Insulating window gaps

[GarageEnvy]

I had new window installed as part of the garage renovation and I'm wondering what the best method is these days for filling that gap between the frame of the window and the framing. Years ago when I last did this conventional thinking was against using "great stuff" because it could push the jambs out of alignment. Most people stuffed it with insulation. Now someone told me they've reformulated the great stuff and it no longer does that. I could easily just stuff it with insulation but I'm wondering what you guys use/recommend.

 

[1969]

There is a low expansion foam made just for that purpose.

 

[1969]

Great Stuff, Window and Door made by Dow I believe.

 

[millennium514]

Great Stuff now makes a foam for doors & windows that does not expand enough to distort the jams. I have used a lot of it with good results. Also the foam is in a blue can not the red one.

 

[tcianci]

There is also an insulating foam by DAP called Daptex. It is a latex foam as opposed to a polyurethane foam. The advantage to this product is that it is water based and any drips will wipe right up with a damp rag. The other foams usually require a strong solvent like acetone and the stuff can also stain wood and fabric. We never use the polyurethane foam products inside customers houses any more, it's just not worth the risk that we might damage something with the foam.

 

[1969]

Re: There is also an insulating foam by DAP called Daptex. Didn't know that, for me ....thanks.

 

[babzog]

This past weekend, I just stuffed mine with insulation. Thought about using the foam, my Dad used the (low expansion) foam on his windows (new, for the house) with great results, but, I had the insulation scraps so why not use 'em? Just gonna end up in landfill otherwise.

 

[v7guy]

I used the expanding foam... didn't have any problems.

 

[Hmrhead]

+1 on the DAP product. Used quite a bit of it 6 yrs ago when we put new mouldings around all the windows and doors. Huge difference in air flow. Almost eliminated window sweating. Had to put in a make up air kit for the furnace. Clean up was easy as well.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd just use a low expansion foam.

 

[kartracer23]

Yeah, don't get Great Stuff on your hands! I was trying to fill a hole from a F&%!&$# squirrel in the eave of my garage. Get my hand + bottle all wedged in there and begin to spray & the nozzle comes off - like completely off & the bottle stuck open. I was working blind, so I didn't even know it until I felt in on my hand. Ugh. Took me 2 days to get it all off my hands and had to throw the shirt I was wearing away. Also got it on the doorknob...sink...floor...soap container...

 

[keduner]

I just had new windows installed in my house. The builder used loose fiberglass from left over insulation batts to fill the voids. He told me that the window manufacturer (Milgard) will not honor any warranty claims associated with sticking or open/close issues if the installer uses expanding foam like Great Stuff (even the low expansion version). Not sure about the legality of "voiding warranty" but didn't think it worth the risk, especially since the loose fiberglass was already a sunk cost. Just food for thought.

 

[thdewey]

For goodness sakes make sure it's LOW EXPANSION foam. Many people just grab a can of great stuff and go to town around their window. The regular 'great stuff' exerts a hell of a lot of force. Then the window is stuck, which can be a safety concern fo a basement. It can even crack or break a window.

In fact there is company that uses expanding foam to jack up sagging concrete slabs.

 

[haugy]

Low Expansion Great Stuff for Windows and Doors. Just did my windows yesterday and the eave of my ceiling to prevent rain from coming in. Works great.

 

[csp]

Just did mine in the garage yesterday also in preparation for insulation and drywall. Regular expanding on all holes penetrating the top plate and low expansion stuff around the windows and man door.

Got the mess on my hands to prove it!

If you "stuff" the gaps with regular insulation you lose a lot of the R value of the insulation and it does little to stop airflow.

 

[m.james]

The foam works fine for me.