The ultimate guide to choosing the best adhesive, epoxy, or filler for any space

Choosing the right adhesive comes down to the substrate, the jobsite conditions (such as wet surfaces or cold temperatures), the type of installation, and how much stress or movement the assembly will face, as well as how quickly the joint needs to be handled. This helps guide you to the right category for the job, from bonding and repair to surface prep and void filling, using the appropriate products for each.

Start with these checks, then go straight to the category that fits the job. It keeps you out of the weeds and cuts down on bad guesses.

Use these five checks to determine which adhesive category you’re in and what the job requires:

1. Substrate: porous or non-porous surfaces, including any mixed-material conditions.
2. Load and movement: shear and peel risk, vibration, and the amount of expected movement.
3. Environment: wet surfaces, cold application, and any exterior exposure.
4. Fit and gap type: repair voids, uneven substrates, and the gaps you are sealing.
5. Schedule: set and initial grab get you to handling strength; full cure carries the load. 

Use this when you are stuck between the three options:

• Tight wood joint and you can clamp it: pick wood glue.
• Uneven substrates, tricky installs, or early grab on a vertical surface: pick construction adhesive.
• Repair voids, mixed materials, and a cure you can sand or drill: pick epoxy.

If you want the longer breakdown on the difference, see construction adhesive vs. wood glue.

Use instant adhesives for tight-fitting repairs, not as your first choice for filling gaps, bonding larger irregular areas, repairing joints that need ongoing flexibility, or working with plastics you cannot identify.

Plastic is first an identification problem. Some hard-to-bond plastics like PE, PP, and PTFE need a system designed for them.

For hard-to-bond plastics, use LePage Super Glue All Plastics. For vertical control, LePage Super Glue Ultra Gel Control stays where you put it. For flexible plastics like vinyl, LePage Flexible Plastic Adhesive is built to flex with the repair.

Quick selector

• Installs, uneven substrates, wet grab: construction adhesive
• Tight wood joints, clamp workflow: wood glue
• Repairs, mixed materials, sandable fill: epoxy
• Finish-stage surface repair: spackling compound and fillers
• Air sealing and void fill: insulating foam

Construction adhesives are for installs where you need to supplement mechanical fastening, especially when the fit is not perfect. It helps bond common building materials, bridge minor gaps, and keep parts from shifting while the adhesive cures.

Use it when:

• Substrates are uneven, mixed, or cover large surface areas.
• You’re working vertically, and you want an early grab to cut bracing time.
• The jobsite is damp, or temperatures are low enough that you need a product built to handle it.

Avoid it when:

• You need a tight, clamp-driven wood joint.
• You need a repair that you can sand or drill after curing.

Failure often comes down to contact. If the bead pattern leaves voids or you don’t get pressure across the joint, the adhesive may not develop the intended bond.

Product picks and why:

• LePage PL Premium Max: Heavy-duty installs where you want long-term hold.
• LePage No More Nails Wet Grab: Wet surfaces and fast initial grab on vertical work to reduce temporary support.
• LePage PL Foam Subfloor Adhesive: Subfloors where gap fill and squeak reduction matter, and you want spec confidence with ASTM D3498-19.

Wood glue is for tight-fitting wood-to-wood joints where you can clamp and hold alignment. It bonds porous materials and supports a clean finishing sequence.

Use it when:

• The joint fits tight and you can clamp or hold it in place.
• You want a predictable squeeze-out for a clean finishing sequence.

Avoid it when:

• You are bridging gaps or bonding non-porous materials.
• You need to grip it without clamping or additional support.

Do not load the joint until it has cured.

Product pick and why:

• LePage Multi Purpose Wood Glue: A PVA adhesive for porous materials that delivers consistent wood bonding and handles freeze and thaw cycles on Canadian jobsites.

Epoxy is a two-part adhesive and repair fill for durable fixes, especially when you need bond strength plus repair fill in one product.

Spackling compound and fillers are for surface repair and finishing prep, not for bonding assemblies. They fill and smooth damage so paint goes on cleanly, or so a wood repair can be sanded and finished.

Use it when:

• You’re patching hairline cracks or small holes and need a fast paint-ready repair.
• You’re filling larger holes or cracks where depth and feathering matter.
• You’re correcting fine surface imperfections before finish coats.

Avoid it when:

• You need a structural bond or load-bearing hold.
• The repair area has to keep moving or flexing.

Thickness and timing matter with spackling compound and fillers. Heavy fills need proper dry time before sanding or coating.

Product picks and why:

• LePage Tinted Wood Filler: For wood repairs you’ll sand and finish, durable enough to drill or nail after curing.
• LePage Polyfilla 15 Minute Speed Dry: Small interior patches when you need fast dry time.
• LePage Polyfilla Spackling Big Hole Repair: Deeper holes up to 13 mm in one application, suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
• LePage Polyfilla Wall Paint Preparation: Extra-fine patching for a smooth, paint-ready surface.

If you’re buying for multiple jobs, check what’s stocked locally in the LePage Product Finder.

Insulating foam fills and seals gaps and cracks where air movement is the issue. It expands to close voids and cut drafts.

Use it when:

• You’re sealing gaps or cracks and need to stop drafts.
• You’re filling voids where insulation and air sealing are important.

Avoid it when:

• You need a structural bond or an installation hold.

Apply with expansion in mind. Installation foam expands to fill, so controlled application helps prevent overfill.

Product pick and why:

• LePage Tite Foam Gaps & Cracks: A polyurethane-based foam sealant that fills gaps up to 2.5 cm and is positioned for UV durability. 

What is the best adhesive for plastic?

You first want to identify the plastic. Hard-to-bond plastics like PE or PP often need a plastic-specific system. We covered the best super glue and the best adhesive for plastic earlier. Check it for a refresher.

What is the best super glue for jobsite repairs?

Super glue earns its keep on tight-fitting parts and small repairs where you need controlled placement, including vertical work. But it is a poor fit for filling gaps, covering broad irregular surface areas, or solving plastic-repair jobs that need a specialised system.

Epoxy vs. wood glue vs. construction adhesive: how to choose quickly?

• Tight wood joint and clamp available: wood glue.
• Install work, uneven substrates, or vertical grab: construction adhesive.
• Repair fill, mixed materials, or machinable cure: epoxy.

What changes in cold or wet conditions?

Cold and damp environments usually slow everything down, including cure speed and drying. Prioritize products built for wet surfaces or cold application, then choose by category: install adhesives for bonding, and foam for air sealing.