I’ve looking to fill some *void* in my perimeter wall – Just had HVAC redone and they bored out a couple of holes for the linesets. There is *quite* a bit of room* in each void I want to fill up. They bored 2 1/2 bore and from the exterior things have very small gaps due to linesets, etc being curved up or down and the control wire.
However, from the *inside*, I can def see sunlight, etc.
I’ve considered something like Sonneborn NP1, with backer rod primarly filling the hole at 1st.
I’m more concern about more *weatherization* and hardness of the overvall fill material.
Just short of the Hilti gun/ low expanding foam, do youi guys have any other recommended products that would possibly fill a void that would be similar to low expanding foam. My only hestiation right now that is stopped me from getting the foam gun outright is that foam tends to be a biatch to remove once in place. FOR service purposes, in the even that the linesets or control wire needs to be pulled or removed….I don’t like the expanding foam due to how *hard* it gets and how much work is needed to chew it up.
Unless times/materials on these foams have changed.
The LAST time I used something similar, it was just regular GreatStuff, and that stuff was ALMOST if not harder to break up than concrete..
Replies
>>>The LAST time I used
>>>The LAST time I used something similar, it was just regular GreatStuff, and that stuff was ALMOST if not harder to break up than concrete..
Not in my experience. I've used lots of it lately. I let it harden and then trim it with an Olfa knife. It works OK.
Go with your original thoughts.
Urethane caulk.
Since the hole isn't bigger than a small caulk tube-and if you seal it good-you'll only need one thing to do the whole job.
Remains flexible, bonds to anything......................................ooops, you're worried about getting the contents out at a later date.
Then in that case, go to your water dept and say hey-you got some of that stuff you use to pack around the holes you make...........
or the cable guy.........
or that HVAC guy that shoulda had it.
It remains flexible, but will pull loose no problem.
Usually black, sometimes grey.
In that situation we just use a plastic side cap to make the penetration more weather proof and then foam it with great stuff or similar. I have not found great stuff that hard to just pick out with a screw driver or whatever tool was handy. The plastic side cap needs to be modified some with a utility knife and it is better if it is installed before the line set, etc is connected but you can do it after the fact too. If the gaps are small enough you could just use white silicone caulk - that comes off easy enough.
http://www.amazon.com/Dryer-Vent-Wide-Mount-Hood/dp/B000B52E4Y/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1278868964&sr=1-12
To tell you the truth though, I think you are over-thinking this a bit.
But isn't he talking about holes bored for the HVAC lines (presuably to a heat pump)? In that case a hood isn't going to help much.
The HVAC guy installed 5 of them on my project this past week.
I'll take a pic sometime within the next few days if I can remember.
Take a look at this pic,
It is caulked in place with clear OSI Quad calk. Seems like a pretty good solution to me. Obviously the internals of the side cap hood is removed.
Ahhhh... I get it. Nice detail.
You could then use DuxSeal up inside the hood (around the lines) to keep critters from crawling in.
Thanks.
OP, You listening??
I'll have to check into this Duxseal stuff...
But for this application I'm just not seeing the need for something easily removable... I mean how long does a line set last? 30 years? 40 years?
Re the Duxseal, I looked on the blowes web site and a DuxSeal search doesn't trun up anything. God help me if I have to ask someone there.... Where would it be in a big box store? Plumbing dept? Electircal? HVAC?
Any electrical supply will have it. Like Dan says, DuxSeal is a brand; there are other manufacturers too. Just ask for electrician's duct putty. It's cheap.
...and this thread brought to mind my own HVAC lines coming into the house. Guess what...they've been sitting there nekid for five years running through a 2 1/2" hole in the rim joist. Who knows what critters have been crawling in and out! In my case there's no need for a hood because it's under a covered porch, but I'll definitely be sealing it up now.
It's nice how conversations like this bring things to mind.
"Or, I've got a bunch left over if anyone wants to come get it."
Scott, this is really for the original poster........................if he ever comes back. You could probably flatten out a hod of that stuff, put it into an envelope, mail it off to him..............................
and then wait for Homeland Security to give you a call.
See what I'm saying. Just walk up and ask any of the habitual exterior wall penetrators.
Then remind the HVAC guy it's time to buy more.
From the outside I'd use "duct seal" (electrician's putty). It's reasonably weatherproof and nominally paintable. Molds readily to any shape, and sticks pretty well to most surfaces. Then foam behind that if need be, or stuff with fiberglass.
Let me try to grab some pics but on the exterior, it's not too bad....
The hole is bored but there is a wiremould that is covering the entire vertical run. Inside the channel is the linesets (with insulation), 3/4 riser with feeds going to each hole for the control cable.
The exterior is brick with cinderblock behind it. On the exterior, due to the linesets and electical making bends out of the hole, it is covered with slight protrustions..
When I look from the inside (small hole cutout to route the hvac stuff out), I can defintely see more ~room~ each 2 1/2' bored hold.
The primary concern regardless of the wiremould (slimduct) that is covering is is weatherization if not sealing it for as a overall regimine.
Let me check out the electricians putty . If it doesn't pan out, I might take you up on your offer Scott
Duct seal (electrician's putty) and Duxseal are the same thing -- Duxseal is just a brand name. I've generally used the GB (Gardner-Bender) brand -- "Electrical Sealing Compound" -- as this is a reliable brand and what most hardware stores and big boxes carry. It'll set you back a whole 2-3 bucks for a lifetime supply.
Fire Blocking?
Is this stuff suitable for use in fire blocking? I've got numerous places where I bored holes through the blocking (walls taller than 10') as a path for wires. If not Duxseal, then what?
Foam or caulk
Use either fire block foam:
http://www.amazon.com/Dow-Chemical-306179-Fireblock-Sealant/dp/B001AQ3OGA
or fire block caluk:
http://www.amazon.com/3M-136-Fire-Block-Sealant/dp/B00176PJL6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1279152343&sr=1-3
The caulk is available at the big box. The foam may be a little harder to find.
Yeah... what Matt said. Duxseal is quite oily, that's how it stays supple over time. I suspect it's somewhat flamable...not the sort of thing you want to use for fire blocking.
If you check the specs you'll see that it "does not support combustion". However, I don't see any certification as a fire seal, so probably a specialty product should be used in cases where a listed material is needed.
I must be pretty strong...
You said: >> The LAST time I used something similar, it was just regular GreatStuff, and that stuff was ALMOST if not harder to break up than concrete.. <<
I have some on some plumbing penetrations. Today I checked and I was able to easily pick it out with my fingers.
There are specific products for fireblock....I have seen similar putty in *red*...
I decided to use NP1 with a long copper stub as a caulk extension tip from the inside to full things up.
Tried to take a pic but it was too small of a hole for to grab the details
Old school plaster - Cinder block- Brick
The goal is to seal it up to at least the brick portion so that water, ETC does not at least accumulate into the wells of the cinderblock holes.
My experience is the same as yours. Foam is murder to get off your fingers and you basically wait for it to wear off and you can forget about getting it out of your clothes but it will come of building materials pretty easily.....but then I take the "apply to a clean dry surface" thing with a grain of salt. In other words, I ignore it.
alchohol or paint thinner
Alchohol or paint thinner goes along way when trying to clean up foam on skin. Now, if I could just get the cat to hold still while I apply it.
Disposalble gloves are your best friend when using Great Stuff or similar.