You're spot-on about foam being tricky stuff. I've seen seasoned pros mess it up plenty of times, so if your heating bills actually dropped, you're definitely ahead of the curve. One tip for next time—if you spray foam in layers rather than all at once, it expands more predictably, and you're less likely to warp anything. Anyway, sounds like you did solid work overall... I'd call that a DIY win.
Layering foam definitely helps, but honestly, even then I've had mixed results. Last summer I did exactly that around a basement window—still ended up with some slight warping. Maybe it's just me, but foam seems to have a mind of its own...
"Maybe it's just me, but foam seems to have a mind of its own..."
Yeah, foam can definitely be tricky. I've found that temperature and humidity play a huge role in how it behaves. Last fall, I sealed around a large bay window and noticed the foam expanded way more than usual because it was unusually humid that day. Ended up trimming a lot more excess than I expected. Honestly, sometimes it's less hassle to use backer rod first and then just lightly foam over it—gives you more predictable results.
Foam is definitely weird stuff—I swear it expands differently every time I use it. Temperature and humidity are biggies, but I've also noticed the brand makes a difference too. Last summer I tried a cheaper brand when sealing around my patio door, thinking "foam is foam," right? Nope. It expanded unevenly, dried super brittle, and was a pain to trim neatly.
One thing that's helped me is shaking the can way longer than the instructions say. Like, if it says shake for 30 seconds, I do it for at least two minutes. Seems excessive, but it mixes better and gives more consistent results. Also, spraying foam in short bursts instead of one long squeeze makes it easier to control the expansion. I'm curious though—has anyone tried those low-expansion foams specifically labeled for windows and doors? I've been tempted, but they're pricier and I'm not sure if it's worth the extra bucks or just marketing hype...
I tried that low-expansion stuff when I replaced my kitchen window last fall. Honestly, it was worth the extra few bucks—way less trimming and cleanup afterward. Didn't bow the frame either, which was my biggest worry with regular foam...
"Didn't bow the frame either, which was my biggest worry with regular foam..."
Yeah, that's exactly why I always recommend low-expansion foam for DIY window installs. Regular foam can be sneaky—looks fine at first, then suddenly your window won't open smoothly. Glad it worked out for you though... satisfying feeling, isn't it?
Nice job getting that window in without bowing the frame—it's always a bit nerve-wracking, isn't it? Did you have any issues trimming the excess foam afterward, or did it cut cleanly for you? I've found regular foam can sometimes be a pain to trim neatly, especially if it expands unevenly. Low-expansion foam is definitely safer, but honestly, I've had decent luck with regular foam too, as long as I leave plenty of room for expansion and don't get trigger-happy with the can. Did you tape or clamp your frame at all during curing, or just eyeball it and hope for the best? Either way, sounds like you nailed it. Always feels good to dodge those DIY disasters...
Yeah, trimming foam can be a bit of an art form—I've had my share of messy foam explosions when I underestimated expansion. I usually stick with low-expansion foam around windows just to avoid the drama, but regular foam works fine if you're careful. Never really bothered with clamps myself; a few strips of painter's tape usually do the trick. Worst-case scenario, there's always the trusty utility knife and some creative caulking afterward... DIY is all about adaptability, right?
I hear you about the foam explosions... learned that one the hard way myself. One time, I thought I'd be clever and use regular expanding foam around a large bay window—figured I'd just eyeball it. Came back later to find foam bulging out like some sci-fi movie prop. Took forever to trim it back and smooth things out again. Low-expansion foam and painter's tape combo is definitely my go-to now. DIY really teaches patience, doesn't it?
- Been there with the foam mess—spent half a day scraping it off my hands.
- Curious though, anyone tried using caulk instead of foam around big windows?
- Wondering if it holds up as well over time...