How to cover up polyurethane foam- common and important question... After all, polyurethane foam, if necessary, to install PVC windows has gained significant popularity due to the important operational benefits... By its composition, the polyurethane foam is a polyurethane foam sealant; isocyanate and polyol should be distinguished among the main components of the material. Also, the production composition of the polyurethane foam is supplemented with various auxiliary components - a stabilizer, a foaming agent, a catalyst, etc.
The main characteristics of the polyurethane foam are viscosity, output volume, adhesion, primary, secondary expansion. This construction material depending on the composition, it can be presented in the form of one-component or two-component mixtures. It is possible to separate the polyurethane foam and by purpose - household, professional, winter, summer, all-season.
We cover the assembly seams - the foam requires proper protection
But for the demanded multifunctional material, appropriate protection is also necessary. After all, polyurethane foam during operation encounters destructive effects in the form of moisture and sunlight. This is also reported by manufacturers on spray cans with polyurethane foam. But a quite reasonable question arises - how to seal up the polyurethane foam.
To avoid negative impacts and significantly increase the service life of the polyurethane foam, simple and sufficient effective options- treatment of foam with a sealant, paint, putty or with the help of special materials. Without protection, cracks and coloration of the polyurethane foam occur due to the destructive effect of sunlight and moisture.
The destruction will not occur immediately, but the resource of the polyurethane foam without protection will be insignificant - only about four years. After this time, there is a loss thermal insulation properties construction seams. Exposure to moisture, temperature fluctuations and ultraviolet light leads to a loss of thermal conductivity of the foam - it loses its hygroscopic properties, and gradual destruction occurs.
How to cover up polyurethane foam - how to achieve a durable result
Therefore, for polyurethane foam a prerequisite adequate protection becomes - to maintain properties during operation without the need for frequent repairs. Before covering the foam with a putty or sealant, you can use a PSUL (pre-compressed sealing tape) that is specially designed for the application.
Other means can be used to protect the polyurethane foam:
Finishing plaster or putty, resistant to temperatures below zero;
Polyurethane sealant;
A mortar of sand, cement, white grout;
Liquid plastic;
Acrylate paint;
Window putty and other methods.
How to cover up polyurethane foam - competent help from Harvest Industries
For confidence in the quality and durability of the result, installation plastic windows and related work is recommended to be trusted by competent specialists. Experienced specialists of the company "Harvest Industries" approach each project individually, carrying out accurate measurements, carefully taking into account the features of the work and the object, choosing the preferred method of protection for reliable protection polyurethane foam.
Using polyurethane foam, we are able to completely eliminate all gaps after installing windows and doors. However, having cut off all the excess of this material, we are faced with the task of hiding the traces of the foam itself, since it looks rather unpresentable. Today we will reveal the features of this process and talk about how to solve the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.
This chemical is a polyurethane-based sealant containing isocyanate and polyol. This is the basis, however, different manufacturers may include various additives such as catalysts, stabilizers, blowing agents, and the like. The foam has high adhesion and expandability, allowing it to fill the entire space. The materials with which this foam forms the strongest bonds are as follows:
- Cement;
- Metal;
- Plaster.
At the same time, plastic or fatty materials, as well as wet surfaces adhere to such foam to a much lesser extent. This, in turn, ensures that we do not apply it in places where it should not be. Although, it is still not easy to wipe off such foam from such surfaces.
How to cut polyurethane foam
It is necessary to cut off the foam with a technical knife, which must be sharp. Try to cut in such a way that the remaining foam is flush with both surfaces on the sides of it. This will facilitate further processing.
Do I need to cut the polyurethane foam with a sealant?
Polyurethane foam is an excellent insulator, however, it itself needs insulation. If this is not done, the surface will begin to crack under the influence of solar radiation and moisture. Therefore, it is necessary to hide its cut so that the foam does not collapse ahead of time (usually its insulating properties are enough for 4 years). As a sealant, polyurethane can be used, as the most suitable for such a bond. Pre-compressed sealing tape is also widely used for sealing foam. However, you need to understand that construction tape is a very dubious decision from a design point of view. In addition, do not apply any finishing materials, since, after being saturated with them, the tape will begin to peel off.
Foam plaster and other finishes
In addition to the options listed above, the following are used:
- Acrylic paint;
- A mixture of cement, white grout and sand;
- Putty. Fit finishing plaster capable of tolerating negative temperatures;
- Window putty or liquid plastic.
Depending on the type of concealment of the polyurethane foam, it is necessary to carry out certain actions. For example, if the foam is painted over, then this can be done directly on an even cut. However, in the case of plaster, it is necessary to first ensure a better adhesion to the surface. And for this, small grooves are cut in the foam.
The layer of plaster with which we will cover the foam should not be thin. Indeed, in this case, it will very quickly begin to crack and crumble. Try to keep the layer thickness at least three millimeters
Foam grouting is done in two cases:
- Before painting, in order to create the most even surface. In this case, you need to ensure that the cut does not begin to collapse, and this requires the use of the finest sandpaper;
- In the case of the application of plaster, after the latter has dried, the surface is carefully trowelled in order to give it an attractive appearance.
After installing windows and doors, the owners and master finishers often ask themselves the question - how to seal the polyurethane foam? You can cover it up using putty, sealant, paint and other materials. It is important to do this correctly, using the appropriate technique, which we will describe below.
Polyurethane foam is a convenient material
Today, polyurethane foam is used in many construction works... It is a two- or one-component polyurethane foam sealant, which is produced in a special aerosol can. It is used in two cases:
- for thermal insulation;
- sealing seams.
Suitable for materials such as wood, glass, metal, concrete. The main component of the foam is polyurethane, which was first created by Bayer in 1947. In the 70s and 80s, the first spray cans began to be produced and used for finishing work.
Moreover, in addition to polyurethane, polyisocyanate and some catalysts were added to the composition. Switzerland was the first country to introduce this material. Later, other countries began to use the foam. Today it is used in Europe, Asia, USA, Russia. This widespread use is associated with unique properties material. Foam easily penetrates any crevice and seam, fills the space and hardens quickly. Thus, this area is perfectly protected from various adverse events.
Why do you need polyurethane foam protection?
As already mentioned, the composition perfectly fills the space inside the gap and seam. But at the same time, she also needs protection. The fact is that the foam is destroyed by UV rays and moisture. If you do not protect it, then the total operational life of such a seam will be no more than 5 years. That is why, after application, it is additionally covered with special compounds.
But the question arises - how to protect the polyurethane foam and what kind of means is better to use? For these purposes, sealant, putty, liquid plastic, acrylic paint, can be used. In this case, the coating must be waterproof and vapor-proof. That is, provide adequate ventilation and protect against water ingress. Therefore, when choosing compositions, pay attention to their properties (usually they are described on the packaging). Also, some consumers use a special sealing tape for protection. It quickly adheres to the desired area and is suitable for both old and new structures.
Plaster protection and what you need to know for this?
So, the question of how to seal up the polyurethane foam has already been answered. But here's how to do it? Let's consider an example of finishing using plaster. Processing begins with the removal of excess material. This is necessary in order to level the base. In the case when it is supposed to use plaster or putty for protection, it is better to further deepen the surface by a couple of millimeters.
The second task that arises before the master-finishers is the question - how to putty the polyurethane foam? What kind of putty and plaster to choose? It is better to use a frost-resistant composition for this, which is sold in building supermarkets. Rothband is a good brand. The composition is sold in dry form and is prepared immediately before use. And if the question is settled, then you can proceed to the direct preparation of the mixture. The recipe is always written on the packaging.
The solution is poured into water and mixed thoroughly so that there are no lumps. If the composition is too thick, it is better to add a little water.
The putty is applied with a spatula or trowel. The layer must be at least 4 mm. Since if you apply too thin a layer, it may soon crack (this usually happens when it dries). At the next stage, the coating is given some time to harden, but it is not allowed to completely dry. Then the surface is rubbed with fine-grained sandpaper or construction mesh.
Please note that you can easily do all the described work yourself. It is only important to follow the instructions. Therefore, the question of how to cover up the polyurethane foam should no longer arise. Also, when performing work, gloves must be worn to protect the skin of the hands. All instruments are rinsed with warm water after use. The remains of the composition are removed in a dark place.
After installing windows, doors, when joining building boards, an eternal question arises, namely: how to seal up polyurethane foam? The answer is simple, it can be repaired with a sealant, putty, paint, plaster and other mixtures. A more detailed answer on polyurethane foam putty is considered below.
The secret of the popularity of the polyurethane foam lies in its composition, the fact is that the polyol foam has in its structure a polyol, as well as an isocyanate. In addition, the developers add a foaming agent, a stabilizer and a colorant to the composition. Moreover, sometimes the dye comes out as a kind of "tegtya spoon", because when the polyurethane foam is covered with white plaster, after a few years, if the operating conditions are not observed, it begins to paint the plaster. Therefore, before buying foam, you need to carefully read the composition and choose a foam without dye.
By the way, improper operating conditions usually include excessive humidity in the room where foam is used or, on the contrary, active sunlight.
So that the polyurethane foam does not crack, does not begin to dry out and lose its heat-shielding properties, it must be covered with a sealant or protective paint!
How to plaster polyurethane foam
So, now let's figure out how to plaster polyurethane foam. The process begins with the removal of excess material, that is, we cut off the excess foam with a knife or a cutter, and then deepen inward by 5 - 7 millimeters !. You don't need it anymore, because if big square then the consumption of plaster will be too high, but less is not desirable, because otherwise the plaster may lie poorly and gradually flake off.
The choice of putty and the preparation of the mixture
The second question that we face is what kind of plaster should be chosen, but this is also a solvable problem. It is best to choose a frost-resistant putty that will not succumb to climatic influences. If you are interested in the name, then we advise you the putty of the brand - ROTBAND. Also note that it is necessary to prepare the putty mixture before direct use, in 5-10 minutes. The instructions for preparing the solution are always written in back side packaging but classic application plaster is: add the mixture to the water and stir until there are no lumps, if they do appear, add a little more warm water.
After preparing the plaster, we need to apply the mixture to the foam. We repeat once again that it is necessary to apply a layer of at least 6 mm. Because with a thin layer, the plaster can simply crack, and this is fraught with reworked work. Before complete drying of the plaster occurs, it is necessary to take fine-grained sandpaper or construction mesh and level the surface.