve this.

Fwarder · 16-11-2025 12:33AM

Thanks. It didn't occur to me that the sockets/switches could be drafty as well! While I'm at it, might as well check them 👍

DC999 · 24-11-2025 03:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123989398#Comment_123989398

+1. I had similar in the hot press and used air tight tape. Same in some other rooms where rad pipes and other wires are all using a single huge gap. No one can see it which is good as I needed lots of different angles to seal it off. Need to press it in well to get it to stay well stuck.

I never knew you could get pipe grommets. Good to know for single pipes.

Patching pipe holes in the ceiling - getting rid of draft

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