58 JULY/AUGUST 2019 FAMILYHANDYMAN.COMFIRE BARRIER
Colored bright
orange to increase
visibility for code
inspections, this
formula some-
times includes a
flame retardant.
Otherwise, it per-
forms just like
standard foams,
sealing gaps
where pipes and
wires penetrate
the structure. In
this way, it blocks
airflow that can
feed flames. $8 for
a 16-oz. can.ALL-PURPOSE
This is the go-to
foam for most jobs.
Labeled to seal
cracks and gaps
1 in. wide or less, it
will fill larger gaps if
you slow down and
waggle the nozzle a
bit. Or you can
apply the foam in
stages after each
application cures. It
sticks to just about
anything and is suit-
able for interior and
exterior use.
Like any other
foam, it can be
trimmed with a ser-
rated knife after it
cures. If it will be
exposed to the ele-
ments, protect it
with a coat of paint.
A 16-oz. can of the
cream-colored
version costs about
$4. In black it costs
about $8.
LARGE GAPS
This formula expands three times as
much as conventional all-purpose foam,
making it easier to fill gaps wider than
1 in. in a single pass. Monster-size gaps
may still require several applications.
$6 for a 12-oz. can.LATEX
DAPtex Plus is a
minimally expand-
ing latex foam that
seals, insulates and
waterproofs. Unlike
polyurethane foams,
it cleans up with
water, which simpli-
fies the job and lets
you reuse the appli-
cator. It doesn’t
expand as much as
polyurethane foams
and takes longer to
cure, and after
curing, it remains
flexible. It’s for inte-
rior and exterior use
and costs about $7
for a 12-oz. can.DIY-FRIENDLY FOAM Shown here is the most popular
type of foam: single-component (mostly polyurethane) foam
that you apply with a straw-type dispenser. These can be messy,
but they work well and are easy to use. Just shake the can, insert
the straw in the gap and pull the trigger. Several formulas are
available, including a latex. It’s available in 12- to 26.5-oz. cans.