How to use mounting foam without a gun. How to use polyurethane foam How to replace a tube on polyurethane foam

Mounting foam was invented almost a hundred years ago. Initially, it was used in the form of a fairly large slab, and after 20 years they learned how to produce foam in special aerosol cans. The first foam cylinder that was used during construction was made in England and used in Sweden.

To date, polyurethane foam is available in two types of cylinders. One is intended for professional construction and is designed for the use of a gun. The second type - can be used at home for one-time work. I would like to talk more about how to use mounting foam without a pistol.

If a gun is not provided for the cylinder, then instead of it a special tube must be screwed onto the adapter. Then you can start using it for its intended purpose. Such a cylinder is not always convenient to use, but it is great for one-time use. This perfect option in that situation, if you need to close up small seams and so on.

It is worth noting the important fact that if you use mounting foam without a gun, then in such a situation it must be applied all at once. Otherwise, you will have to throw away what you didn't use. In order to find out exactly how you can use this building material - watch the video on our website. They will tell you in detail about all the intricacies of its application, which will allow even a beginner in this business to skillfully use this type of material.

Types of mounting foam and their application

It can be found on sale in small cylinders that are filled with either propellant or pre-polymore. Due to the sufficiently high humidity, the composition gradually becomes solid, and its structure becomes quite rigid.

To date, there are only two types of mounting foam, which can be found in any store that specializes in construction.

1. Foam for professional use. It is sold in cylinders of a sufficiently large size, where you can accommodate more than one and a half liters. Such foam comes out of the package under a sufficiently high pressure and in some cases can be sold complete with tubes (they are used for manual use). It would be unwise to take this type of foam without a gun, because due to the high pressure you will spend too much foam.
2. Mounting foam, which is used in everyday life, is sold in small bottles, which have half the volume - 600-800 ml, a special tube is also sold with a foam bottle. She has the same specifications as for professional use. It is worth noting that a cylinder of this size can also be used with a pistol. Foam of the second type, as a rule, is used to fill in some minor depressions or seams. Its cost is much lower than professional, although the volume is several times less.

Polyurethane foam is widely used in construction for a variety of purposes. Most often it is used in order to be able to reduce the noise level. The construction material is ideal for soundproofing. In order to achieve a positive result, it is enough to fill with foam the places where the pipes and all the holes that are in the walls come into contact (for details, see the video).

If, for example, there are cracks in the roof, then they can be perfectly sealed by using mounting foam. The same can be done with windows or door frames, cold rooms and voids, which are often observed directly around the pipes.

What is polyurethane foam and its features video

Recently, it has even been used to glue together various kinds of elements. It perfectly and reliably glues the most different materials And over time, they do not peel off, they hold quite firmly. In order to perform these types of work, you can use both professional foam and for domestic use. It is worth noting that before using mounting foam without a gun, you need to know and train, after all, than with a tube.

Step-by-step instructions on how to use foam without a gun

Of course, to some extent, the use of material without the use of a professional tool - a pistol, is not difficult. Instead, a special tube is used, and the instructions are almost the same. With more detailed application can be found in the video.

• You need to wear gloves to protect your hands from getting foam on them, otherwise you will have to sweat to remove it from your skin.
• The place where you will blow the foam should be protected as reliably as possible. Remove all debris and dust present there. If the gap has a large size or depth, then, as a rule, it is additionally clogged with small pieces of foam.
• Shake the bottle for a minute, the instructions for different brands of foam may indicate different times, but on average it is 30-60 seconds. Thanks to shaking, the mounting foam will become as homogeneous as possible, its output will be several times more intense, which will make the work easier, and the process will go several times faster.
• The planes that are inside the recess must be well moistened, but make sure that water does not drip from them, and there is no excess moisture.
• Remove a small cap from the balloon, which is put on so that it does not work in advance. On the same ledge, you need to put on a special tube, which is sold complete with mounting foam.
• Bring the end of the tube about 5 cm to the place you want to fill with foam and then press the valve. It is important to note that the hole is only half filled, because the foam will expand not only at the time when it leaves the balloon, but also for some time after that.
• After half an hour, you need to re-examine the place that you processed. If there are still holes or unfilled cavities, then add a little more foam. As numerous practice shows, when filling the cavity manually, the foam very often crawls out of its limits, and therefore it is not necessary to additionally fill in the foam. On the contrary, it is necessary to eliminate its excesses.

Some people who rarely use mounting foam are afraid that the foam will not stop beating from the tube even when they release the button. Do not worry about this, because each bottle has a special restrictive valve that will not allow foam to come out immediately after you make the pressure weaker.

After 8 hours, the foam will become as hard as possible and then its excesses need to be cut off. To do this, use the most common, but always sharp knife.

Disadvantages of using mounting foam without a gun

There are not so many disadvantages when using non-professional mounting foam. Experts call the first disadvantage that when manual way a large amount of foam will come out outside the recess being processed. Even with a pistol it is often impossible to avoid excesses, and in this case there are several times more of them.

Foam mounting feature video

At the same time, it is much easier to work with a pistol, because it is still a special professional tool. The tube, if you accidentally removed it from the cylinder, can no longer be put back on and you can start using the building material further. You will have to buy a new bottle.

Polyurethane foam is a truly unique material that allows you to perform a large number of works. Mounting foam without a gun: a specialist or numerous videos that you will find on our website can teach you how to use it correctly.

In domestic conditions, the need for special tools does not always arise. If you suddenly need to repair the seal or insulation in a small area, and there is no foam gun at hand, you can try to do without it. This will help you avoid unnecessary expenses. However, you should first find out how mounting foam behaves without a gun and how to use it correctly.

There are two classes of mounting foam:

• domestic;
• professional.

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

Professional material can be bought in volumes from 1.5 liters, in addition, it is used for large-scale tasks: sealing window and doorways, 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 fastener: a threaded cap (bayonet). At this point, the gun is installed.

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-grade products from some manufacturers are sometimes of poorer quality than their professional counterparts. For this reason, for more serious tasks, it is better to choose the latter option. Possible ways application of foam without a gun:

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

Preparation for work

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

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

The procedure must be carried out in protective equipment. Gloves and goggles 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 work is similar to that when using a special tool. If mounting foam will be used without a gun, how to properly use the tube that comes with the kit? Step-by-step instruction:

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

Tip: After drying and removing excess foam, be sure to cover it with putty or other material, otherwise the composition will be under the influence sun rays will gradually break down.

Disadvantages of the foam application process without a gun

When deciding which method to choose, you need to consider both positive and negative points in each of the cases. Of course, the use of a specialized tool greatly simplifies the task. But the process of sealing 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. And still, significant pressure contributes to the appearance of an excess amount of foam. As a result, 2-3 times more material is required per area, while professional foam is consumed less intensively. This factor determines the financial costs - they increase.
• If you plan to use professional foam, you need to remember that it will not always be possible to install a tube. Simply the balloon will not give out foam.
• Waste of time. 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 the need to constantly monitor the amount of foam that appears at the exit. If the use of a gun 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 mounting foam should be purchased in the right amount, which will avoid unnecessary expenses, otherwise the rest of the material will simply be thrown away. For this reason, it is sometimes easier to buy a small volume can and fill the gaps with foam using the tube that comes with the kit.

Almost every person at least once used polyurethane foam - modern means for sealing, repairing, installing windows and doors, sealing cracks and joints. Using mounting foam is quite simple. There is a special gun for this, but sometimes for small repairs in the house you can do without it. But even simple work must be done correctly in order to achieve high quality.

Peculiarities

A huge range of mounting foam in specialized outlets makes you think when choosing required material. Each of us wants to choose a high-quality and inexpensive composition. Currently, specialized outlets offer buyers two varieties of this material: household and professional. Consider the features of each.

household

The main distinguishing features of household mounting foam are the volume of the cylinder. Manufacturers produce this material in small bottles (about 800 ml). Tube is included with the bottle. small size with a small section. In cylinders of household mounting foam, the pressure level is low, this is necessary in order to significantly reduce material consumption when performing repair work. To perform them with household mounting foam, you can use a special gun. The cylinder valve is designed to fix the tube and the mounting gun.

professional

To install doors, windows, plumbing use a professional variety of mounting foam. Manufacturers produce such material in cylinders with a capacity of more than 1.5 liters. The sealant is in a cylinder under high pressure. It is recommended to work with a professional sealant using a special gun. To make the use of the material the most convenient, the cylinder is additionally equipped with fasteners for strong fixation inside the gun. A large amount of sealant in the cylinder is designed for large-scale work.

Sealants of these varieties have similar technical characteristics. When choosing the necessary material, you need to consider for what purposes the foam is needed. In addition, the amount of work is also important.

Distinctive feature compositions is the possibility of re-application.

Operating rules

To perform quality repairs or installation work with sealant, you need to know a few rules for applying the material.

• The use of a special mounting gun guarantees more quality result executed works.
• It is necessary to use a professional version of the sealant, which has useful property A: Sufficiently low secondary expansion.
• It is recommended to carry out installation and repair work in the warm season: this will speed up the process of foam solidification and preserve all its technical qualities.
• When performing work, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment.

• It is recommended to use a sealant in order to seal minor cracks with a width of about 8 cm. If the width of the cracks exceeds this indicator, it is advisable to use other materials (brick, wood, plastic).
• To seal cracks and crevices less than 1 cm wide, it is more economical and practical to use putty.
• In the process of work, the cylinder with polyurethane foam must be kept with the bottom up.
• Fill the gap with sealant to one third of the depth.
• After the sealant hardens, you need to remove the excess foam with a special knife.

• After completion of all work, it is necessary to cover the frozen layer of foam with special means to protect it from exposure to sunlight.
• To perform work on the ceiling, you need to use a special mounting foam: such a sealant bottle can be used in any position.
• To fill deep gaps or cracks, you need to use special extension adapters.
• During operation, the foam bottle must be shaken and the nozzle of the mounting gun must be cleaned of excess sealant.

How to apply?

Before starting work with this sealant, you need to study all the subtleties of its use. Otherwise, the quality of work will suffer, the consumption of sealant will increase significantly, which will lead to additional financial costs. First you need to choose the right mounting foam. The choice of material depends on the scope of work.

If large-scale work is planned for the installation of doors, windows or plumbing, or a large amount of repair work, it is better to opt for professional mounting foam. The cost of materials of this kind is much higher, but the result of the work performed will pleasantly please.

A small repair in the room (for example, sealing gaps) involves the purchase of household sealant.

Applying sealant without a mounting gun to the surface can be done in several ways.

• For minor repairs, you can do without a gun. A special small tube is installed on the cylinder valve. Next, start the repair work.
• Professional foam can be applied using a tube, but this method will lead to a large consumption of material and unnecessary financial costs.
• If it is not possible to use a mounting gun when working with a professional sealant, you can use two tubes of different diameters. To do this, a tube of large diameter is fixed to a cylinder with professional foam, then a second (smaller) one is attached to this tube, carefully fixed. This method will significantly reduce material consumption and reduce financial costs.

After you have decided on the method of applying the foam, you need to prepare the surface. In some cases, the sealant surface may become a false wall. The quality of the sealing of the seam depends on how carefully the surface is prepared. The surface is thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt. Particular attention must be paid to the cracks that need to be foamed. Sometimes the surface needs to be degreased.

Large cracks are pre-filled with foam or others suitable material. Only then can they be filled with foam. This will significantly reduce the consumption of foam, increase the quality of thermal insulation. Before starting work, the surface must be moistened. For these purposes, a simple spray gun is perfect.

Now you can start sealing. For proper performance of work, the foam must be at room temperature. Shake the bottle thoroughly before starting the process. Only after that, a tube or a gun is fixed on the cylinder. Now you can apply the composition.

If you decide to use foam without a special gun, you need to consider the disadvantages of such a process.

• Due high pressure in the cylinder, the foam consumption increases significantly (sometimes two or three times).
• The design of the valve of some cylinders does not provide for the use of a tube.

Carrying out sealing work with a gun saves a lot of time. Foaming the surface with mounting foam with a gun is not difficult at all.

It is enough to learn how to dose the foam output. In this way, you can glue any objects, not forgetting about surface preparation. Then we start applying the sealant. It is important to remember that you need to fill the vertical gap with sealant from the bottom, moving smoothly up.

After finishing work, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the gun from foam using a special flushing fluid. It must be poured into the tool. If a small amount of sealant gets on your hands during work, it must be removed with a solvent. Excess foam from contaminated areas must be removed during operation with a sponge soaked in solvent. If the sealant had time to harden, you will have to remove it mechanically.

Expired foam cannot be used. It is necessary to wield a spray can carefully. You can't bring it to the fire. If the expiration date of the mounting foam has expired, the material loses its properties.

When choosing a mounting foam, you need to remember that the balloon can only be used once. Therefore, before buying, you should carefully calculate the required volume. If you have any doubts about this, it is better to consult a specialist.

Take note of some helpful tips.

• Before starting work, you should prepare a spray gun to spray water on the surface before applying the foam, a knife will be needed to cut off excess material.
• In the process of doing the work, you will need a sponge or a soft cloth dipped in acetone or a solvent.
• The correct dosage of sealant will significantly reduce material consumption.

• It is more convenient to remove excess sealant from the surface after four hours after application; after complete solidification, this process will become much more complicated.
• Be sure to use personal protective equipment (respirator, goggles, gloves).
• It is necessary to ventilate the room during work.
• After completion of all work, it is necessary to treat the cured foam with a special agent to protect it from sunlight. This must be done before the foam darkens.
• It is strictly forbidden to use the cylinder near an open flame.

Polyurethane foam is a product used for sealing during full-scale home repairs and for urgent patching of a small defect in the house. It is easiest to work with it by using a special gun, but it is not always required.

In everyday life, for minor repairs, you can do without additional tools, saving time and money. But in order to obtain a high quality of the work performed, you should first familiarize yourself with how to use mounting foam without a gun. This and the features of the material will be discussed in the article.

Where is foam applied?

The material is an excellent sealant. In addition, it is used to seal the seams that exist between structural elements.

It can be:

• Seams between floor panels;
• Seams of facade systems;
• Butt seams between the timber;
• Voids and cracks in concrete, in brick walls;
• Seams when installing windows and doors.

There are also non-standard ways of using polyurethane foam. For example, the insulation of wooden floors arranged on logs. At the same time, the space between the floorboards and the base of the floor is “blown out” with the composition.

After that, the floors stop creaking and become really warm. The advantage of this method is that there is no need to disassemble the wooden coating for insulation and strengthening.

Mounting foam without a gun is simply pumped into the floor through a special tube into a slot or a small hole made in an inconspicuous place.

Seal properties

The wide scope of use of the material is explained by its unique properties that no other composition has. In its original state, it is a foam-like liquid mass. High-pressure foam is packaged in small-sized bottles.

After getting into the open air, the foam reacts - it greatly increases in size, and then quickly begins to solidify. And as a result, a porous, reliable and very warm material that performs several functions at the same time. In this case, the surface acquires the properties of a rigid, dense and waterproof film.

Features of mounting foam:

• High performance for heat and sound insulation;
• Good resistance to moisture;
• Safety and environmental friendliness;
• Fire resistant;
• Low electrical conductivity;
• The ability to fill hard-to-reach voids with the composition;
• Reliably sticks together various materials;
• Ease of use.

Material types

Before purchasing mounting foam, you should get acquainted with its types and features, which are presented in the table:

Type of mounting foam	Peculiarities
	The capacity of the spray can is produced in a volume of 600 - 800 ml. A special tube is included in the kit with a can for working with foam. At the same time, its technical characteristics are similar to professional ones. Pistols for blowing foam are also suitable for cylinders of this volume. This type of composition is used to fill minor recesses or seams with your own hands. Its price is much lower than professional.
	The mixture is available in cylinders quite large sizes, with a volume of more than 1.5 liters. A fairly high pressure is created to release the foam from the package. For manual use, the spray can is sold complete with a special gun.

Tip: Buying foam for professionals without a gun does not make sense. Due to too much pressure, there will be a strong waste of material.

Rules for the use of sealant

Despite the seeming ease of working with modern sealants, before starting the process, it is worth learning how to use mounting foam without a gun with a tube. Without studying the technology of using the product, you can make a large number of mistakes that will increase the consumption of material and significantly reduce the quality of the seam.

There are several ways to apply a professional composition without a gun. Before starting repairs, a suitable sealant is selected.

In this case, it is necessary to take into account:

• The scale of the planned activities, which affects the required volume of the compactor;
• Household products may differ from professional ones in worse technical characteristics;
• If it is necessary to carry out large-scale and complex events, on which the comfort and convenience of using the house depends, it is better to choose more expensive and high-quality products.

The selected mounting foam can be applied to the treated surfaces without a gun in various ways:

• The use of household compounds. Such material is applied without a gun. To do this, a tube is fixed on the cylinder valve and repairs can begin;
• Application through a tube professional material . A tube of small diameter is fixed on the cylinder valve, through which the sealant is supplied to the gaps to be sealed. But with such easy way often, due to high pressure, there is an excess release of sealant from the cylinder;
• Professional sealant is fed through two tubes with different diameters. In this case, it is supposed to attach a large-diameter tube to the valve, and then insert a smaller-section tube into it and fix it firmly. With such sealing, foam consumption is reduced, which reduces the cost of repair work.

After choosing the materials, in order to create a good effect from the use of foam, it is necessary to carry out a series of activities in advance:

• Surfaces to be treated are cleaned. All dust, dirt, all foreign objects are removed from the sealed seams and cracks;
• Styrofoam fills large seams. This will reduce the consumption of mounting foam, increase the thermal insulation characteristics of the object.

Tip: Styrofoam must be filled with openings more than 80 mm wide.

• The area to be filled is wetted with water. To do this, it is better to use a spray gun.

Filling gaps or joints should be carried out at an ambient temperature that complies with the manufacturer's recommendations. The optimum air temperature for work is from 5°С to 20°С above zero. With more high temperature, above 30 ° C, repairs should be postponed, and in case of negative temperatures, special frost-resistant materials should be used.

Foam application technology

The principle of operation without a gun is the same as with special tools. And before starting the process, you should watch a video on how to work with mounting foam without a gun.

After preparing the surface to be treated, the instructions attached to the materials suggest the following work order:

• Shake the bottle well. To ensure the uniformity of the release of the composition from the package, it is recommended to shake the can vigorously for 30 to 40 seconds;
• The protective cap is removed;
• A PVC tube is attached to the valve, which is completed with a household product. Tube for professional products sold separately;
• The free end of the tube is brought to the closed opening;
• The gap is filled with foam, approximately from 30% to 40%, but not more than 50% of its value, which is associated with a significant increase in the volume of the sealant during hardening. Partial filling reduces repair costs.

Tip: If there is not enough sealant after drying, an additional layer of material should be applied.

Pressurized foam exits the cylinder when the valve is pressed, which, when activated, promotes the flow of sealant into the tube, and then to the sealing point. The sealant dries completely in 8 hours. Strongly protruding areas of foam after drying are cut off with a clerical knife.

Disadvantages of using mounting foam without a gun

When choosing a method for sealing cracks, it is necessary to take into account the positive and negative aspects of each. It is clear that working with a specialized tool is much easier.

The process of sealing without a gun with a tube has several disadvantages:

• Increased material consumption. In the process of work, it is necessary to constantly control the force on the valve and the duration of pressing it. This is due to the fact that due to the high pressure, an excess amount of foam appears. As a result, the treated area will need 2-3 times more material than with a gun;
• When planning to use professional foam, it should be borne in mind that it is not always possible to install a tube;
• It takes more time to work. It takes longer to keep the flexible tubing in the correct position with the cylinder valve. At the same time, it is constantly necessary to control the volume of material that will appear at the output. Using a gun, sealing can be completed in 10-15 seconds, and self-sealing without a specialized tool will take about 15 minutes;

Tip: A disposable can of foam should be purchased in the right amount. This will avoid unnecessary costs - the rest of the material is thrown away.

There are also disadvantages when using a pistol. The biggest one is its cleaning after finishing work. There is a special tool for caring for the device, and the instructions attached to it indicate the technology for using the composition.

And how to rinse the foam gun without special flushing?

If there is no special liquid, acetone is used at home. The liquid is poured into the nozzle of the tool, and then the device is completely cleaned with a wire or ramrod.

All actions must be careful so as not to harm thin and vulnerable structural elements. This is one of the ways how and with what to flush a foam gun without special flushing.

Despite the fact that behind a special pistol there should be good care, to Work with professional tool much easier.

Polyurethane foam is a unique material that allows you to perform a large amount of work. How to use mounting foam without a gun, you can consult a specialist or watch the corresponding video.

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

Assortment to choose from

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

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

A more expensive professional mounting mixture is sold complete with a special gun. It is designed for multiple use and precisely regulates the amount of sealant applied.

Quality pistols are made of metal and fully collapsible. Turning the adjusting screw located on the handle clockwise reduces the thickness of the supplied jet, counterclockwise increases it.

The device of a special gun for polyurethane foam

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

Take into account the fact that a professional sealant shrinks less than a household one. .

Preparatory stage

In order for the use of mounting sealant to have an effect, preliminary preparation is carried out, which includes the following:

• Surfaces must be cleaned of dust and debris before applying the sealant. 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 ensured that no drops of moisture form on the treated surface.
• 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 cylinder is brought from the cold, place it in warm water for an hour and a half.
• Before use, the container is vigorously shaken 20-30 times in order to mix the components of the sealant. Then remove the protective cap and screw the tube to it, and if it is a professional composition, screw the cylinder to the gun. Make sure that at the time of installation, the tube or nozzle of the gun is not directed towards people nearby.
• Put on a work suit, protective gloves and goggles.

Preparation for work with polyurethane foam

When working with a professional composition that is used complete with a gun, before proceeding with sealing, the flow of sealant is regulated. The jet is regulated during use by changing the pressure on 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 the cold or in a dry space, hardening occurs when special additives are present in the composition. In this case, the sealant will harden at an air temperature of -10, or in conditions where the humidity of the air reaches only 35%.

Rules and techniques for working with foam

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

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

The length of one applied strip does not exceed 10 centimeters. During operation, the cylinder is held vertically with the bottom up. In the case when they perform work on the ceiling, which causes difficulty in complying with the last rule, they buy special compound that works in any position. Another solution to this problem is to extend the nozzle of the gun or the main tube with flexible tubes 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 gaps with a gun

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

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

Shutdown

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

Removal of excess foam formations with a sharp knife

Although cured polyurethane foam withstands temperature fluctuations from -40 to +90°C, it is sensitive to UV radiation. To neutralize this factor, the excesses that are under such influence are covered with a layer of plaster, covered with cement mortar, paint or sew up with platbands.

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

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

When applying these simple rules, self-sealing all kinds of seams and cracks, isolating 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 gaps are sealed with ordinary putty, and for larger ones, additional static materials are laid inside the empty space - foam plastic, wooden blocks or bricks.

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