As the name suggests, expanding foam is a material which hardens and expands when it comes in contact with air. It is a material widely used in filling cracks, walls, crevices, packaging, water proofing, insulating. The need for such activities usually comes in construction industries and any home improvement projects. However, this easy-to-use foam insulation is possible to do it yourself too, even if you don't have some prior experience of working with it.
Uses of Expanding Foam
This lightweight foam is widely used for filling under decks and filling cracks 'n' voids. Also used in different types of insulation and flotation applications. It is mainly used in drought prevention, wherein, old houses have all sorts of cracks and holes and draft can enter in the houses very easily. Thus an expanding foam sealant is applied to all the small cavities and holes to ideally fill 'em up. And not only draft, it can deter all sorts of pests and rats to enter the house as well. As this material has high density, it is used in architectural castings, different support applications.
Some Other Uses
Since expanding foam has a splendid insulating quality, it is used in sealing and waterproofing holes, crevices and other damages in the structure of the buildings or homes. Particularly in case of doors and window frames, expanding foam packaging is the term to use for this discussion. When the ready-made wooden or plastic door/window frames are placed in its proper position, there is still a gap in between the wall and the frame. This foaming material acts as a tight seal to clasp-fit that gap and act as a supportive sealant to the whole area.
Expanding foam acts as the most inexpensive and lightweight prop material in the television and film industry. It is also used to pack and seal objects so that they can sustain long travel as seen in shipping in containers, most importantly, in fire prevention in case of fire taking place in a room or any location. The foam is designed with special materials and is placed in foam tankers. Firemen use those tankers to emit that special expanding foam in a fire in order to douse it.
Tips to Remember
This foam type is not supposed to be applied in places where you store your expensive clothes, jewelry, accessories and footwear. Not even in the rooms that have expensive furnishings and plush carpets, upholstery, etc. The only reason is, that it sticks pretty well to any object. The foam doesn't stick to dirty and damp surfaces though. In case if you plan to clean or remove the foam off any surface, use solvents and cleaning materials, like petrol, for removal. Make sure you wear proper insulation on your hands to avoid sticking around with the smell for long!
Besides all this there is another type of foam insulation called, spray foams (insulation). They are available in spray nozzles, which help in direct spraying of foam into crevices and holes to fill 'em up. Though this material is quite messy to use, it's advisable you hire a professional if you plan to use spray foam in getting a job done.
Once you familiarize yourself with this material, you will see its effectiveness and importance in no time!
