Question on using "Great Stuff" foam sealant

[NanciL]

Has anyone here used Great Stuff foam sealant?

I have an open space under my shower where I can look down and see the ground and I am going to use it to seal it.
I have read all the directions on the can, but I can't figure out how to stop the flow once it is started, and it doesn't say how.
Once the straw is screwed into the tube the foam is supposed to start flowing, but how do you stop it?

Jack L

[NanciL]

Well, I said I would get back with my comment(s) after using it and here I am.
It worked way above my expectations !
I read all the instructions and warnings and listened to what you all said, but I only wished that it said on the can that it would stop flowing as soon as you stop pressing on the straw handle. I was prepaired for it to keep flowing and even had a grocery bag handy to shove it in which was completely unnecessary.
The only other thing was on the can it said it was good for cracks and small openings and I had a fairly large void that I wanted to fill which had me worried for nothing since I could have plugged a three or four inch diameter hole easily.
Over all, it did exactly what I wanted it to do and I would use it again if I had to.

Thanks to you all for your comments and advice

Jack L

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I just used a can of the stuff to seal some gaps in a block wall - and my can had a stopper on the end of the straw that stopped the foam from oozing out after the trigger was released. Worked pretty well - but as others have said, once you're done, just throw the rest out because the stopper at the end only makes it seal up/glue itself shut even tighter

[Bipeflier]

Lacquer thinner will dissolve UNCURED foam. I rinse the straw and trigger after use. Good to go the next time. Also removes it from your hands.

[ivbinconned]

I also use the expanding foam where the slide gears and track are when closing for the winter.
When you open it again it just chews out the exact clearance to function.
Mice infested Rv are many on insurance salvage sites. Many written off. Manufactures do a lousy job of sealing RV.s and we the consumers are going to pay higher and higher priemums as a result.

[ivbinconned]

It's been my practice to use copper wool in a void then dispence the expanding foam into it.
Mice don't like the copper so won't chew through it and it will not rust like steel will will.

[DiskDoctr]

Use the Pro version. Requires a dispenser gun ($50 for metal one, less for ones I don't use).

Turn flow up or down, stop and start. As fine as a fine bead of caulk, or as large as bulk fill like the disposable cans. Store unused up to 30 days. After it skins over in a few mins, you can mold it into spots. Minimal expansion force. Extended application temps.

FYI. Vaseline prevents it from sticking. I dip and coat the dispenser tube with a light coat of Vaseline before each use. Anything on it just wipes right off. Allows you to use the metal tube to push in and around the foam without making a mess.

Home Depot stocks it now, used to be order only. About $10/can, orange firecode color.

Once you use this, you will NEVER, NEVER use the disposable cans again. Really 😉

Good luck!

[Charlie_D_]

Remove the dispensing tube when finished. Spray carb. or brake cleaner to clean the tube. Can be reused later.

[NanciL]

Many thanks to all the good answers.
I am not sure when I'll be using it since Hurricane Irma did a number on us and I have a mile long "to do " list, but I'll report back with my results from all your tips.

Jack L

[MrWizard]

I will say that if you cut it, you should seal it , with paint or something
The expanding foam is Not closed cell
Once you break the smooth surface of the set up foam you have a sponge that will soak up water
I found for me, the best thing to do was wear disposable gloves
Wet the gloves in a bucket of faucet
Use my fingers or palms to pat the foam down, flatten some of the swelling with out breaking the smooth surface

I would tape around the bottom side of that hole
So all your foam didn't spill out, go easy and slow
You can fill the hole, seal it off, and have only a slight bulge on the bottom/outside

[Grit_dog]

As said, there are several variants of carpenter in a can. Some are low expansion, some extra expansion.

[donn0128]

Instead of using regular spray foam, search out rodent proof spray foam. At least thenmyou have a fighting chance of preventing unwanted guests.

[wannavolunteerF]

I bought some that was supposed to be somewhat flexible.. as I was scared of it expanding too much around the water pipes in floor. It may have been the window and door kind. I just read cans carefully before I bought. Yes I spent a good 30 minutes buying a $5 item.

[Dick_B]

There are two types of Great Stuff; the expanding kind and the Windows and Doors kind. If you can't reach all of the opening with the straw you probably want the expanding kind. Read the instructions. Some will drip out of the straw when you release the trigger so let it drip on something that you can discard. It is tenacious.

[Bobbo]

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
it's difficult to remove from Hands .... or anything...

+1 on this! I have a pair of blue jeans that I can only wear to work around the house. DW won't let me wear them off of the property because I got some Great Stuff on them. It DOESN'T come out!