Tips for spray foaming tight space
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I’m looking to use canned foam to air seal some tight spaces between the bottom of the baseboard and subfloor. Caulking isn’t possible.
Any tips on getting fine control to foam the space? Using this is all I could think of.
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Replies
I find that a gun like this provides much better control than a disposable straw-type applicator: https://www.lowes.com/pd/GREAT-STUFF-Gaps-and-Cracks-Foam-Sealant-Kit-2-Cans-Gaps-and-Cracks-1-Foam-Applicator-Gun-1-Can-Cleaner-Gloves/5013305057. (The guns are available separately, I just didn't see them on that website.)
Before I bought my own professional foam gun (see above), I pushed the foam can straw into a section of 1/4" ID LDPE tubing to extend the straw which worked reasonably well to fill some rim joists I couldn't previously reach.
You can get disposable plastic tips for the foam gun Michael linked to in post #1. Those tips let you get into much smaller gaps, and I highly recommend using them for something like you're describing here. You can getthem at the blue store too (or any of the other box stores): https://www.lowes.com/pd/GREAT-STUFF-PRO-Foam-Insulation-Gun-Nozzles/5015643757
Those tips are a little flexible and can squeeze into gaps down to around 1/8" or so. Just BE SURE to clean the gun WITH ACETONE after EVERY use, and that means ANYTIME you stop using the gun for more than a minute or so. I keep a can of acetone and some paper towels nearby whenever I'm using the gun, and I've had the same gun now for around 7-8 years or so without any trouble since I ALWAYS clean it WELL after using it. Don't just rely on the gun cleaner, which is just an aerosol can with acetone in it. You really need to wipe down the outside of the tip area of the gun too, especially when using the plastic tips.
Bill
Do you know if those plastic tips screw on? I'd be worried they would just blow off under pressure
I'm also wondering if the spray foam can attached to the gun would get in the way. I imaging bending down trying to spray within a confined space would require you to rotate the gun so the can is horizontal or even upside down.