How to use polyurethane foam. How to use polyurethane foam without a gun. Properties of polyurethane foam

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

An assortment to choose from

Two kinds polyurethane 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 one-time use, since after opening the container its contents dry out within 24 hours.

More expensive professional mounting mixture is sold complete with a special gun. It is designed for reusable use and precisely regulates the supplied volume of sealant.

High-quality pistols are made of metal and are completely dismountable. By rotating the adjusting screw located on the handle clockwise, the thickness of the supplied jet is reduced, and counterclockwise, it is increased.

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

They take into account the fact that professional sealant shrinks less than household sealant .

Preparatory stage

In order to use mounting sealant gave effect, carried out preliminary preparation which includes the following:

• Before applying sealant, surfaces are cleaned of dust and debris. If necessary, degrease with acetone or solvent.
• For good interaction of the sealant with the surface, the latter is moistened abundantly, but at the same time make sure that no drops of moisture form on the surface being treated.
• Adapt the temperature of the cylinder 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, place it in warm water for an hour and a half.
• Before use, shake the container vigorously 20-30 times to mix the components of the sealant. Then remove the protective cap and screw the tube onto it, and if it is a professional composition, screw the cylinder to the gun. Make sure that during installation the tube or nozzle of the gun is not facing towards people nearby.
• Wear a work suit, protective gloves and goggles.

When working with a professional compound, which is used complete with a gun, before starting sealing, adjust the supply of sealant. The stream is adjusted during use by changing the force of pressing 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 in the presence of special additives in the composition. In this case, the sealant will harden at an air temperature of -10, or in conditions where air humidity reaches only 35%.

Rules and techniques for working with foam

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

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

The length of one applied strip does not exceed 10 centimeters. When working, 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, buy a special composition that works in any position. Another solution to this problem is to extend the nozzle of the gun or the main tube using 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 the maximum possible.

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

When applying polyurethane foam to the surfaces to be treated, make sure that the tip of the tube or gun is always inside the foam itself. Periodically remove material adhering to the gun nozzle using a cloth soaked in acetone or solvent. During a long period of operation, the container is shaken periodically. Extension adapters are used to process deep seams.

Shutdown

It is important not only to know how to use polyurethane foam, but also how to complete such work correctly. Wait until the sealant has completely hardened. This usually occurs within 6–12 hours. It is not advisable to touch the mounting mixture in this case, as this will disrupt the structure of the material. After which the excess formations are carefully cut off with a sharp knife or a hacksaw.

Although cured polyurethane foam can withstand temperature changes from -40 to +90°C, it is sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. To neutralize this factor, the excess 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 purpose, a special flushing liquid is purchased along with the gun. Any remaining material that gets on your hands is washed off with a solvent. It is better to remove foam residues from surfaces immediately using a sponge soaked in 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, insulating the distribution network and other things will not be difficult even for someone who has never done this before.

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

In contact with

The question of how to use polyurethane foam may sooner or later become relevant for you. First of all, such a moment is brewing if you have started renovating an old building or building a new one. It is during this period of time that most often there is a real need to seal joints and cracks. And the best way to deal with them is – yes, that’s right, polyurethane foam.

This sealant is one of the most sought after sealants available. different types sealants. It is the foam that will allow you to efficiently process seams and various joints whose width is more than three centimeters. The material, which is much needed in everyday life, is sold in metal aerosol spray cans; it has a fairly small weight, but despite this, its concentration is very high. Thus, one can produces over 40 liters of foam for filling joints and cracks. Using video tutorials, you can learn how to properly use the foam assistant when installation work in your home and not have problems with drafts.

When starting to work with this substance, remember that it hardens very quickly when exposed to moisture and at the same time greatly increases in volume after using the can. The resulting porous substance has excellent heat-insulating properties. Along with this, taking into account the possibility of a long service life of this material, it is clear why polyurethane foam is recognized an indispensable assistant in construction and repair. It is polyurethane foam that will allow you to seal seams, glue certain structural parts, successfully fix joints and, importantly, provide these places with heat and sound insulation.

This miracle solution is divided into several types - there is semi-professional and professional (pistol), there is winter, summer and for all seasons. It was no coincidence that such a convenient design was invented - polyurethane foam can be easily expelled from cylinders using a special gas. Thus, the liquid polymer on the surface to be coated successfully hardens and forms a rigid frame (polyurethane foam).

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

Using polyurethane foam is not a labor-intensive process at all. It's convenient and simple. However, there are certain details you need to know to avoid screwing things up.

Firstly, installation work is best carried out in the warm season. From mid-spring to mid-autumn. Optimal temperature outside the window for such manipulations – from plus 5 to plus 30 degrees. Experts guarantee that it is in this case that the hardening process occurs best. If you are so impatient to do something like this in winter time– for this there are seasonal winter foams.

Secondly, do not work with this substance without gloves. This is often neglected by workers. However, such connivance is quite dangerous.

Third, don't try to use the substance wherever you please. If you are going to seal 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, or brick or foam plastic. And if it’s less than a centimeter at all, you can get by with putty. And don’t forget - after sealing your cracks, you need to cut off the excess foam (tearing it off with your hands is not recommended).

Fourthly, before using the foam, it is advisable to treat the hollow space with water. Then, with appropriate air humidity, the process of expansion and hardening of the foam will take place much faster and more correctly. Air humidity for polymerization is sufficient in the range of 60–80 percent.

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

So, the can is in your hands. You have first 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. This nuance is important due to the fact that the gas that displaces the foam is much lighter than the other components and when the cylinder is positioned upside down, all the components of the mixture mix better.

Now you can apply foam with peace of mind. Considering the fact that it increases in volume, it is necessary to close the cracks by no more than a third. The volume will increase 2-3 times over a short period of time, and then you can cut off the excess (it’s better to do this with a sharp knife with a long handle). If you need to apply the foam not horizontally, but vertically, then you should fill it from the bottom up - this is more convenient for both you and the foam (a base will appear on which the sealant that has not yet hardened can attach).

It will be necessary to sprinkle water not only on the cracks, but also on the foam after application. This will make the hardening process faster. If you see that you didn’t 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, don’t overdo it – you won’t need any extra 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 don’t try to start subsequent work (rearranging furniture, gluing wallpaper, nailing shelves) in this area right away. Moreover, after drying and removing excess, the joints need to be treated protective material(it’s better to do this with putty, plaster, paint or cement). Can be used as a protective layer and special silicone sealant. Polyurethane sealing tape will also help for these purposes. This will not only protect the polyurethane foam from exposure to ultraviolet rays, but will also increase its service life. After processing, it is possible to use and, as well as move further in realizing your fantasies.

Your foam should be flexible and adhere well to the surface. The fact that after shrinking and completely frozen, it will not crumble will also speak about its quality. Don't add to yourself extra work– before final hardening, the polyurethane foam cannot be touched or processed, so as not to change the structure of the material itself and not to interfere with the polymerization process.

If the material meets existing standards, then you will be satisfied with the quality. This means that you won’t 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 can of aerosol that will cover all your joints than to buy two cheaper ones.

When buying polyurethane foam, remember that the container is designed for one-time use only. So don't try to halve. It is not difficult to calculate the volume if you already have experience working with similar material. If not, it is better to consult with those who work in the construction industry or with a salesperson in a store. Reusing the same cylinder is allowed 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 wash the tube (gun) itself and the valve with a special cleaning liquid. However, workers at the sites often do not do this.

Useful tips and secrets of working with the material:

• Prepare a water sprayer and a pruning knife in advance.
• It’s good if you have a soft sponge and acetone on hand - they help wipe off the foam that has stuck in unnecessary places.
• If you use polyurethane foam sparingly, you can get by with fewer cans.
• It is better to treat the surface (trimming with a knife) after applying the foam after about 4 hours have passed - after 7–8 hours the foam will harden completely and will be much more difficult to deal with.
• Use a respirator (protect your body from unnecessary chemical substances). It would be great if glasses and gloves were also available.
• Ventilate the room (unless, of course, you just decided to do it in the same room).
• Do not wait for the foam to darken - a change in color is already an indicator that a reaction is taking place and the process of exposure to ultraviolet rays (initially it is light yellow).
• Do not use the cylinder near a fire and do not leave it in direct sunlight (this is a rule familiar to everyone, however, many do not follow it and risk later encountering the consequences of a fire and arriving firefighters). After all, this polyurethane foam sealant contains various flammable materials that can lead to undesirable consequences. Your foam may belong to one of three classes - fire-resistant, self-extinguishing or flammable (it is better to find out in advance).
• Problems may also arise if the foam is applied to a dirty surface (for example, window frames when using such materials, clean with a vacuum cleaner).

The viscosity of the product may not meet the standards if the foam container was at temperatures below plus 5. The required consistency will be violated even if the air temperature increases to 30–35 degrees (only all-season foam can work 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 begin sealing window, door blocks or other structures in the rooms of a house or apartment using polyurethane foam. 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 seams and cracks of different widths, and in addition, your assistant - foam will help you easily and simply fill unnecessary voids in the walls. So go ahead and have a good repair!

The problem is how to competently use polyurethane foam without a gun over time can become relevant for everyone. This question arises very acutely when the time comes to renovate a dilapidated building or build a new one. During this period, very often there is an urgent need to remove gaps and cracks if there is a need or doors. Polyurethane foam – the best remedy, which copes with this problem.

Polyurethane foam says no to cracks!

Among the various types of sealant, polyurethane foam is the most popular. This material will help very well in walls, cracks and joints that are more than three centimeters wide.

The packaging in which the foam is sold is an aerosol spray can made of metal. Despite the light weight, the concentration of contents inside is very high. From the container of one package you can get more than 40 liters of foam to seal various cracks. With the help of video instructions you can gain skills in competent work with this sealant.

Before you start using polyurethane foam without a gun, you need to take into account that this substance becomes hard under the influence of a humid environment, and also noticeably increases in volume after using the balloon. It has a porous structure and has excellent thermal insulation properties. Due to the fact that foam has a possible long term service, explains its indispensability during repair and construction work. With its help, you can seal cracks, fasten structures, secure joints, heat and sound insulate these places.

This solution has several categories - semi-professional using a plastic tube and professional (pistol type, you can read in detail), winter, summer and all-season. This cylinder device was invented with the goal of easily displacing foam from the cylinder with a special gas. As a result, a liquid polymer is formed, it hardens and polyurethane foam is formed.

So, polyurethane foam is universal remedy, which has heat and sound insulation properties, connects, fastens and glues different parts, is convenient for installation work, and has practical packaging. When it expands, you can qualitatively seal joints and seams; after hardening, you do not need to pay attention to it in the future.

Previously, an alternative to this material was cement mortar, but its production is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. Due to its simplicity, convenience and combination in working with metal, wood, concrete and stone, you can give preference to a foam solution.

What you should pay attention to when purchasing polyurethane foam:

1. First of all, you should pay attention to ensure that the product does not turn out to be a fake. The main criterion here is the country of origin.
2. When purchasing a product in a store, you need to pay attention to the production date and the indicated shelf life.
3. You need to check the weight of the cylinder before you buy, as well as the cleanliness of its valve, in order to avoid purchasing a used product.
4. The purchase of polyurethane foam depends on the time of year.
5. It must be taken into account that the volume of substance released from the cylinder has the same dimensions and does not differ in consistency.
6. The main criterion for a good product is that once it has been applied to a vertical surface, it should not slide off walls and window surfaces.
7. The sealant is applied to the surface by uniformly squeezing out the substance and at a constant speed.
8. Foam is sold in aerosol cans made of metal. They are lightweight, easy to use and have a high concentration of content - more than 40 liters of foam are obtained from one package when used.
9. This design was not invented by foam manufacturers by chance - with its help, the material comes out when there is a special gas inside. As a result, the polymer successfully hardens at the gaps and joints and a fairly rigid base is formed.

Working with polyurethane foam is a process that does not require much effort. It is simple and convenient. But in order not to deteriorate the quality of work, you need to know certain subtleties.

• Firstly, installation work is carried out in the absence of low temperatures. According to expert advice, the hardening process occurs more efficiently at temperatures from plus 5 to plus 30 degrees. Such work is carried out from mid-spring to mid-autumn. The exceptions are winter views foam.
• Secondly, you only need to carry out the work while wearing gloves. They allow you to avoid contamination of your hands and, as a result, a long process of cleaning from the foam solution. Workers often miss this rule, which is quite dangerous. Therefore, questions often arise.
• Third, don't try to work with foam everywhere. If you need to fill a gap with a width of 1 to 8 cm, then using polyurethane foam is acceptable and approved. In the case where the slot size is larger size, then it is better to use alternative materials, such as plastic, brick or foam. If less than a centimeter, you can use putty. It should be remembered that after finishing work with the sealant, the excess amount of foam is cut off with a knife (do not remove the excess with your hands).
• Fourthly, before applying the foam, it is advisable to water the space to be sealed. Hardening and polymerization of the foam occurs much faster and more efficiently when the ambient humidity ranges from 60 to 80 percent.
• Fifthly, shake the container well before starting work. This should not last a couple of seconds, but about a minute. This is enough for the solution inside the container to turn into a homogeneous mass.

We take the can in our hands. Before removing the protective cap, first shake the contents of the container. After screwing the supplied tube onto the adapter, turn the cylinder upside down. This is the position in which the cylinder is used during installation work. This subtlety is very important because the gas displacing the foam is very light and the entire mixture is mixed more efficiently when the cylinder is positioned upside down.

Now we apply the foam, taking into account the fact that it increases in volume. Therefore, it is necessary to apply foam into the hollow space no more than a third. After some time, the volume increases another 2-3 times and after that you can cut off all the excess with a knife. When applying foam not horizontally, but vertically, the solution should be directed from bottom to top. This ensures ease of application and the appearance of a base for fixing the sealant that has not yet hardened.

After applying the foam, it is sprayed with water to improve and more efficiently harden the process. When we see a shortage of foam at the joints, we need to wait a little time, about half an hour, for the bottom layer to harden, and then we can add it to the same places. But don’t try too hard; the excess won’t be needed anymore.

In one pass, the foam layer when applied has an acceptable size of three to four centimeters. In the case where the gap is larger, the foam is applied sequentially, layers are applied one after another.

After 8 hours have passed since the foam was applied, it will completely dry. You should not try to start arranging furniture, wallpapering, or installing shelves immediately after applying the foam. In sealed joints, remove excess foam and cover with leveling agents ( best options– this is plaster, paint or cement).

You can also use polyurethane sealing tape as protection. This helps to increase the service life and prevents exposure to ultraviolet rays. You can use a spray gun for whitewashing, and then proceed to other stages of finishing work.

Quality check – saving time and money

The foam solution must be elastic and adhere well to the surface being treated. High-quality foam, after it has settled and hardened, will not disintegrate into small crumbs. To avoid unnecessary problems Before the material has completely hardened, you cannot touch it and start processing it, in order to avoid changes in the structure of the material itself and not to interfere with the polymerization process.

Available good quality work performed only if the material meets the relevant standards. Then you won’t have to redo the work of sealing the joints. It should be taken into account that there are cans on sale in different price categories and which have different foam output capacities. In this case, it is more profitable to purchase aerosol can at a higher price so that it will last all the way than buying several cheaper ones.

Polyurethane foam – excellent repair quality

When purchasing foam material, you need to remember that the use of the cylinder is designed for one-time use only. Based on this, there is no need to use the balloon twice. If you know how to use polyurethane foam without a gun, then it is not difficult to calculate the volume required to complete this job. Otherwise, it is better to get advice from those who work in this field, or consult with a salesperson in a store.

Repeated use of a container with foam occurs only when an operation with sealant is carried out after a short time. In this case, upon completion of the first stage of work, treat the tube (gun) and valve with a liquid specially designed for this purpose to remove foam. But, as a rule, this method is not used by workers on construction sites.

1. To remove excess, you need to prepare a water sprayer and a knife to cut off the excess in advance.
2. If the foam ends up in unnecessary places, you can remove it with a soft acetone sponge.
3. Economical consumption of polyurethane foam will help avoid additional costs for cylinders.
4. The surface must be treated after applying foam after 4 hours. After 7-8 hours it will become more difficult to cut, and the hardening process will be completely completed.
5. The work should be done using a respirator; it will protect the human body from unnecessary chemicals. It also won’t hurt if the worker has glasses, gloves and overalls. So it's not an easy matter.
6. You should not wait until the foam becomes dark in color, as this indicates that a reaction to ultraviolet radiation has begun (initially it has a light yellow tint).
7. It is forbidden to use polyurethane foam near an open fire and store the cylinder under the influence of open sun rays(this is a common rule, but often it is not followed and there is a risk of running into the consequences of a fire and the arrival of firefighters). The sealant contains various components that can be flammable. This can lead to very sad consequences. Foam has classes: fire-resistant, self-extinguishing or flammable (this must be found out in advance).
8. Problems also arise if the foam is applied to a dirty surface. To solve this problem, the surface to be treated is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.
9. If the temperature outside the window is below plus 5 degrees, then the product’s viscosity may not be suitable for use due to non-compliance with standards. Also, the normal structure of the foam can be disrupted by an increase in ambient temperature to 30-35 degrees Celsius (an exception is all-season foam, which is suitable for use at temperatures from minus 10 to plus 40 degrees).
10. If you take the risk of using summer foam in winter, you run the risk of getting foam that crumbles and has glassy bubbles. It begins to creep down, which means money wasted. For information, the all-season solution has a temperature range of up to minus 10 degrees for the contents of the cylinder and minus 5 for the temperature of the container

Provided that you have taken into account all the tips on how to use polyurethane foam without a gun that were mentioned here, you can proceed with complete confidence. construction work, which involve the use of polyurethane foam. Using foam material, you can carry out work on insulating distribution networks that have seals with different widths of seams and cracks, and it is also easy to fill excess voids in the walls. So you can safely begin high-quality repairs!

Video: HOW TO USE FOAM

Polyurethane foam is very practical and comfortable material, the advantages of which are appreciated not only by professionals, but also by home craftsmen. However, there are small tricks that will help you expand the scope of its use or use foam more competently.

Remember that polyurethane foam, like any other product, has a limited shelf life. When purchasing, be sure to check it on the bottom of the can.

Before starting work, shake the can thoroughly, and while working with it, hold it upside down. This is necessary so that the gas squeezing the contents out is above the foam.

How to apply polyurethane foam correctly

Since the polyurethane foam coming out of the can needs moisture for its effective expansion, which it mainly receives from the air, first slightly moisten the area being treated with it. However, remember that over-wetting may prevent it from sticking.

When the polyurethane foam has hardened, its excess is removed with a knife.

How to foam hard-to-reach places

If you need to foam some hard to reach place, the tube usually included with the can can be very difficult to work with. To perform this operation, you can put a thin flexible hose on the standard canister tube.

When the area being treated with foam is too high, the end of the flexible hose can be secured to some kind of holder or a regular stick. And don’t forget, you should always keep the can upside down!

When foaming a very narrow gap, you can heat the extension hose with a match, pull and break it.

At the point of rupture, the diameter of the hose will be very small, which will guarantee high quality sealing of a small space.

What to do if you lose the tube included with the can

If this much-needed tube is lost, then you can attach a heat-shrinkable tube to the spray can dispenser, and use a fairly wide washer as a dispensing stop.

In this case, you can work with the foam just like with a regular original tube.

How can you clean drops of polyurethane foam?

If you accidentally drop foam somewhere, it is better not to smear it and wait until the foam mass dries. Then simply peel off the hardened material. If a drop of foam is still smeared, use regular acetone, which will easily dissolve the polyurethane composition.

And further. Don't forget that polyurethane foam is an excellent and reliable adhesive!

IN living conditions The need for special tools does not always arise. If you suddenly need to repair a seal or 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 expenses. However, you should first find out how polyurethane foam will behave without a gun and how to use it correctly.

There are two classes of polyurethane foam:

• domestic;
• professional.

By technical specifications Both types of materials are similar, however, differences still exist. First of all, the volume of the cylinders should be noted. Thus, household foam is usually offered in small quantities (up to 800 ml). The kit includes a small piece of 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 cylinder of polyurethane foam without a gun.

Professional material can be purchased in volumes starting from 1.5 liters; in addition, it is used for large-scale tasks: sealing the seams of window and doorways, sealing large gaps. Foam is contained under high pressure, so without a gun it is very difficult to apply it correctly. There is one more nuance. Thus, the outlet of a professional cylinder is equipped with a fastening element: a threaded cap (bayonet). The gun is installed 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-grade products from some manufacturers are sometimes of worse quality than their analogues professional type. For this reason, for solving more serious problems, it is better to choose the last option. Possible methods applying foam 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 foam will come out in excess.
• Use household material by attaching the tube that comes with the cylinder to the valve.
• 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 fixed well. This will reduce material consumption.

Preparing for work

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

1. Remove any contaminants: 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 cracks 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 conditions environment. It is better to carry out work at air temperatures from +5 to +20 degrees. The maximum upper limit is +30 degrees. But in cold conditions, a different type of polyurethane foam is used - frost-resistant.

The procedure must be carried out wearing 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 performing the work is similar to that when using a special tool. If polyurethane foam is used without a gun, how to properly use the tube included in the kit? Step-by-step instruction:

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

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

Disadvantages of the foam application process without a gun

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

• Large consumption of material. It is necessary to control the intensity and duration of valve pressure. Still, significant pressure contributes to the appearance of excess foam. As a result, the area requires 2-3 times more material, while professional foam is consumed less intensively. This factor determines 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 produce foam.
• Time consumption. It will take more time to keep the flexible tube, and with it the cylinder valve, in the correct position. In addition, you need to remember the need to constantly monitor the volume of foam that appears at the outlet. If using a gun makes it possible to complete sealing in 10-15 seconds, independent processing without a specialized tool will take about 15 minutes.

There is one more nuance. Thus, disposable polyurethane foam must be purchased in the required volume, which will avoid unnecessary expenses, otherwise the remainder of the material will simply be thrown away. For this reason, it is sometimes easier to buy a small-volume balloon and fill the gaps with foam using the tube included in the kit.