16 oz. Gaps and Cracks Insulating Foam Sealant

A:  Dear Lori: This is not the right product to use to fill a small gap between your window sill and drywall. Great Stuff is difficult to apply in a small area, sticks to everything and cannot be cleaned off, and does not sand smooth after it cures. For a gap of ~1/8" or less, use DAP Patch 'N Paint. For a larger gap use patching compound, e.g. 3M Patch Plus Primer Spackling Compound. Using a putty knife, fill the gap and leave a thin layer on top to sand flat. Allow it to dry for a few hours, then sand flat with a fine sanding sponge. Sometimes the patching compoud will shrink when it dries, and a thin second coat is required to achieve a flat surface. Then you're ready to paint. All of the products noted above are sold by Home Depot. I hope this is helpful, Mark

A:  Great Question! The recommended product to use around ornamental fish and plants is our GREAT STUFF™ Pond & Stone Filler, Sealer and Adhesive. This product is specifically designed to help quickly and easily build beautiful water features, this polyurethane foam expands to fill gaps and cracks to help direct water to flow over the rocks in a waterfall, rather than under and in between. Please see the attached web link for more information on our GREAT STUFF™ Pond & Stone: https://www.greatstuff.dupont.com/products/pond-and-stone-foam-sealant.html

A:  GREAT STUFF™ Insulating Foam Sealant products will chemically bond to just about all surfaces in a matter of minutes. If the foam has not cured yet, use GREAT STUFF PRO™ Gun Cleaner or fingernail polish remover (with acetone) to quickly remove the uncured foam. Test a small area of the substrate first as the chemicals in the nail polish remover and gun cleaner may not be compatible with the substrate being cleaned. Once cured, it cannot be removed with solvents and the only option is mechanical removal. On hard, smooth, or polished surfaces this may be accomplished very carefully with a single-edged razor blade. If this does not work, or if the foam is on a soft or porous surface, the only option is to attempt to remove it using a non-abrasive cleanser. The more effort spent scrubbing, the more likely it is to see positive results. If the non-abrasive cleanser does not work, consider replacement or refinishing. A more aggressive approach such as steel wool or sandpaper will damage the underlying surface. Only UV light will break the foam down and this takes months. Heat has no effect on the foam. It may soften, but it will not melt and the resulting fumes may be harmful.

A:  Dear Emelson: It sounds like you discovered how tenaciously Great Stuff clings to almost anything. Tarp and tape off everything nearby before you install it -- plus wear gloves and eye protection. No standard solvent will remove cured Great Stuff. The only option is to scrape it off. Wait until it has cured thoroughly. If the location is out doors or exposed to direct sunlight, however, the foam will gradually degrade and can be easily removed in a few months. Sorry there isn't a better answer! Mark

A:  Unfortunately, there is no solvent that will remove cured polyurethane foam. Cured foam must be mechanically removed, which typically means scraping, sanding, or power-washing, however carpeting may be more difficult with these options. Remove as much foam as possible with a dull scraper or utility knife, then try scrubbing any remaining residue with a non-abrasive cleaner, keeping in mind that the fibers of the carpet may be fragile or susceptible to damage.

A:  Dear BR: You just discovered how tenaciously Great Stuff foam sticks to everything. No standard solvent will remove it. The best option: gently scratch as much of it out of your carpet as you can, without damaging the carpet. Then just wait. Great Stuff will slowly degrade in sunlight. After a few months, you will find that it softens and can be easily removed -- unless it is in a dark location. Sorry there is not a better solution! Mark