Polyurethane foam can act as a sealant and thermal insulation material. It can be used when installing various window and door designs, during repair work different types. With its help, the tightness of structures is restored, cracks and joints are sealed.

Polyurethane foam is sold in aerosol cans, which must be shaken before use. Immediately after application, the substance begins to harden, resulting in a yellowish-colored material. Lightweight material, has good thermal insulation and sound insulation characteristics. Depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, foam can be used indoors and outdoors.

Conventional polyurethane foam has a number of positive characteristics:

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

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

Release form

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

It is customary to distinguish:

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

• Household polyurethane foam, which comes with a tube (it is usually used to foam cracks, joints, and gaps). Designed for household use for minor repairs and bonding surfaces.

Also, the can of polyurethane foam must indicate the recommended temperature conditions for using the sealant. There are summer, winter and universal (all-season) polyurethane foam. When purchasing, it is recommended to pay attention to the flammability class of the material (B1 - fire resistant materials, B2 – self-extinguishing materials, B3 – combustible materials).

Scope of application of polyurethane foam

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

The sealant has a sufficient level of thermal insulation characteristics so that it can be used to seal gaps and cracks in heating systems, defects in the roof threshold, as well as provide partial insulation of ceiling, floor, wall structures and floors. It is also often used to secure Wall panels and polymer boards on rough surface, which allows for decorative and waterproofing functions.

Polyurethane foam is used for processing external surfaces metal baths(made of steel or cast iron), which allows for a reduction in heat transfer from the metal.

If we talk about how to properly use polyurethane foam and how to work with it, then you need to clarify whether a gun is used or not. If you plan to carry out a full renovation of your home, you will have to use both professional and household foam to foam joints, seams, gaps, and install windows and doors.

Related article: How to disassemble a spray foam gun - diagram of the gun, disassembly instructions

You can install the gun on professional sealant as follows:

1. First, the canister with the substance needs to be warmed up a little in warm water up to 20-25 degrees. Then you need to shake it several times so that the substance becomes as homogeneous as possible and comes out of the can smoothly and easily.
2. At the top of the gun, you need to remove the protective cover, then turn it with the handle down and screw on the can of sealant. You need to screw it in until a characteristic hissing sound appears, which will indicate the beginning of the substance entering the gun.
3. If the gun is not new and has already been used, then it is necessary to inspect it before screwing in the can so that it is washed thoroughly. If after screwing in there is no hissing, then the gun is dirty and you need to buy a new one.
4. Before starting to work with polyurethane foam, according to the rules, you need to shake the gun with the cylinder again, turn the adjusting screw ¼ turn and, holding the trigger, begin processing.

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

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

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

5.If there are any untreated areas left, they can be filled in later.

If it is necessary to perform treatment in remote areas, it is recommended to additionally purchase a special extension hose, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to foam hard-to-reach areas with foam without using it.

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

When using household sealant, there is no provision for a gun. It’s okay if the polyurethane foam comes without a gun, since you can use it with a straw. The tube is made of polymer materials - you just need to put it on the adapter. The work is performed in the same sequence as in the case of a gun, but when using a tube you will have to put in more effort.

You can easily use polyurethane foam without a gun if you have the appropriate tube. But in construction stores, the sealant can be sold without a tube (cheap models), so you will have to purchase it separately. This should also be noted Special attention when choosing a suitable polyurethane foam.

The use of a tube is important if you are not going to perform large quantity works It is recommended to use polyurethane foam with a tube if you need to fill joints, gaps, seams, or glue various materials. Household sealant is rarely used when constructing door and window structures or when treating large surfaces. For thermal insulation and sound insulation, you should also choose professional analogues.

On video: Using polyurethane foam without a gun.

Disadvantages of applying polyurethane foam without using a gun

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

Related article: How to use a spray foam gun? Instructions for use for beginners

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

1. Significant consumption of sealant. Overflow occurs because the user must exercise control over the intensity and duration of pressing the valve. It is quite difficult to do this over a long period of time, so almost always when processing using a tube, an excess volume of polyurethane foam appears, which leads to significant overruns. Professional sealant using a gun is usually consumed 1.5-2 times slower. This leads to small but noticeable financial costs (especially if a large amount of work is expected to be carried out).
2. If you purchased a professional sealant, then there is a high probability that it will not be possible to use a regular tube that is suitable for household polyurethane foam. The can simply will not release sealant. This point must be clarified when purchasing the material.
3. Using polyurethane foam without a gun is much more difficult than with one. The tubes are made from polymer material, therefore they are flexible - they are more difficult to hold in the desired position for a longer period than a pistol.

At the same time, there is no point in purchasing professional polyurethane foam or a gun for applying it if you intend to carry out minor repair work: fill gaps, seal joints and cracks between slabs, etc. thermal insulation material. In this case, you need to buy a household sealant with a tube, use it once and throw it away.

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

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

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

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

Related article: Rules for use and technical characteristics of polyurethane foam

Is it possible to use a can of polyurethane foam several times?

You can find information on the Internet that professional polyurethane foam can be used repeatedly, while household models are only suitable for one-time use.

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

1. It is necessary to release a little of the polyurethane foam from the can, and, allowing it to come out, bend the tube and tighten it with metal wire. At the end of the tube, the sealant will begin to harden, but the presence of a bend will not allow the entire volume of the substance that remains in the cylinder to harden.
2. When subsequently applying polyurethane foam, you simply need to cut off part of the tube with the frozen substance and continue to treat the gaps and seams with sealant.

It should be taken into account that a container with sealant can be stored in this way for 2-3 weeks and no more. After several months of storage, the substance will almost completely harden and harden inside the package, so it will not be possible to use it again.

Is it possible to use expired polyurethane foam?

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

If the expiration date is significantly exceeded, it is strongly recommended not to use the sealant even for minor household repairs (especially for installing windows or doors). This is due to the fact that after the expiration date, the sealant begins to rapidly lose its basic properties, so when you open the package, anything can happen.

Terms of use of polyurethane foam after application

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

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

Conclusion

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

How to use polyurethane foam (2 videos)

Application of polyurethane foam (21 photos)

Polyurethane foam is one of the most popular materials on the market. We have made a selection of various tricks and life hacks that will make working with it easier and more comfortable, as well as find new areas of application for it.

1. The main components of polyurethane foam are polyol and diisocyanate, the reaction of which produces a prepolymer. For polyurethane foam to harden, moisture is required, which is usually taken from the surrounding air. According to certain calculations, it takes approximately 40 ml of water to harden the foam from a 750 ml cylinder. Based on this, we can draw the first conclusion that the presence of moisture (up to a certain threshold) promotes rapid hardening of the foam and prevents its further expansion. Therefore, it is recommended to pre-moisten the areas where the foam is applied with water. In addition, this will improve the adhesion of the foam to the applied surface.

1. Rodents have a long-standing love for polyurethane foam, which they easily turn into dust. But in this moment formulations began to appear on the market that rodents do not like.

1. Since the foam container must be held upside down when working, with an extension made of PVC pipe, you can easily handle even cracks in the ceiling or in any hard-to-reach places.

1. Acetone, as well as solvents based on it, can easily clean the surface of uncured foam. But with a frozen one, such a trick will no longer work.
2. The older the foam in the container, the higher its viscosity. Accordingly, its expansion coefficient and final volume decrease. To prevent the viscosity of the foam from growing so quickly over time, manufacturers make special additives, so it is recommended to shake the contents of the container thoroughly before starting work.
3. The gun will allow you to dose the foam more accurately, thereby giving you additional convenience and savings. It will also be convenient for large volumes of work. High quality models can be left without washing for a month or more. In other cases, you should use a bottle with a special flushing liquid.
4. Some manufacturers offer black foam cylinders. It is also perfect for landscape work. For example, to fix stones on alpine slide. As long as it doesn't get direct sunlight.

1. If you need to apply foam in several layers to cover large openings, manufacturers recommend waiting an hour or two between laying each new layer. But if each layer is slightly moistened with a spray bottle, then the waiting hours can be reduced to 10-15 minutes.
2. In the absence of appropriate filler, polyurethane foam will also help when transporting fragile items. To do this you need to line the box cling film, fill it a third with foam, put a layer of film on which to lay the fragile item. Then there is another layer of film on top, which is also covered with foam. As a result, your foam will be easily separated into two parts, which will simplify unpacking.

1. For foaming cracks in windows and doorways Foam with a minimum coefficient of expansion should be used, otherwise it may be difficult to open windows and doors. Typically, such foam is labeled as window foam. But if you don’t have one at hand, it’s better to apply the foam in two layers. First, a small amount of foam is placed deep into the crack, to which, after final expansion and hardening, another layer can be added if necessary.
2. In the absence of acetone, you can rinse the plastic nozzle tube using carburetor cleaner (it also contains acetone). You can purchase it at any auto parts store. But this must be done immediately after use, before the remaining foam has hardened.

1. Winter foam can be used at temperatures down to -10 C°, and some types up to -20 C°. But at the same time, the foam container itself must have a temperature of at least +5 C°. You can use hot water to quickly warm up the cylinder, but under no circumstances should you place it in an open fire or use other methods of rapid heating. Otherwise, the result may be sad.

1. You can get rid of spilled or splashed foam after it has hardened using special cleaning gels designed for foam. They soften it, after which the foam can be easily removed.
2. When working with foam, do not forget to wear gloves, otherwise the foam that gets on your skin will leave stains on it for a couple of days.

Modern construction sites cannot do without the use of polyurethane foam, specifications which played an important role in its mass use. Professional builders and amateur craftsmen who decided to cope with repair work independently, recently they have not imagined the installation of doors, window sills and windows, as well as construction activities related to the waterproofing of pipelines and large containers, for example, water heating tanks and bathtubs, without the use of polyurethane foam, the use of which will be discussed in the article.

Polyurethane foam: performance characteristics

The widespread use of polyurethane foam is primarily due to its performance characteristics, which make it possible to consider this material indispensable in almost all types of construction work. The main properties of polyurethane foam, at the same time recognized as its advantages, which every builder could appreciate, are as follows:

• Possibility of use as a sound and heat insulator;
• High resistance to moisture and low electrical conductivity;
• The operational features of some types of polyurethane foam indicate resistance to fire;
• The ability, after expansion, to fill voids and various cracks, providing high quality seams and joints;
• Possibility of gluing elements made of various materials using polyurethane foam.

Types of polyurethane foam

Today, manufacturers offer several varieties of polyurethane foam, among which the following varieties are of interest to builders:

• Professional polyurethane foam, for which it is used specialized device- a gun that allows you to increase the yield of polyurethane sealant and extend its service life;
• Household or semi-professional polyurethane foam, intended for one-time use. In addition, the main difference between household sealant is the significantly lower filling density of the cylinder.

By temperature conditions, in which it is permissible to apply polyurethane foam, a video of its use is presented in the article, the following varieties are distinguished:

• Summer polyurethane foam is used if the temperature of the treated surface varies from +5 to +35 degrees;
• Winter polyurethane foam can be used in winter, as it can withstand the temperature of the treated surface from -20 to +30 degrees;

• All-season polyurethane foam is characterized by a combination of properties of winter and summer modifications. Working temperature all-season foam is within the range from -10 to +30 degrees.

Moreover, the manufacturer suggests that builders who prefer polyurethane foam should pay attention to a separate type of polyurethane sealant, which has special functional parameters - fire-resistant polyurethane foam. The use of non-flammable sealant that retains its performance characteristics when exposed to high temperatures and even open fire, is practiced in the construction of facilities for which the highest fire safety requirements are imposed.

How to choose the right polyurethane sealant?

When choosing polyurethane foam, the price of which directly depends on the quality, it is important to focus not only on the manufacturer, but also on the external characteristics of the cylinder in which the sealant is sold. A container with the best polyurethane foam is much heavier, and its contents, when shaken, roll from one end of the container to the other, and the price will speak for itself.

Factors affecting foam consumption

An important parameter that experts recommend taking into account when choosing a sealant is the consumption of polyurethane foam. It directly determines the amount of material that needs to be purchased to carry out certain work and is determined by a large number of external and internal factors.

Internal:

• Manufacturer of polyurethane foam, on which one of the important technical parameters material - primary expansion. In accordance with it, highly expanding modifications are distinguished, which include most household sealants, for example, Titanium foam. In addition, manufacturers offer mounting foams with medium and low expansion, suitable for more delicate work, among which we can note Macroflex mounting foam, which has all of the above properties, as well as Master mounting foam, characterized by minimal toxicity.

External:

• Ambient temperature;
• The material used to make the surface being treated is recognized as one of the fundamental parameters that must be taken into account when calculating sealant consumption.

Instructions for using polyurethane foam. Basic details of use

Regardless of which polyurethane foam you prefer, be it professional or household, before use, the container with foam is preheated in hot water and shake thoroughly. This is done in order to mix the components of the sealant, and thereby increase the yield of polyurethane foam, a photo of the use of which is presented in the article.

Further actions depend on the modification of the selected polyurethane sealant.

If it is semi-professional foam, then a tube that comes with it is put on the cylinder, while a cylinder with professional foam requires installing a gun on it after removing the cap from it.

It is important to remember that a properly functioning gun can ensure the safety of unused foam for 3 days.

After preparing the material, you need to take care careful preparation working plane, which will later be used for applying sealant. Experts advise cleaning it from dirt and dust particles, and also moistening it with water, which accelerates the polymerization of the polyurethane precursor included in the sealant. In addition, this contributes to the speedy adhesion of the polyurethane foam to the surface being treated.

The process of applying polyurethane sealant is not difficult; the only thing you need to pay close attention to is the correct dosage of foam output from the container.

In this regard, it is easier to work with professional foam, the container with which is equipped with a special gun that regulates the output of the sealant using a valve. In case of use household cylinders, this process adjust by pressing the pressure on the cylinder valve. It is important to consider that during the process of applying foam to the surface, the container must be held vertically with the valve down.

After applying the sealant, you must wait for it completely dry. According to the manufacturer, complete polymerization of the material occurs within 6-7 hours, but its final hardening often depends on the volume of foam used and can take up to 11-12 hours.

After the polyurethane foam has hardened, many people ask the question: “How to remove the polyurethane foam?” This event also does not require special skills. The excess foam remaining after it hardens is cut off with a metal file or a sharply sharpened knife.

In the event that the polyurethane foam was used outdoors, after it has completely dried and subsequent removal of excess, it is covered with cement mortar or plaster. It is also not prohibited to paint it, which protects it from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The need for this measure is due to the high sensitivity of even the best polyurethane foam to ultraviolet radiation, contributing to color change and premature destruction of the material.

If, when applying polyurethane foam, it gets on your hands, do not panic. It can be removed using the solvent used to wash the gun.

If a person types the query “spray foam without a gun how to use” into a search engine, then most likely he has never held a can of foam in his hands. Accordingly, this person did not have the opportunity to read the instructions printed on the cylinder. Well, let's fill this gap in the knowledge of beginners and conduct detailed instructions on the topic “How to use polyurethane foam without a gun.”

No super actions are required - everything is extremely clear, simple and understandable.

Briefing

- the area must be clean from dust, dirt and various types of contaminants.

Anything that might fall off is removed. Dust must be cleaned up. It is the main enemy for foam-surface adhesion.

— immediately before applying the foam, the area must be moistened with water. We advise you not to neglect this point and the adhesion will be simply excellent.

— if we are talking about installing windows or doors, then they need to be secured so that the foam does not deform the structure. Spacers must be installed in advance, but not after foaming - polyurethane foam is afraid of vibration until it hardens.

Polyurethane foam has unique properties. Use it without a gun or with it - in any case, you will get excellent results if the manufacturer does not let you down with quality. But sometimes it also happens that the user himself made several or even one mistake, so he will complain not about his crooked hands, but about the brand of foam. Read everything written below and try to remember - these rules, tips and recommendations will be useful to you:

Instead of a conclusion

Polyurethane foam without or with a gun - the main thing is that the rules of use are fully observed. Then the result will be wonderful. As a last resort, if you don’t know how to use it and don’t remember our recommendations and advice, carefully read the instructions on the cylinder - everything is also written there in an accessible manner.

Polyurethane foam is an excellent sealant and insulation material. It is used both for the installation of such large-scale structures as doors and windows, and for repairing minor defects. This material is used to patch various cracks and crevices, restore tightness at joints, and even make other Construction Materials. Foamed polyurethane is quite easy to use, but you need to follow certain rules for working with it and be quite careful so that the seam is smooth and lasts a long time.

Peculiarities

Cured polyurethane foam is an elastic hard material yellowish-white color. This very light substance has excellent heat and sound insulation properties. It very quickly loses its properties under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, so it is used mainly indoors.

This type of foam has a number of advantages that make it stand out from other materials:

• increased moisture resistance, high levels of sound and heat insulation;
• low current conductivity, which allows it to be used when installing electrical networks;
• many types of foam are resistant to fire, which allows expanding the scope of its application;
• after leaving the cylinder, such foam expands in volume and fills even those microcracks into which it is impossible to insert the gun tube;
• polyurethane can be used to glue surfaces made of different materials, for example, wood or brick;
• The foam is absolutely non-toxic and resistant to chemical attack.

Almost all of the above properties must be indicated by the manufacturer in the appropriate certificates, which can be requested from the seller.

The packaging itself must contain the following information:

• foam expansion volume. It can range from 10 to 300%, but most often the actual foam is still slightly less, since this percentage is indicated for ideal conditions;
• its viscosity;
• the volume of the container itself.

Most often, all these characteristics depend on the type and purpose of the foam, so you need to know which polyurethane it is and what it should be used for.

Release form

All types of polyurethane insulation differ according to several criteria.

Depending on the method of application and form of release, they can be of two types.

• Professional foam is produced in special cylinders that are inserted into plastic gun with metal clamps. This gun allows you to use polyurethane economically and in equal portions. The main thing is to thoroughly rinse the device after use so that any remaining substances in it do not harden.
• Instead of a gun, household foam packages are equipped with a small tube that is placed on the lever. It's not suitable for big renovation, but will cope perfectly with minor defects.

Depending on what time of year and at what temperature the polyurethane will expand and harden, the following types of polyurethane foam are distinguished:

• summer – used at temperatures from +5 to +35 degrees;
• winter – used at temperatures from -18 to +35 degrees;
• universal - costs much more, but can be used all year round.

It is worth noting that temperature ranges are indicated not for air, but for the surface on which the composition will be applied. The lower its temperature, the less expansion of the finished layer will be.

In addition, foam can vary in type depending on the flammability class:

• B3 – flammable substance;
• B2 – self-extinguishing substance;
• B1 – fire-resistant compounds.

Finally, polyurethane foams vary in composition. They can be one- or two-component. However, the latter type of foam is so difficult to handle that it is practically not used for private construction and when renovating premises with your own hands. Two-component foam hardens in a quarter of an hour and there is practically no time left to eliminate defects, so only experienced professional builders use it.

Scope of application

Most often, polyurethane foam is used in the process of installing windows and doors, laying electrical wiring and pipelines. Due to the high thermal insulation in this way, it is possible to foam seams and grooves in cooling and heating systems, cracks in the roof and when insulating the surface of walls, floors or ceilings. It perfectly fastens wall panels and foam boards, providing excellent waterproofing. It is applied externally steel baths or cast iron baths to reduce heat transfer from the metal when filling the bath hot water. Using polyurethane, you can insulate the space behind the sheathing of PVC panels. In almost half of the repair processes it remains an indispensable material.

In order to avoid any problems with both small and major renovation own home or apartment, you need to be able to use both professional and household foam. To work correctly with the first one, you must correctly install and use a special construction gun.

Gun installation includes the following steps:

• To begin, the foam balloon is heated in warm water to room temperature, after which it is shaken vigorously for 30 seconds. This will give the polyurethane a homogeneous state, which will allow it to come out of the cylinder smoothly and in full;
• The protective cap is removed from the upper tank of the gun, it is turned with the handle down and the cylinder is screwed into it. The container is screwed in with force until a hissing sound appears, which means that the mixture has begun to flow into the tool;
• if the gun has been previously used and has not been thoroughly washed, then the hissing will not be heard and you will have to purchase a new tool;
• The system of connected elements is shaken vigorously several more times, the adjustment screw is turned a quarter turn and, holding the trigger, they begin to apply.

Working with such equipment does not require specific skills, but it will require considerable dexterity if this is the first time.

Applying foam from a gun is performed as follows:

• first you need to clean it work surface from dust and dirt, then lightly wet it with a regular spray, since the foam interacts better with a wet surface;
• the tool nozzle is directed to the surface;
• foam is fed into the right amount smoothly pressing the trigger;
• to pour the composition into a vertical recess, it must be applied from bottom to top;
• wide spaces are filled with zigzag movements of no more than a third of the volume, since the foam expands greatly in air;
• It is better to replenish the area afterwards than to cut off excess hardened substance.

The barrel of the gun itself is quite long, but in order to glue materials in hard-to-reach places, for example, to fill the voids between a false wall, it is worth additionally purchasing an extension hose that fits onto it.

Despite the fact that the packaging most often indicates a hardening time of up to 8 hours, in fact this process can take up to half a day. After complete hardening, the excess is cut off with a regular stationery knife or metal file.

Unlike a convenient construction gun, household polyurethane foam is equipped with only a small PVC tube, which is put on an adapter. In principle, the sequence of work itself is practically the same, however, more effort will have to be made to fill the gap of the same volume. Such a tube is convenient for small volumes of work, because with it it is impossible to release the solution in equal portions. In addition, you have to constantly hold the balloon upside down, which causes your hand to constantly go numb, making it difficult to maintain smooth movements. If a similar tube and adapter were not sold complete with polyurethane insulation, then you will have to buy them separately.

You will learn more about how to use polyurethane foam in the video.

Most often, polyurethane foam is purchased in the required volume for one time and after use, even if it is unfinished, is thrown away. And also it is not bought in advance, as it has a limited shelf life. It is worth considering the nuances described below in more detail in order to be able to save money.

Can it be used multiple times?

There is a widespread belief among buyers that professional foam with a gun can be reused, but the household type with a flexible tube, alas, is disposable and cannot be reapplied to the surface. Indeed, most often, if you leave the cylinder on the gun and block the trigger with a dispenser, the gun will not allow air to enter the cylinder and the composition will not harden. The next time you use it, it will be enough to remove the remaining frozen foam from the nozzle and you can start working again. However, exactly the same can be achieved from household product. To do this, you need to start releasing the foam from the balloon, but without letting it come out, bend and tie the soft tube with wire. The foam at its end will harden, but the bend will not allow air to penetrate further and spoil the entire volume of the substance. The next time you use it, the cured edge of the PVC tube is simply cut off and the foam is ready for use. The container can be stored in this form for no more than a few weeks.