Expanding foam is magical stuff for sealing gaps and insulating hard-to reach areas. But it has unexpected uses too—it can protect fragile items and even replace concrete for setting posts. Here’s a rundown of various products and what they can do.
ALL-PURPOSE
This is the go-to foam for most jobs. Labeled to seal cracks and gaps 1 in. wide or less, it will fill larger gaps if you slow down and waggle the nozzle a bit. Or you can apply the foam in stages after each application cures. It sticks to just about anything and is suitable for interior and exterior use.
Like any other foam, it can be trimmed with a serrated knife after it cures. If it will be exposed to the elements, protect it with a coat of paint. A 16-oz. can of the cream-colored version costs about $4. In black, it costs about $8.
LATEX
DAPtex Plus is a minimally expanding latex foam that seals, insulates and waterproofs. Unlike polyurethane foams, it cleans up with water, which simplifies the job and lets you reuse the applicator. It doesn’t expand as much as polyurethane foams and takes longer to cure, and after curing, it remains flexible. It’s for interior and exterior use and costs about $7 for a 12-oz. can.
LARGE GAPS
This formula expands three times as much as conventional all-purpose foam, making it easier to fill gaps wider than 1 in. in a single pass. Monster-size gaps may still require several applications. $6 for a 12-oz. can.
FIRE BARRIER
Colored bright orange to increase visibility for code inspections, this formula sometimes includes a flame retardant. Otherwise, it performs just like standard foams, sealing gaps where pipes and wires penetrate the structure. In this way, it blocks the airflow that can feed flames. $8 for a 16-oz. can.
WINDOWS AND DOORS
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Denne historien er fra July - August 2019-utgaven av Family Handyman.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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7 Bicycle Maintenance Tips
Keep your bike in tiptop shape and ride safe!
SETTING FENCE POSTS WITH EXPANDING FOAM
Any fence builder knows you need strong posts for a strong fence, and that means backfilling the postholes with a dense, hard material other than dirt.
PEBBLE MOSAIC STEPPING STONES
COLLECT SOME RIVER ROCK AND MAKE YOUR OWN UNIQUE STEPPINGSTONE PATH
EARTH-FRIENDLY WEED KILLERS
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DIY! HYDROPONIC GARDEN
FRESH VEGETABLES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
GROW MINI VEGETABLES
GROW A GARDEN IN A TINY SPACE!
BUILD A VERTICAL GARDEN
TIME TO GROW UP!
MODERN WATER FOUNTAINS
A SPLASH OF PEACE FOR YOUR PATIO
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Every fully stocked wood shop has a table saw. You can usually find a pile of sawdust under it, even if it's used only occasionally. If a shop has a belt sander or band saw, there's probably another pile of finer sawdust under that. Even people without stationary tools have sawdust accumulation on their workbenches.
INSULATE WITH FOAM
IT'S A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO FIBERGLASS