Questions and Answers for GREAT STUFF PRO 20 oz. Window and Door Insulating Spray Foam Sealant

A:  Dear MTSoxFan: You cannot use Great Stuff in the winter when the temps are below ~55. Latex based sealants like DAP 230 are also out at ~20 degrees F. Not knowing the status of your construction project, e.g. if windows are in and the space is sealed up, could you run a standard propane-fired heater to bring the temp up fo a couple of days, so you could use a standard sealant and allow it to cure before you turn the heater off? That's typically what we do in the winter. If you cannot warm the interior, the only sealant that you can use at 20 degrees is silicone based, e.g. DAP 3.0. 20 degrees is the minimum temp, however, so this would be pushing it. You could also use flashing tape, e.g. 3M #8067All Weather flashing tape, which can be applied down to 0 degrees F. In short, it would be a good idea to find a temporary heater solution. If this is do-able, DAP 230 and HVAC mastic work well to seal joints and small gaps. Use the 'Window and Door' version of Great Stuff for larger gaps and the perimeter. I hope this is helpful. Mark

A:  Thank you both for the reply. My question was geared towards the application temperature, as I am still in building process. I was hoping to insulate and seal before the heat goes in as I'm a 4 hour drive away and won't be going back up until early spring. I guess a tight fir of XPS will have to do until then.

A:  We used this product on the last three houses we built in Montana. Temps to -40 Have not had cold spots or drafts. We used the two part spray foam for large areas but these work tremendously well for joints, door frames, above doors, around duct work and etc.

A:  If you are talking about using it to seal around the edges of XPS panels, then this is what you want. Make sure to get the door/window foam and not the big gap foam (as that would expand too much). They also make a fire foam version as well if you are sealing between floors and have to be code compliant.

A:  Hi sprayfoam, Great Stuff™ Insulating Foam Sealant products should not be used around heaters, furnaces, fireplaces, or recessed lighting fixtures where it contacts heat conducting surfaces. Cured foam is combustible and may present a fire hazard if exposed to flame or temperatures above 240 °F (116°C).

A:  No, that is not. They make a foam sealant that is specifically fire rated and is bright orange.

A:  No, only the red and orange cans, the foam is orange. There is a label on the can that also indicates

A:  Just for the record, did you happen to leave it in the trunk of your car or the back of your truck and it got frozen? Or maybe you applied it in too cold of a temp? I used many cans of this product a few months ago with no issues. You might want to call the Co. with the date code on the can, maybe it's just old? Good luck!

A:  If you just recently changed cans, you may still have some gun cleaner (aceton) residue in the gun and have noticed that will happen. Just waste a little bit of foam before using it on something important. I have not had any other similar experiences with the many cans I have gone through in the last year.

A:  Hi ToddM, the product formula has not changed, the product should still be resilient and flexible if used within the Best if Used By Date on the bottom of the can. We recommend returning the can to the point of purchase, they are set up to be able to handle product returns/exchanged. If you would like to talk to one of our technical representatives please give us a call at 866-583-2583.

A:  If it dries, cures then you have to mechanically remove it -- scrub it off or wait for it to wear off. Soap and water, paint thinner, etc. will do nothing to this stuff once it cures!

A:  Nothing takes it off. You literally have to grow new skin.

A:  I have used acetone to clean it off anything that it gets on. If you even run a little acetone through the straw and tip of the can you can use what is left in the can another day. I haven't tried it when the foam is fully cured so I don't know if it works then.

A:  Did you buy the cleaner for the system? It has an attached spray tip that you can use which immediately dissolves the foam. It's harsh. I usually wear disposable gloves when using it because it's hard to get off. Clothes are just ruined, so I wear old painting clothes etc. Otherwise the product works perfectly for it's application. If you don't have the cleaner, get it, you'll be Happy you did.

A:  In my experience it is, I have used it to seal several windows and doors.

A:  GREAT STUFF™ Window and Door is not water proof, only water resistant. This means that if submerged for an extended amount of time it will take on water and lose its structure. It would however retain its structure if exposed to smaller amounts of water.

A:  Dear Rich: Yes, but not sunlight proof. It is not designed for outdoor applications and the cured foam will quickly degrade over time. If you need a quantity of waterproof foam, XPS foam board is a good choice, e.g. Foamular. I hope this is helpful. Mark

A:  Yes. Water will not damage it once cured however it will absorb water especially if the surface is trimmed to expose the inner foam. It is not suitable to use as a caulking. Exposure to sunlight causes it to deteriorate.

A:  Dear Rich: Yes, with a few caveats. Great Stuff is excellent to insulate gaps, e.g. around windows and doors -- but is not used for flashing, e.g. to seal out water around windows and doors. Great Stuff will also degrade over time if left exposed to sunlight. To water seal on an exterior surface, use DAP 230 or DAP 3.0, which are available in a range of colors. I hope this is helpful. Mark

A:  GREAT STUFF™ Insulating Foam Sealants seal air leaks easily, inexpensively and permanently. All GREAT STUFF™ Insulating Foam Sealants chemically bond to wood, metal, masonry, glass and most plastics. The GREAT STUFF™ Window & Door is formulated differently that allows it to remain slightly less rigid to allow for natural expansion and contraction between the frame and rough openings, however all GREAT STUFF™ products would require mechanical removal once cured. There is no tensile strength data for the residential series GREAT STUFF™ products, however the tensile strength per ASTM D1623 test method is 14.4 psi for the GREAT STUFF Pro™ Gaps & Cracks and 9.5 psi (Type B) and 5.5 psi (Type C) for GREAT STUFF Pro™ Window & Door. Feel free to call the Dow Customer Information Group at 866-583-2583 option 4, Mon - Fri, 8 - 5 EST to discuss your application and if you have additional questions.

A:  It fills the gaps well and sticks were you put it.

A:  In my experience, it is close but not quite 100%. Seems to have no problem to wood, but doesn't seem to stick as well to stone/masonry.

A:  Dear Mack: Yes. The key difference is that the 'Window and Door' version remains flexible after it cures, to avoid cracks as things expand and contract. This makes it ideal to insulate gaps around windows and doors, and air seal joints and edges of foam board, etc. I hope this is helpful, Mark

A:  The adhesion is fine if you have small gaps to fill, if you have larger ones layer it and let it expand and dry and make another pass to fill large gaps.

A:  More information is needed in order to provide you with the best assistance. Please call our technical team at 1-866-583-2583 and select 8 to speak with a representative.

A:  Skirting insulation or subfloor insulation. Skirting insulation is generally two inch foamboard. Most of the subfloor insulation is either batting or spray foam.

A:  Hi CofLafayette, GREAT STUFF™ is not to be used for filling closed cavities or voids such as behind walls and under tub surrounds; this improper use of the product could result in the accumulation of flammable vapors and/or uncured material. Failure to follow the warnings and instructions provided with the product, and/or all applicable rules and regulations, can result in injury or death.

A:  Yes, the sealant can be used to insulate a tub.

A:  Yes. Sprayed into the backside voids it will work well

A:  Yes, spray the foam and set the tub down on it. It will support and insulate the tub.

A:  Yes, with some important caveats. First, all versions of Great Stuff foam are very flammable and will ignite at just 240 degrees F, so do not apply it next to a heating unit or pump if your tub has a built-in 'whirlpool / jet' system. Second, you will need to apply the foam in stages to allow it to cure properly. Spray one layer, then let it expand and cure completely over a couple of hours. Then apply another layer. If you fill a larger space in one shot, the foam will not cure properly. Third, spritz the foam with a light mist of water from a spray bottle, immediately after you apply it. Great Stuff cures by pulling moisture out of the air. A light spritz of water will double the output per can and improve the quality of the cured foam. Another option that will be easier if your tub has not been installed yet: simply pack the gaps with Roxul rock wool. Roxul provides R-4 insulation per inch of thickness. It is much denser than fiberglass, molds kind of like clay and stays where you put it. See: Roxul Model # RXCB351525, Home Depot Internet #202090820 Store SKU #974419. Simply tear chunks off the batts and stuff it into the gaps around your tub. Roxul is made from rock fiber, and like fiberglass insulation these fibers are itchy. So wear gloves and a dust mask when you install it. I hope this is helpful. Mark

A:  Dear Braiden: No. Home Depot also sells Great Stuff foam in standard 16 oz cans with a built-in straw. No gun is required. See: Great Stuff Model # 248312, Home Depot Internet #100068117 Store SKU #522661 A couple of tips: Great Stuff foam pulls moisture out of the air to cure. You can significantly increase the volume of foam and improve the quality of the cured foam by simply spritzing it with a little water after you apply it. The 'Windows and Doors' version is also ideal to seal around windows and doors, foam board and other areas; the cured foam remains flexible to avoid cracks as things expand and contract. Two cautions: (1) Great Stuff sticks tenaciously to everything -- including carpet, paint, your hands, hair, etc -- and cannot be removed with any standard solvent. Wear gloves and tarp off anything nearby. (2) All versions of Great Stuff are very flammable. The cured foam will ignite at just 240 degrees F. So NEVER install Great Stuff near any source of heat, e.g. furnace ducts, recessed ceiling lights, etc. I hope this is helpful. Mark

A:  For the pro cans yes.

A:  Yes, this particular type is for gun use. There is the type for regular use without a gun.

A:  Yes, this product is designed for use with PRO series foam dispensing guns.

A:  Yes. It does not have it's own applicator. I have run hundreds of cans through my gun. ItsI well worth the price. Also, you can use a little and stop. The smaller application cans are usually one use only. Because the tube gets dried in with the foam. The gun doesn't do that

A:  It depends on what you want to use it for -- the benefit of the gun means that you can store cans for up to a month while attached. You can also deliver a bead of foam pretty darn small and uniform...something you'd never get from the regular non-Pro can. I seem to get a LOT more out of the gun/Pro-can than with just the regular can.

A:  For can foam using the straw adapter, the theoretical yield of one-component foams is measured in lineal feet of a 3/8"- 1/2" diameter bead. GREAT STUFF™ is easy to use - follow the safety directions and watch the videos on this site for some simple air sealing and retrofit improvements around the home. 3/8 Bead 1/2" Bead Gaps and Cracks - 12 oz. 309 lin. ft. 174 lin. ft. Gaps and Cracks - 16 oz. 412 lin. ft. 232 lin. ft. Gaps and Cracks - 20 oz. 417 lin. ft. 235 lin. ft. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sizes and Estimated Yields for GREAT STUFF PRO™ Gaps & Cracks Insulating Foam Sealant Can Size, oz (g) Delivery Yield, linear feet (m)(1) 24 (680) Reusable Straw 775 (236) 24 (680) Gun 970 (296) 30 (850) Reusable Straw 965 (294) 30 (850) Gun 1,450 (442) (1) Estimated yield under ideal conditions, 3/8" (10 mm) bead.

A:  My experience is three cans to one. And the best part is the feature to use a little and stop. The smaller cans aren't friendly to that

A:  Yes, more volume more yield than the smaller cans.

A:  Dear Dan: Yes. Justin Fink at Fine Homebuilding ran a thorough test of Great Stuff. Here is what he found: Gun yield: 83 cubic inches per ounce Straw yield: 69 cubic inches per ounce Even more important, spritzing the foam with a bit of water boosted the yield by 73% (gun) to 92% (straw), accelerated cure time and created fewer voids in the cured foam. (The numbers shown above include the water spritz treatment.) That's because Great Stuff foam needs water vapor to cure, and pulls it from the humidity in the air. A light spritz of water improves the process. I hope this will be helpful in your next Great Stuff project! Mark