How to use mounting foam. How to use mounting foam without a gun. Polyurethane foam properties

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 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 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.

This moment is important because the optimal diameter of 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 each of the applied layers.

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

Preparatory stage

In order to use assembly sealant had an effect preliminary training, 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 compound, 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.

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 work is performed on the ceiling, which causes difficulty in complying with the last rule, they 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 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.

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.

Although cured polyurethane foam withstands temperature fluctuations from -40 to +90°C, it is sensitive to UV 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 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, wooden bars or brick.

In contact with

The question of how to use mounting foam, sooner or later, may become relevant for you. First of all, such a moment is brewing if you started repairing an old one or building a new one. It is during this period of time that most often there is a real need to close up joints and cracks. And they are best dealt with - yes, that's right, polyurethane foam.

This sealing agent is one of the most sought after available. different types sealants. 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 that is so necessary 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 balloon, over 40 liters of foam are obtained for puttying 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 under the influence of moisture and at the same time greatly increases in volume after using the can. The formed porous substance has excellent heat-insulating properties. Along with this, given the possibility of a long service life of this material, it is clear why mounting foam is recognized indispensable assistant in construction and renovation. It is the mounting foam that will allow you to seal the seams, glue certain structural details, successfully fix the joints and, importantly, provide these places with heat and sound insulation.

Such a miracle solution is divided into several types - there are semi-professional and professional (pistol), it happens in winter, summer and for all seasons. It was no coincidence that such a convenient design was invented - it is easy to displace mounting foam from cylinders with the help of special gas. So 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 the 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 mounting foam successfully fills hard-to-reach joints and seams, and when it hardens itself, it does not require special attention further. Previously, only foam could be replaced in this field cement mortar, but its preparation is a more time-consuming process than working with an aerosol can. Therefore, choosing convenience and simplicity, many 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.

Using mounting foam is not a laborious process at all. It's convenient and simple. However, you need to know certain details in order not to screw up.

Firstly, installation work is best done in the warm season. From mid-spring to mid-autumn. Optimum temperature outside the window for such manipulations - from plus 5 to plus 30 degrees. Experts guarantee that it is in this case that the curing process occurs best. If you are so eager 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 overlooked 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, you can brick or foam. And if at all less than a centimeter - you can get by with putty. And do not forget - after sealing your cracks, you need to cut off excess foam (it is not recommended to tear it off with your hands).

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

Fifth, the foam can 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 balloon 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 tubing 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 mounting foam is much lighter than the rest of the components, and when the cylinder is upside down, all the components of the mixture mix better.

Now you can safely apply the foam. Given the fact that it increases in volume, it is necessary to close the gaps by no more than a third. The volume will increase by 2-3 times over a short period of time, and then you can cut off the excess (it is 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 - it’s more convenient for you and the foam (a base will appear for which the sealant that has not yet hardened can be fixed).

It will be necessary to sprinkle with water not only cracks, but also foam after application. So the freezing process will be faster. If you see that the foam is not enough for you, 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 still do not need too much.

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 finally harden after 8 hours. So do not try to start subsequent work (rearrange furniture, glue wallpaper, nail shelves) in this area immediately. Moreover, after drying and removing excess, the joints need to be processed protective material(it is better to do this with putty, plaster, paint or cement). Can be used as a protective layer and special silicone sealant. A polyurethane sealing tape will also help for these purposes. This will not only protect the mounting foam from exposure to ultraviolet rays, but also increase the service life. After processing, it is already possible to use and, as well as move further in the realization of your fantasies.

Your foam should be elastic and adhere well to the surface. The fact that after shrinkage, having frozen completely, it will not crumble will also speak about its quality. Don't add yourself additional work- before the final hardening, it is impossible to touch and process the mounting foam, so as not to change the very structure of the material and not interfere with the polymerization process.

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

When buying polyurethane foam, remember that the balloon is designed for one-time use only. So don't try to divide by two. Calculating the volume is not difficult if you have already had experience with similar material. If not, it is better to consult with those who work in the construction industry or with the seller in the store. Reusing the same balloon 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 rinse the tube itself (gun) 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 at hand - they help to scrub off the foam that has stuck in unnecessary places.
• If you use mounting foam economically, 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 harden completely and it will be much more difficult to cope with it.
• Use a respirator (protect your body from unnecessary chemical substances). It would be great if they also have glasses and gloves.
• Ventilate the room (unless, of course, you just decided to do it in the same room).
• Do not wait until the foam darkens - a change in color is already an indicator that a reaction is underway and the process of exposure to ultraviolet rays (initially it is light yellow in color).
• Do not use the cylinder near the fire and do not leave it in direct sunlight (this is a familiar rule to everyone, however, many do not follow it and run the risk of facing the consequences of a fire and the firemen who have arrived in the future). Indeed, the composition of this polyurethane foam sealant includes various flammable materials that can lead to undesirable consequences. Your foam can belong to one of three classes - fire-fighting, self-extinguishing or combustible (it is better to find out in advance).
• Problems can 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 bottle was at temperatures below plus 5. The required consistency will be violated even if the air temperature rises to 30-35 degrees (only all-weather foam can work at temperatures from minus 10 to plus 40 degrees) .

So if you have taken into account all the tips and secrets listed here, you can safely start sealing window, door blocks or other structures in the rooms of a house or apartment with mounting 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 different widths of joints and cracks, and in addition, your assistant - foam will help you easily and simply fill unnecessary voids in the walls. So keep it up and good luck with your renovation!

The problem is how to correctly use polyurethane foam without a gun over time can become relevant for everyone. This question arises very sharply when it is time to repair the dilapidated or build a new building. During this period, very often there is an urgent need to remove gaps and cracks, if necessary, or doors. Mounting foam - the best remedy which solves this problem.

Mounting foam says no to cracks!

Among the various types of sealant, polyurethane foam is the most popular. This material will help very well in the wall, 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 small weight, the concentration of contents inside is very high. From the capacity of one package, you can get more than 40 liters of foam in order to close up various gaps. With the help of video instructions, you can learn how to competent work with this sealant.

Before you start using mounting foam without a gun, you need to take into account that this substance becomes solid under the influence of a humid environment, and also increases noticeably in volume after the balloon has been used. It has a porous structure and has excellent thermal insulation properties. Due to the fact that the foam has a possible long term service, explains its indispensability in the repair and construction work. With its help, you can close up gaps, fasten structures, ensure the fixation of joints, heat and soundproof these places.

This solution has several categories - semi-professional with the use of a plastic tube and professional (pistol type, you can read in detail,), winter, summer and all-weather. Such a cylinder device was invented with the aim of easily displacing the foam from the cylinder with a special gas. The result is the formation of a liquid polymer, its solidification and the formation of polyurethane foam.

So, mounting foam is universal remedy, which has heat and sound insulation properties, connects, fastens and glues different parts, is convenient for installation work, has a practical package. With its expansion, it is possible to repair joints and seams with high quality, after solidification, you do not need to pay attention to it in the future.

Previously, cement mortar served as an alternative to this material, but its production is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. For simplicity, convenience and combination in working with, metal, wood, concrete and stone, foam mortar can be preferred.

What you should pay attention to when purchasing mounting foam:

1. First of all, you should pay attention so that the product does not turn out to be a fake. The main criterion here is the country of origin.
2. When buying goods in a store, you need to pay attention to the date of production and the specified shelf life.
3. It is necessary to check the weight of the cylinder before buying, as well as the cleanliness of its valve, in order to avoid purchasing a used product.
4. The purchase of polyurethane foam occurs depending on the time of year.
5. It should be borne in mind that the volume of the substance released from the cylinder has the same dimensions, does not differ in consistency.
6. The main criterion for a good product is that after it has been applied to a vertical surface, it should not slip, including from walls and window surfaces.
7. The application of sealant to the surface is done by uniform extrusion of the substance and at a constant speed.
8. Foam is sold in aerosol cans made of metal. They are light, easy to use and have a high concentration of content - more than 40 liters of foam are obtained from one package during use.
9. This design was invented by foam manufacturers not 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 mounting foam is a process that does not require much effort. It is characterized by simplicity and convenience. But, in order not to worsen 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. Similar work is carried out from mid-spring to mid-autumn. The exception is winter views foam.
• Secondly, you need to work only with gloves. They allow you to avoid contamination of the 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.
• Thirdly, do not try to work with foam everywhere, anywhere. If you need to fill a gap with a width of 1 to 8 cm, then using mounting foam is acceptable and approved. In the case when the gap size is larger size, then it is better to use alternative materials, such as plastic, brick or foam. If less than a centimeter, putty can be applied. It should be remembered - after completing 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 area to be sealed with water. The foam cures and cures much faster and more efficiently when the ambient humidity ranges from 60 to 80 percent.
• Fifth, shake the bottle well before starting work. This should last not 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 bottle in hand. Shake the contents of the bottle before removing the protective cap. After we have screwed the supplied tube onto the adapter, we turn the cylinder upside down. It is in this position that the cylinder is used during installation work. This subtlety is very important because the foam displacing gas is very light and the whole mixture is more efficiently mixed when the cylinder is upside down.

Now we apply foam, taking into account the fact that it increases in volume. Therefore, it is necessary to apply foam into the hollow space by no more than a third. After some time, there is an increase in volume by another 2-3 times, and after that it is already possible to 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 provides ease of application and the appearance of a base for fixing, not yet cured sealant.

After applying the foam, it is sprayed with water to improve and more efficient the curing 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 do not try too hard, the surplus will no longer be needed.

In one pass, the foam layer, when applied, has an allowable value of three, four centimeters. In the case when the gap is larger, then the application of the foam occurs sequentially, the layers are applied one after the other.

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

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

Quality control - saving time and money

The foam solution must have elasticity, stick well to the treated surface. High-quality foam, after it sits down and hardens, it will not dry out into small crumbs. To avoid unnecessary problems before the material has completely hardened, it must not be touched and processed, in order to avoid changes in the very structure of the material and not interfere with the polymerization process.

Available good quality work performed only if the material meets the relevant standards. Then you do not have to do the work of sealing the joints again. It should be borne in mind that there are cans on sale in various price categories and which have different foam output capacities. In this case, it is better to buy aerosol can at a more expensive price, so that it is enough for all the cracks, than to buy several cheaper ones.

Polyurethane foam - excellent repair quality

When buying foam, you need to remember that the use of the balloon is designed for only a single use. Based on this, you do not need to use the balloon twice. If you know how to use mounting foam without a gun, then it is not difficult to calculate the volume required to complete this work. Otherwise, it is better to get advice from those who work in this field, or consult with the seller in the store.

The repeated use of the foam container takes place only when the sealant operation is carried out after a short time. In this case, upon completion of the first stage of work, treat the tube (gun), valve with a specially designed liquid 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 excess in advance.
2. If the foam is in unnecessary places, you can remove it with a soft acetone sponge.
3. Economical consumption of mounting foam will help to avoid additional costs for cylinders.
4. It is necessary to treat the surface after applying the foam after 4 hours. At the end of 7-8 hours, it will become more difficult to cut it, the hardening process is completely over.
5. Work should be done using a respirator, it will protect the human body from unnecessary chemicals. It also does not hurt if the worker has glasses, gloves and overalls. So it's not easy.
6. You should not wait until the foam becomes dark in color, as this indicates that the reaction to ultraviolet exposure has begun (initially it has a light yellow tint).
7. It is forbidden to use polyurethane foam near an open flame and store the cylinder under the action of open sun rays(this is a common rule, but often it is not observed, there is a risk of running into the consequences of a fire and the arrival of firefighters). The composition of the sealant uses various components that can ignite. This can lead to very sad consequences. Foam has classes: fire-fighting, self-extinguishing or combustible (this must be known in advance).
8. The occurrence of problems is also associated if the foam is applied to a dirty surface. To solve this problem, the treated surface is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.
9. If the temperature outside the window is below plus 5 degrees, then the viscosity of the product may not be suitable for use due to non-compliance with the standards. Also, the normal structure of the foam can be disturbed by an increase in ambient temperature to 30-35 degrees Celsius (an exception is all-weather foam, which is suitable for use at temperatures from minus 10 to plus 40 degrees).
10. If you take a chance by applying summer foam in winter, then there is a risk of getting foam that crumbles and has vitreous bubbles. She begins to crawl down, which means money thrown to the wind. For your information, the all-weather solution has temperature limits up to minus 10 degrees, the indicator of the contents of the cylinder and minus 5, the temperature of the container

Provided that you have taken into account all the tips on how to use mounting foam without a gun that have been mentioned here, you can proceed with complete confidence construction work which involve the use of mounting foam. With the help of foam material, it is also easy to fill the extra voids in the walls with seals with different widths of joints and cracks. So you can safely proceed to quality repairs!

Video: HOW TO USE MOUNTING FOAM

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

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

Shake the can well before starting work, and keep it upside down while working with it. This is necessary so that the gas that squeezes the contents out is above the foam.

How to properly apply mounting foam

Since the polyurethane foam coming out of the can for its effective expansion needs moisture, which it mainly receives from the air, moisten the area to be treated with it a little beforehand. However, remember that excessive moisture can prevent it from sticking.

When the mounting 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, it can be very difficult to work with the tube usually attached to the spray can. To perform such an operation, you can put a thin flexible hose on the regular tube of the can.

When the place to be treated with foam is too high, the end of the flexible hose can be fixed on some kind of holder or a regular stick. And don't forget to 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 the tube attached to the can is lost

If this much-needed tube is lost, then you can put a heat-shrink tube on the can dispenser, and use a fairly wide washer as a dispensing stop.

In this case, you can work with foam, as with a regular native pipe.

How can you clean drops of mounting foam

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

And further. Do not forget that mounting foam is a great and reliable glue!

IN living 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.

By technical specifications 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 great pressure, so it is very difficult to correctly apply it 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 counterparts professional type. 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 the tube on the valve, which is equipped with a cylinder.
• 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 conditions environment. 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 gradually collapse under the influence of sunlight.

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.