How to use a foam cylinder. Polyurethane foam without a gun, how to use, properties

From the article "Polyurethane foam: professional advice" you have already learned how to choose a quality product. The only thing left to do is to use it correctly. In this article, we will help you choose an assembly gun, we will show you how to use it economically and remove foam residues from your hands and clothes.

Despite the fact that mounting foam is in demand for arrangement and repair, do not forget that this is far from a universal insulating material. It all depends on the size of the gaps and voids that need to be filled:

· Small cracks up to 1 cm are best eliminated with sealants or fillers. They are more flexible and will not have the side effect of secondary expansion.

· It is recommended to fill holes more than 10 cm wide with static materials - bricks, wooden blocks or insulation (for example, foam), and only then additionally process them with polyurethane foam.

· For insulating medium-sized cracks, it is optimal to use polyurethane foam - household or professional.

Polyurethane foam sealant (polyurethane foam) has excellent adhesion to the vast majority of building materials, however, there are cases when it is useless: the foam will not stick to various types of polyethylene, Teflon, silicone, as well as to any greasy or dusty surfaces. These nuances must be taken into account in order to obtain effective insulation.

Foam with a straw - the threat of expansion

The main disadvantage of household foam with a straw is a significant secondary expansion. When hardening, it can increase several times, so it is extremely important to comply with all conditions of use.

The instructions for using household foam can be seen on the back of the cylinder, but we will consider it in more detail and step by step:

· Surface cleaning and preparation. Before applying the foam, it is necessary to carefully check all cracks and holes for small debris and, if necessary, degrease the surface with acetone.

· Moistening the surface. Polyurethane foam needs contact with humid air for hardening, so before using the spray, the surfaces must be moistened - a conventional spray gun is quite suitable for this purpose.

· Preparing the foam cylinder. A little trick - before using the foam, you need to hold it for several hours in water with a temperature of about 20 ° C - after such a procedure, it will lie down better. Before starting work, the can is shaken for a minute so that all the components are evenly mixed, this will ensure maximum foam yield.

· Attaching the tube or gun to the cylinder. The tube is simply screwed onto the valve, but with a pistol the situation is somewhat more complicated - we will consider the issue of its choice and use below.

Foam handling. According to the correct technology, polyurethane foam is applied in small sections (about 10 cm) from bottom to top - this helps to avoid unnecessary spread of the material. It is necessary to ensure that the gap is not filled by more than 50% - during hardening, the volume will increase greatly, which can lead to damage to the treated structure. It is extremely important not to touch the uncured foam - any physical impact and violation of the structure worsens solidification and negatively affects the volume and density.

It is necessary to ensure that the balloon is always in the upside down position to ensure the most complete consumption of foam.

Difficult moments:

Problem when using	How to solve
Foam opening more than 3 cm wide	Polyurethane foam must be applied in several steps, waiting for each of the layers to harden. Before reapplying the foam, it is imperative to moisten the hardened base.
Through slots	In no case should such holes be filled with foam from both sides - this can lead to severe deformation of the structure. Foam is used on one side only, the back is usually filled with silicone sealant.
Installation of door and window frames	To reduce the pressure on the structure, it is recommended to use dowels and additional spacers (they are removed after hardening). Otherwise, the foam, expanding, can fundamentally warp the frames of doors and windows.

A cylinder of household foam must be used completely, otherwise the composition will harden during storage and will be unusable. There are no such problems with professional foam, but there are some nuances.

Assembly gun: price or quality

A professional gun provides precise and metered application of polyurethane foam, reusable cylinder use and accuracy during work. There are many modifications of such a tool, however, the scheme of the device and the principle of operation are approximately the same:

· The tip of the gun - as a rule, its diameter is several times smaller than the diameter of the tube itself. This feature allows to increase the pressure at the exit of the foam many times, which, in turn, guarantees a good volume.

· The trunk (tube) is the channel through which the foam comes out. It can be one-piece or collapsible (two-piece), which simplifies instrument maintenance.

· Adapter - an adapter for connecting to the neck of the foam cylinder. Teflon coated in quality models.

· Adjustment unit - allows you to meter out the foam and its pressure.

· Attachment nut - with its help the barrel is attached to the handle. This design allows the tube to be removed for cleaning or replacement.

· The trigger - serves to adjust the supply of polyurethane foam.

· Handle - made of various types of plastic and metals. The most reliable and comfortable are aluminum handles.

The principle of operation of the assembly gun is based on simple mechanics: after attaching to the cylinder, the foam passes through the supply valve into the barrel, where it is until the trigger is pressed. Pulling the trigger opens the valve on the tip, releasing foam. The regulating mechanism allows you to control the volume of foam delivery.

Since there is nothing superfluous in the design of the pistol, choosing such a tool is quite simple. There are only a few factors to consider:

The quality of the materials from which the gun is made. It is best if it is made entirely of hard metals. There are high-quality plastic models, but this is very rare.

Collapsible design: Monolithic pistols are cheaper, but the price of a collapsible tool will pay off many times when cleaning and replacing parts.

Working pressure in the gun. This characteristic cannot be checked in the store, but there is a little trick. When buying a gun, immediately purchase a spray can of cleaner (it contains acetone). At home, you need to screw the pistol onto a bottle of cleaning liquid, pull it inside by pressing the trigger, then remove it and leave it for a couple of days. If, after this time, acetone is fired when the trigger is pulled, the pressure is normal. If not, you can return low-quality goods to the store, acetone does not leave any traces on the surface of the barrel.

Gun Foam - Professional Use for Beginners

With the right gun and related products (foam remover / cleaner and petroleum jelly) selected, you're ready to go.

Initial installation of the gun

To install the gun, it is necessary to unscrew the fastening screw all the way, lubricate the socket with technical Vaseline and secure the cylinder. It is important to ensure that the adjusting unit is at a minimum foam consumption. Then the cylinder is turned over to the working position (upside down) and the composition supply is regulated - a couple of test presses are made to release excess air and check the pressure.

The rules for applying the foam remain the same: in small stripes from bottom to top. However, professional foam has practically no secondary expansion, which greatly simplifies the calculation of the required volume. The main thing is to make sure that the cylinder is not in a horizontal position both during use and during breaks.

Replacing the foam cylinder

Before you put a new cylinder or put the gun in storage, you must thoroughly clean all surfaces from the remnants of old foam. For this purpose, a cleaner (wash) is used:

· to release the pressure, pull the trigger of the pistol;

· fix the bottle with the cleaner to the gun;

· turning the cylinder over, press the trigger for 10 seconds;

· repeat several times until clear liquid comes out of the tube;

· lubricate the gun parts with petroleum jelly.

When storing the assembly gun, it is necessary to repeat the lubrication procedure approximately once every one and a half to two months.

When working with foam, it is important to consider such points as its chemical composition and increased "stickiness" to different surfaces. Therefore, it is imperative to use protective equipment such as work suits and gloves.

Sweeping the traces

Polyurethane foam is one of the most difficult to remove materials: once it gets on fabric, leather or other surfaces, it is quite difficult to clean them. But it's worth a try.

Surface	Fresh foam	Cured foam
Hand skin	Gently removed with a sponge, residues are removed with improvised means - scrub, acetone, solvent, gasoline, saturated saline solution	It can only be removed mechanically. Usually loses its properties and falls off after 2-3 days
the cloth	It is collected with a stick, the remains are removed with a cleaner. Important! Stains may remain during fabric processing!	If possible, large pieces are cut off, and the remains are treated with a special solvent for cured foam, white spirit or gasoline. Remove stains that appear with stain removers
PVC (frames, window sills)	Carefully removed, the surface is wiped with a special cleaner for PVC	Carefully cut, the surface is wiped with a special cleaner for PVC (usually marked - for installing windows)
Floor covering (linoleum, laminate, parquet)	Remove foam with a spatula, collect the rest with a sponge and cleaner. Stains may appear! They are removed from wooden surfaces by grinding, while varnished coatings cannot be cleaned - they will have to be replaced.	After cutting off the foam, the residues are carefully dissolved with a special cleaner or the drug "Dimexid" (sold in pharmacies). It is necessary to work with such substances with gloves - strong components can cause burns!

As you already know, polyurethane foam is not intended for sealing holes smaller than 1 cm - it is better to fill such gaps with silicone sealants.

Alexander Birzhin, rmnt.ru

http://www.rmnt.ru/ - site RMNT.ru

In everyday life, the need for special tools does not always arise. If you suddenly need to repair the seal or the insulation in a small area, and you don't have a foam gun at hand, you can try to do without it. This will avoid unnecessary spending. However, you should first find out how the polyurethane foam will behave without a gun and how to use it correctly.

There are two classes of polyurethane foam:

• domestic;
• professional.

In terms of technical characteristics, both types of materials are similar, however, differences still exist. First of all, the volume of the cylinders should be noted. So, household foam is usually offered in small quantities (up to 800 ml). The kit includes a small section of a tube with a small cross section. The pressure level in the container is relatively low. This allows you to reduce material consumption in cases where you plan to use a can of polyurethane foam without a gun.

Professional material can be purchased in volumes from 1.5 liters, in addition, it is used for large-scale tasks: sealing the seams of window and door openings, sealing large gaps. The foam is contained under high pressure, so it is very difficult to apply it correctly without a gun. There is one more nuance. So, the outlet of a professional cylinder is equipped with a fastening element: a screw cap (bayonet). The pistol is positioned at this point.

Subtleties of application

First you need to determine what type of material to use: household, professional foam. If you plan to process a large area, you need to take into account the volume of the cylinder. Household products from some manufacturers sometimes differ in worse quality than their professional counterparts. For this reason, for more serious tasks, it is better to choose the latter option. Possible foam applications without a gun:

• Professional grade material is used, for which a tube is used. You should be prepared for the fact that under high pressure the foam will come out in excess.
• Household material is used by attaching a tube to the valve, which is complete with the cylinder.
• Professional foam is used by attaching two tubes of different sections: first a larger one, then a tube of a smaller diameter is inserted into it and well fixed. This will reduce material consumption.

Preparation for work

The site to be processed needs to be put in order. Having figured out how to work with polyurethane foam without a gun, perform simple manipulations:

1. Remove any dirt: dust, dirt. If the gap is rather large, it is pre-filled with foam, which will provide improved thermal insulation properties in this area and reduce foam consumption. Using a material such as foam, it is recommended to seal gaps no more than 8 cm in width.
2. The area is moistened with water, for which it is better to use a spray bottle, then the surface will be moistened evenly.
3. Control the environmental conditions. It is better to carry out the work at an air temperature of +5 to +20 degrees. The maximum upper limit is +30 degrees. But in cold conditions, a different type of foam is used - frost-resistant.

The procedure must be carried out in protective equipment. Gloves and glasses are usually sufficient.

Tip: If the material contains toluene, you should also wear a respirator.

Instructions for applying foam without a gun

The principle of performing work is the same as when using a special tool. If polyurethane foam will be used without a gun, how to use the supplied tube correctly? Step-by-step instruction:

It takes an average of 8 hours to completely solidify the foam. Do not worry if, after this period of time, swelling appears on the treated area. They can be cut off with a clerical knife or a regular sharp knife.

Tip: After drying and removing excess foam, be sure to cover it with a putty or other material, otherwise the composition will gradually collapse under the influence of sunlight.

Disadvantages of the no-gun foam application process

When deciding which method to choose, you need to take into account both positive and negative aspects in each of the cases. Of course, using a specialized tool greatly simplifies the task. But the sealing process with a tube without a gun has its drawbacks:

• Large consumption of material. It is necessary to control the intensity and duration of pressing the valve. Even so, significant pressure creates excess foam. As a result, the area requires 2-3 times more material, while professional foam is consumed less intensively. This factor determines the financial costs - they increase.
• If you plan to use professional foam, remember that it will not always be possible to install the tube. The balloon will simply not produce foam.
• Time wasted. It will take more time to hold the flexible tube in the correct position, and with it the cylinder valve. In addition, you need to remember about the need to constantly monitor the volume of foam that appears at the exit. If the use of a pistol makes it possible to complete the sealing in 10-15 seconds, self-processing without a specialized tool will take about 15 minutes.

There is one more nuance. So, disposable polyurethane foam should be purchased in the right amount, which will avoid unnecessary waste, otherwise the rest of the material will simply be thrown away. For this reason, it is sometimes easier to buy a small bottle and fill the cracks with foam using the supplied tube.

Polyurethane foam can be used as a sealant and thermal insulation material. It can be used when installing various window and door structures, when carrying out repairs of various types. With its help, the tightness of structures is restored, cracks and joints are closed.

Polyurethane foam is sold in aerosol cans, which must be shaken before use. Immediately after application, the substance begins to harden, as a result of which it turns into a yellowish material. The material is lightweight, has good thermal and sound insulation characteristics. Depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, the foam can be used indoors and outdoors.

Conventional polyurethane foam has a number of positive characteristics:

• Resistance to moisture, providing heat-insulating and sound-insulating properties.
• The possibility of using a sealant in the construction of electrical equipment due to low current conductivity.
• Resistance to fire (special fire-fighting types of polyurethane foam).
• A significant increase in volume immediately after leaving the can, filling in distant microcracks in hard-to-reach places.
• Possibility of gluing various homogeneous and dissimilar materials.
• Environmental friendliness, absence of toxic substances in the composition, chemical inertness.

Before using polyurethane foam and applying it on surfaces, it is recommended to check its performance characteristics on the packaging. Typically, the packaging contains data on the volume of the substance after leaving the container, the level of viscosity and other characteristics.

Release form

Manufacturers produce polyurethane foam in different forms and types. The choice will depend on the intended use and operating conditions of the sealant.

It is customary to distinguish:

• Professional polyurethane foam, which is made in special large cylinders that must be inserted into the gun to spray the substance. An economical consumption of sealant is ensured by the gun. Used by builders when carrying out a large amount of work.

• Household polyurethane foam, which is produced with a tube (with its help, cracks, joints, gaps are usually foamed). Designed for domestic use for minor repairs and gluing surfaces.

Also, the recommended temperature regime for using the sealant must be indicated on the spray foam can. Distinguish between summer, winter and universal (all-season) polyurethane foam. When buying, it is recommended to pay attention to the flammability class of the material (B1 - fire-resistant materials, B2 - self-extinguishing materials, B3 - combustible materials).

Scope of application of polyurethane foam

Conventional polyurethane foam cylinders, which are sold in hardware stores, find their application in the installation of door and window structures, as well as in the installation of electrical equipment and pipes.

The sealant has a sufficient level of thermal insulation characteristics so that it can be used to seal gaps and cracks in heating systems, defects in the roof threshold, as well as to provide partial insulation of ceiling, floor, wall structures and ceilings. Also, with its help, wall panels and polymer plates are often fixed to the rough surface, which allows for a decorative and waterproof function.

Polyurethane foam is used to treat the external surfaces of metal baths (made of steel or cast iron), which makes it possible to reduce the heat transfer of the metal.

If we talk about how to properly use polyurethane foam and how to work with it, then you need to clarify whether a gun is used or not. If it is planned to carry out a full-fledged repair in the house, then you will have to use both professional and household polyurethane foam for foaming joints, seams, gaps, installing windows and doors.

You can install the gun on a professional sealant as follows:

1. First, the container with the substance needs to be slightly warmed up in warm water up to 20-25 degrees. Then it must be shaken several times so that the substance becomes as homogeneous as possible, comes out of the can smoothly and easily.
2. In the upper part of the pistol, it is necessary to remove the protective cover, then turn it with the handle down and twist the sealant cartridge. It must be screwed in until the characteristic hiss appears, which will indicate the beginning of the flow of the substance into the pistol.
3. If the pistol is not new and has already been in use, then it is necessary to inspect it before screwing in the can, so that it is well washed. If after screwing in the hiss does not appear, then the gun is dirty and you need to buy a new one.
4. Before starting work with polyurethane foam, according to the rules, shake the gun with the cylinder again, turn the adjusting screw вин turn and, holding the trigger, start processing.

To work with a pistol, there is no need to have any skills and abilities in the field of construction and installation work. The work is usually performed in the following sequence:

1. The first step is to clean the surface where the sealant will be applied from contamination, and then moisten with water from a spray bottle to ensure good adhesion.

4. If the surface to be treated is wide, fill it with zigzag movements, but no more than 1/3 of the volume, because the foam will increase in size.

5.If there are any unprocessed areas, you can fill them later.

If it is necessary to carry out processing in remote areas, it is recommended to additionally buy a special extension hose, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to foam hard-to-reach places with polyurethane foam without using it.

The can usually indicates how long it takes for the composition to harden. Despite the instructions, it is recommended to wait 10-12 hours. Once the sealant has completely hardened, you can remove the excess with a knife or saw.

When using household sealant, a pistol is not provided. It's okay if the polyurethane foam is without a gun, since you can use it with a straw. The tube is made of polymer materials - you just need to put it on the adapter. The work is carried out in the same sequence as in the case of the pistol, but when using the tube, more effort will have to be applied.

You can easily use polyurethane foam without a gun, if there is a corresponding tube. But in hardware stores, the sealant can be sold without a tube (cheap models), so you will have to buy it separately. You should also pay special attention to this when choosing a suitable polyurethane foam.

The use of a tube is relevant if a small amount of work is expected to be performed. It is recommended to use polyurethane foam with a straw if you need to fill joints, gaps, seams, glue various materials. Household sealant is rarely used in the construction of door and window structures, when treating large surfaces. For thermal insulation and sound insulation, professional counterparts should also be chosen.

In the video: Using polyurethane foam without a gun.

Cons of applying polyurethane foam without using a gun

The use of a pistol when applying a sealant is a guarantee of a uniform release of material from the container, the possibility of saving substances, and full control over the surface treatment.

If ordinary household polyurethane foam is used in packaging with a tube, then the workflow will have certain disadvantages. The most notable ones are:

1. Substantial consumption of sealant. The overrun occurs because the user must control the intensity and duration of pressing the valve. For a long time, this is quite difficult to do, therefore, almost always when processing with a tube, an excess volume of polyurethane foam appears, which leads to a significant overrun. A professional sealant using a pistol is usually consumed 1.5-2 times slower. This leads to small, but noticeable financial costs (especially if a large amount of work is expected to be carried out).
2. If a professional sealant was purchased, then there is a high probability that using an ordinary tube that is suitable for household polyurethane foam will most likely not work. The can simply won't dispense sealant. This point must be clarified during the purchase of the material.
3. It is much more difficult to use polyurethane foam without a gun than with it. The tubing is made of polymer material, so it is flexible - more difficult to hold in position for a longer period than a gun.

At the same time, there is no point in acquiring professional polyurethane foam, a gun for its application, if it is supposed to carry out small repairs: to fill in the gaps, to seal up the joints and cracks between the plates, in the thermal insulation material. In this case, you need to buy a household sealant with a tube, use it once and throw it away.

For home and household repair work, one can of polyurethane foam is enough. If all work has been completed, then the cylinder is usually thrown away as unnecessary, because after opening the substance has a limited shelf life.

Manufacturers of household polyurethane foam note that their products are designed for single use. Therefore, if a few months after the first use the sealant in the cylinder has frozen, you need to understand that this is a completely natural process.

You can give the following advice to those people who are working with polyurethane foam for the first time:

1. Before starting work, it is recommended to first prepare a spray bottle with water and a knife to remove excess sealant (this is done after the applied composition has solidified).
2. It is also recommended to stock up on a regular sponge and acetone (or a similar solvent) in advance. They will be required if you need to wipe off sealant that accidentally gets on other surfaces (for example, on the floor or on clothing).
3. You should not try to remove excess polyurethane foam immediately after application - this should be done approximately 8-10 hours after processing. During this period, the sealant will harden, so it can be easily cut with a sharp knife or hacksaw.
4. If wallpaper has not been glued in the room, then it is strongly recommended to carry out work on applying polyurethane foam (regardless of the amount of sprayed material), systematically ventilating the room.
5. If, during the application process, the sealant begins to gradually darken, then this will indicate that the substance is under the influence of ultraviolet radiation (direct sunlight). This should be excluded when carrying out work.
6. It is strictly forbidden to treat surfaces with polyurethane foam if they are located in the immediate vicinity of open flames or incandescent objects. Regardless of the type, the sealant almost always contains flammable substances in its composition, which, in an uncured state, are quite capable of flaring up if suddenly exposed to an open flame.
7. Before starting work, it is necessary to clean the treated surface as thoroughly as possible. If it is dirty and greasy, then the polyurethane foam will not correspond to the characteristics indicated on the package during operation.

Can you use a polyurethane foam cylinder several times?

On the Internet, you can find information that professional foam can be used repeatedly, while household models are suitable only for single use.

This is a common misconception, because if you use household foam, you can clean the nozzle after using it, remove the tube and block the outlet for the substance. To be able to reuse the sealant, it is recommended to do everything in the following sequence:

1. It is necessary to slightly release the foam from the can, and, letting it come out, bend and tighten the tube with a metal wire. At the end of the tube, the sealant will begin to solidify, but the presence of a fold will not allow the entire volume of the substance that remains in the cylinder to solidify.
2. With the subsequent application of polyurethane foam, you just need to cut off the part of the tube with the solidified substance and continue to treat the gaps and seams with sealant.

It should be borne in mind that you can store a sealant bottle in this way for 2-3 weeks and no more. After several months of storage, the substance will almost completely harden and harden inside the package, so it will not be possible to use it again.

Can expired polyurethane foam be used?

Regardless of the type of sealant chosen, the shelf life of the substance usually does not exceed 1-1.5 years from the date of production. At the same time, if during its use a delay of several days or weeks was found, then you should not curtail the work - most likely, the polyurethane foam has not lost its main working and operational characteristics.

If the expiration date is significantly exceeded, it is strongly discouraged to use a sealant, even for minor household repairs (especially for installing windows or doors). This is due to the fact that at the end of the expiration date, the sealant begins to rapidly lose its basic properties, so anything can happen when the package is opened.

Terms of use of polyurethane foam after application

Leading manufacturers of sealants declare that high-quality polyurethane foam, which was applied to the surface in accordance with all the rules, is protected from ultraviolet exposure and moisture, and is capable of performing all its functions for 10-20 years.

If the applied substance is in negative operating conditions: outdoors, in direct sunlight, rain, snow, etc., then the service life of the sealant is reduced to 2-3 years (even in cases where moisture-resistant compounds were applied).

Conclusion

Professional and household polyurethane foam - both materials have a right to exist, because they usually have different areas and features of use. For small home repairs, household models with a tube for applying the substance are quite suitable, and for bulk work it is best to buy professional sealants and a gun. Construction and installation skills are not required for surface treatment using polyurethane foam from a tube or a gun.

Polyurethane-based polyurethane foam is indispensable for sealing cracks, holes, joints, heat and sound insulation, as well as for gluing various surfaces. It does not apply to surfaces made of polypropylene, polyethylene, Teflon, silicone and wax. To understand how to use polyurethane foam, it is enough to learn the rules.

Assortment for choosing a worthy option

Two types of polyurethane foam - semi-professional (household) and professional (pistol). Depending on the temperature conditions, winter, summer or off-season are selected.

For a small amount of simple work, a relatively cheap household one is suitable. It is sold together with a plastic tube, the outlet volume is smaller and is intended for single use, since after opening the cylinder, its contents dry out within 24 hours.

Household

More expensive professional assembly mixture is sold complete with a special gun. It is reusable and precisely controls the volume of sealant delivered.

Sealant with gun

Quality pistols are made of metal and are completely collapsible. By turning the adjusting screw located on the handle clockwise, the thickness of the supplied jet is decreased, counterclockwise - it is increased.

The device of a special gun for polyurethane foam

This point is important because the optimal diameter of one applied layer after hardening is in the region of 3 cm.If a space of a larger volume is filled, then the sealant is applied in two or three layers with breaks for drying each of the applied layers.

They take into account the fact that professional sealant gives less shrinkage compared to household .

Preparatory stage

In order for the use of assembly sealant to give effect, preliminary preparation is carried out, which includes the following:

• Surfaces are cleaned of dust and debris before applying sealant to them. If necessary, degrease with acetone or solvent.
• For good interaction of the sealant with the surface, the latter is abundantly moistened, but at the same time it is made sure that no drops of moisture form on the surface to be treated.
• The temperature of the cylinder is adapted to the temperature of the room in which the finishing is carried out. To speed up this process, if the balloon is brought from the cold, it is placed in warm water for an hour and a half.
• Before use, the can is shaken vigorously 20-30 times to mix the components of the sealant. Then remove the protective cap and screw the tube to it, and if it is a professional compound, screw the cylinder to the gun. Make sure that at the time of installation, the tube or nozzle of the gun is not facing towards people nearby.
• Wear a work suit, protective gloves and goggles.

Preparation for work with polyurethane foam

When working with a professional compound that is used in a set with a gun, before proceeding with sealing, regulate the supply of sealant. The jet is adjusted during use by changing the force of pressing the cap at the base of the tube.

Hardening occurs at temperatures from +5 to + 35 ° C, air humidity of at least 60%. When working in a cold or dry space, hardening occurs if there are special additives in the composition. In this case, the sealant will harden at an air temperature of -10, or in conditions where the air humidity reaches only 35%.

Rules and techniques for working with foam

To understand how to properly use foam, you need to remember the rules.

Polyurethane foam is applied in measured, smooth movements from left to right and from bottom to top. The openings are not completely filled, but by about half or by one third, depending on the degree of shrinkage.

The length of one applied strip does not exceed 10 centimeters. During operation, the balloon is held vertically with the bottom up. In the case when work is performed on the ceiling, which causes difficulty in observing the last rule, they buy a special composition that works in any position. Another solution to this problem is that the nozzle of the gun or the main tube is lengthened using flexible pipes so that the inverted cylinder does not rest against the ceiling during operation. If necessary, it is better to start work from the ceiling, since the pressure in the cylinder is as high as possible.

Sealing cracks with a gun

During hardening, the polyurethane foam begins to exert pressure on the adjacent surfaces, which causes their deformation. Therefore, if it is necessary to fill the gaps on both sides, as when installing doors, windows, the assembly mixture is used on one side. On the other, the slit is filled with a silicone compound.

At the time of applying the polyurethane foam to the surfaces to be treated, make sure that the tip of the tube or gun is constantly inside the foam itself. Periodically remove the material adhering to the gun nozzle using a cloth soaked in acetone or solvent. With a long period of operation, the balloon is periodically shaken. For deep seams, extension adapters are used.

Completion of work

It is important not only to know how to use polyurethane foam, but also how to properly complete such work. Wait until the sealant has completely hardened. This usually happens within 6-12 hours. At the same time, it is undesirable to touch the assembly mixture, as this will disrupt the structure of the material. After that, the excess formations are carefully cut off with a sharp knife or hacksaw for metal.

Removing excess foam with a sharp knife

Although cured polyurethane foam can withstand temperature extremes from -40 to + 90 ° C, it is sensitive to UV radiation. To neutralize this factor, the surplus that is under such influence is covered with a layer of plaster, covered with cement mortar, painted or sewn up with platbands.

The video demonstrates the stages of working with foam and how the gun is cleaned:

After using professional foam, clean the gun inside and out. For this, a special flushing fluid is purchased with the gun. The remains of the material that have got on the hands are washed off with a solvent. It is better to remove foam residues from surfaces immediately with a sponge dipped in solvent or acetone. If the foam has already hardened, it is removed mechanically.

When applying these simple rules, self-sealing of all kinds of seams and cracks, isolation of the distribution network and other things will not be difficult, even for someone who has never done this before.

Such sealing is effective for spaces from 1 to 8 cm, no more. Smaller slots are sealed with ordinary putty, and for larger ones, additional static materials are laid inside the empty space - polystyrene, wooden blocks or bricks.

In contact with

The question of how to use polyurethane foam, sooner or later, may become relevant for you. First of all, such a moment is brewing if you are starting to renovate an old one or build a new one. It is during this period of time that the real need to close up joints and cracks most often appears. And with them the best way will cope - yes, that's right, polyurethane foam.

This sealant is one of the most sought-after types of sealant available. It is the foam that will allow you to process high-quality seams and various joints, whose width is more than three centimeters. The material, so much needed in everyday life, is sold in metal aerosol spray cans, it has a rather small weight, but, despite this, its concentration is very high. So, from one cylinder, more than 40 liters of foam are obtained for filling joints and crevices. Using video tutorials, you can learn how to properly use the foam assistant during installation work in your home and not have problems with drafts.

When starting to work with this substance, remember that it hardens very quickly under the influence of moisture and at the same time it very much increases in volume after using the cartridge. The resulting porous substance has excellent thermal insulation properties. Along with this, given the possibility of a long service life of this material, it is clear why polyurethane foam is recognized as an indispensable assistant in construction and repair. It is the polyurethane foam that will allow you to seal the seams, glue certain structural parts, successfully fix the joints and, which is important, provide these places with heat and sound insulation.

Such a miracle solution is subdivided into several types - there are semi-professional and professional (pistol), it is winter, summer and for all seasons. Such a convenient design was not invented by chance - it is easy to displace polyurethane foam from cylinders using a special gas. So the liquid polymer on the surface to be coated successfully solidifies and forms a rigid frame (polyurethane foam).

So, it makes sense to choose a miracle foam in a store for its main properties - thermal insulation, sound insulation, ease of installation, the ability to connect, fasten and glue various parts. At the same time, given the ability to expand, the polyurethane foam successfully fills in hard-to-reach joints and seams, and when it solidifies itself, it does not require special attention to itself in the future. Previously, only cement mortar could replace foam in this field, but its preparation is a more laborious process than working with an aerosol can. Therefore, choosing convenience and simplicity, many people prefer polyurethane foam. Moreover, it is successfully combined in work with stone, and with concrete, and with wood, and with metal, and with plaster, and glass.

The use of polyurethane foam is not a laborious process at all. It is convenient and simple. However, you need to know certain details in order not to screw it up.

Firstly, installation work is best done during the warm season. From mid-spring to mid-autumn. The optimum temperature outside the window for such manipulations is from plus 5 to plus 30 degrees. Experts guarantee that this is where the curing process works best. If you really can't wait to do this kind of thing in the winter, there are seasonal winter foams for this.

Second, do not handle this substance without gloves. This is often neglected by workers. However, such connivance is quite dangerous.

Third, do not try to use the substance wherever you please. If you are going to fill a gap from 1 to 8 cm wide, the use of foam is allowed and encouraged. But if the size of the gap is much larger, then it is better to take materials such as wood or plastic, you can use brick or foam. And if at all less than a centimeter, you can do with putty. And do not forget - after sealing your cracks, you need to cut off excess foam (it is not recommended to tear off with your hands).

Fourth, it is advisable to treat the cavity with water before using the foam. Then, with appropriate air humidity, the expansion and solidification of the foam will be much faster and more correct. The humidity of the air for polymerization is sufficient in the range of 60–80 percent.

Fifth, the can with foam must be shaken well before use. And this should be done not for a couple of seconds, but for about a minute. This time will be enough for the contents in the container to become a completely homogeneous mass.

So, the can is in your hands. You have previously shaken the mixture and now you can remove the cap. After screwing the existing installed tube onto the adapter, the cylinder should be turned upside down. This is how it is used during installation work. Such a nuance is important due to the fact that the gas that displaces the polyurethane foam is much lighter than the other components and when the cylinder is placed upside down, all the components of the mixture mix better.

You can now safely apply the foam. Given the fact that it increases in volume, it is necessary to close the slots by no more than a third. The volume will increase by 2-3 times in a short period of time, and then you can trim off the excess (it is better to do this with a sharp, long-handled knife). If you need to apply foam not horizontally, but vertically, then you should fill it from the bottom up - this is more convenient for you, and foam (a base will appear on which the not yet solidified sealant can fix).

It will be necessary to sprinkle with water not only cracks, but also foam after application. So the solidification process will be faster. If you see that you did not have enough foam, wait about half an hour for the previous layer to harden, and you can add a little foam to the same areas. However, do not overdo it - you will not need too much anyway.

The applied layer of foam at a time should not exceed three to four centimeters, and if the gap or cavity is still larger, then the foam is applied sequentially in layers - one after the other.

After application, the foam will harden completely after 8 hours. So do not try to start subsequent work (rearranging furniture, gluing wallpaper, nailing shelves) on this area immediately. Moreover, after drying and removing the excess, the joints must be treated with a protective material (it is better to do this with putty, plaster, paint or cement). You can also use a special silicone sealant as a protective layer. A polyurethane sealing tape will also help for these purposes. This will not only protect the foam from exposure to ultraviolet rays, but also increase the service life. After processing, it is possible to use and, as well as move on in the realization of your fantasies.

Your foam should be flexible and adhere well to the surface. It will also be said about its quality that after shrinkage, having completely solidified, it will not crumble. Do not add additional work for yourself - until the final hardening, it is impossible to touch and process the polyurethane foam, so as not to change the very structure of the material and interfere with the polymerization process.

If the material meets the existing standards, then you will be satisfied with the quality. This means that you will not need to redo the work done. Just keep in mind that different manufacturers offer cans with different foam output volumes. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy an expensive aerosol can that will cover all your joints than buying two cheaper ones.

When buying polyurethane foam, remember - the cylinder is designed for single use only. So don't try to split it in half. It is not difficult to calculate the volume if you have already had experience with such material. If not, it is better to consult with those who work in the construction industry or with the seller in the store. It is allowed to reuse the same bottle only if you are going to "repeat the maneuver" in the near future. Then at the end of the first stage of work, you need to rinse the tube (gun) and the valve with a special cleaning liquid. However, the workers on the sites often do not.

Useful tips and secrets of working with the material:

• Prepare a water spray and a pruning knife in advance.
• It's good if you have a soft sponge and acetone under your hands - they help wipe off the foam that has adhered in unnecessary places.
• If you use foam sparingly, you can get by with fewer cans.
• It is better to carry out surface treatment (cutting with a knife) after applying the foam after about 4 hours have passed - after 7-8 hours the foam will completely harden and it will be much more difficult to cope with it.
• Use a respirator (protect your body from unnecessary chemicals). It would be great if glasses and gloves were also available.
• Ventilate the room (unless, of course, in the same room you just decided to do it).
• Do not wait for the foam to darken - a change in color is already an indicator that a reaction is underway and a process of exposure to ultraviolet rays (initially it is light yellow).
• Do not use a cylinder near a fire and do not leave it in direct sunlight (this is a well-known rule, nevertheless, many do not follow it and risk facing the consequences of a fire and arriving firefighters in the future). Indeed, the composition of this polyurethane foam sealant contains various flammable materials that can lead to undesirable consequences. Your foam can be one of three classes - fireproof, self-extinguishing, or flammable (it's best to find out in advance).
• Problems can also arise if the foam is applied to a dirty surface (for example, when using such materials, window frames are cleaned with a vacuum cleaner).

The viscosity of the product may not correspond to the standards if the foam cylinder was at temperatures below plus 5. The required consistency will be violated even when the air temperature rises to 30-35 degrees (only all-weather foam can operate at temperatures from minus 10 to plus 40 degrees) ...

So if you have taken into account all the tips and secrets indicated here, you can safely proceed to sealing window, door blocks or other structures with mounting foam in the rooms of a house or apartment. Also, with the help of this material, it will be easier for you to cope with the insulation of the distribution network and with the sealing of different widths of seams and cracks, and in addition, your assistant - foam will help you easily and simply fill unnecessary voids in the walls. So dare and good luck with your repair!