4 Easy Ways to Use Spray Foam for Efficient Home Construction

1. Condenser unit pipes

The condenser unit is attached to the home with a series of small pipes that enter through a hole in the exterior wall. Kyle used Loctite® Tite Foam Gaps & Cracks to seal this penetration back up.

After shaking the can for 30 seconds, he inserted the straw applicator into the hole where the condenser unit pipes entered the home to fill up any nooks and crannies where air could potentially escape. The super flexible, high-density foam has excellent adhesion, is UV resistant and expands to fill up gaps of varying sizes.

This spray foam is also paintable, meaning tomorrow Kyle will come back, cut off excess foam, then paint what’s left to blend in nicely with the home’s exterior.

2. Door jamb 

Usually, Kyle would just use spray foam to fill in the jamb area on either side of the door, but this site presented a unique situation. Walls are usually constructed prior to pouring the foundation slab, but the client lowered the slab an inch, leaving a small gap above the door.

Kyle used Loctite® Tite Foam Window & Door, which is formulated for flexibility, meaning it won’t expand and bow the door at any point. He added it to both side jambs and used it to fill in the gap left on top.

3. Attic pipes

The plumbing contractor installed pipes in the attic that exited the room through the side walls, leaving gaps between the pipe and the wall. To seal these larger spaces up and avoid movement in the wall over time, Kyle used Loctite® Tite Foam Big Gaps, which demonstrates great durability and flexibility and fills gaps up to 3 inches. The straw applicator is also useful for getting into the tight spaces within the wall rather than just sealing up the parts he can see.

In the attic space, the team isn’t as worried about aesthetics or blending in spray foam. Functionality is the most important factor here, so he added a bit of extra spray foam to really seal up the wall and prevent air leakage.

4. Insulating new windows

All new windows should be sealed before insulating a home. Before Kyle installed pre-made jamb extensions and paints, he needed to properly air seal and insulate the window perimeter using Loctite® Tite Foam Window & Door. Windows tend to move over time, so the low pressure, flexible formula works perfectly here to prevent air flow.

To apply, Kyle used the straw applicator to shoot spray foam into the jamb, paying extra attention to the nooks and crannies created by shims he encountered along the way. Once the foam is fully cured (about 24 hours), Kyle will return to cut it flush with the jamb so he can proceed with the rest of the home’s insulation.

It’s important to note that Kyle used different formulas of Loctite® Tite Foam for different applications throughout the home. While Loctite® Tite Foam Big Gaps worked to cover the larger spaces around pipes in the attic, it wouldn’t be the right choice for the condenser unit pipes, which required Loctite® Tite Foam Gaps & Cracks to completely seal every small area.

With the right tools for the job on hand, Kyle easily prevented air flow and increased efficiency in four separate areas of the home. Spray foam is a handy tool for new home construction, but it can also help with energy efficiency in existing homes. Seal up cracks around your windows, doors, and pipes while lowering your utility bills with Loctite® Tite Foam.