Great Stuff 157906 Insulating Foam Sealant 12oz - for Home & Window Gaps

Its taken me some time to truly appreciate this product, as the first time I used it I was a little upset with the turnout.Now, years of usage later, I get it … and its a very good product.With that said, I think this is worth giving a full review so people can understand what they are getting into if they haven't used it before.Let me start with the negatives, and for you short attention spanners this is really all you need to know:Wear gloves... seriously wear them! This stuff is incredibly hard to get off your skin.Okay, The long winded version:This stuff is ridiculously sticky, and its resilience to be removed from your skin after the fact is almost laughable in how hard it is to do.This is not a protection thing, like "hey your gonna get cancer if you don't protect your self with gloves"...This is a frustration thing. If you don't wear gloves, you will inevitably get this on your hands... and for the next week you will be picking at it wondering why oh why you did not put gloves on.Next, the applicator cap (spraying straw??) just straight up stinks the first time you use it, and its a one and done type thing. Don't think you can put a nail in the end like you do with chalking and pull it out and use is a month later... not gonna happen.Screw the nozzle on gently when you're ready to start your filling project. Plan to use the whole can... if you don't just count it a loss and toss it. Trust me you will be so happy you saved the better part of a half hour next time trying to get it to spray out again.... it never seems to want to work again. Yes you can make some straw attachment and "chisel out" with a needle the dry part in the applicator...but it is a huge pain. I now know to just skip it.The spray itself, well once you press it seems to just keep coming. And your immediate reaction may be to wipe the end with your hand as its becoming an over-flowing mess, hopefully your wearing gloves (refer to first point) cause its gonna get all over you... the best way to avoid this is stop pressing the trigger about a second or two before you want it to stop.When filling cracks put the tip all the way in (twss), and let it expand out, for instance lets say you have a 6"x6" hole through a 6" deep wall that you are trying to fill. Fill in the back fully but only about 2" thick, don't try to fill all 6" it will literally expand out and fill it for you. this also cuts down on mess.This expansion is very strong, do not use when hanging doors. Don't use to fill the areas around shims, as this will expand with a force overnight and you may wake up to find out your door is no longer plumb due to the jambs and headers expanding in. Just use caulking for that, or wait until the framing is fully nailed in and secured before using it.Next, and last negative... you can never really judge how much its going to expand. I always seem to over do it, the thing is.. I now plan for it. This stuff once dried is very easy to cut flush or remove with a serrated knife. I now plan for overflow to happen and the next day I shape it smooth and cut off any excess as needed.The good:Okay, if I still got you after all the above your probably wondering why I still rated this 5 stars... well that's because after all the mistakes I made using it before, I know use it how its supposed to be used and it works great.When I have a hole that needs filling or installation needed around a fixture I am going to cover I then pick up a can of this. Usually I wait until I need to do a couple things as I know to toss the can afterwards.I ware glovesI spray slowlyI watch how I am fillingI bring a rag to wipe off excessI don't overfillI don't fill things that may be damaged by expansionI wait to the next day to cut off excess.Now with the above steps, all my projects with this turn out great, and I probably use a can of it every year. Its a great product at a great price and it really does work.Well, that turned out to be an excessive write up, but I hope this review helps you!There are lots of negative comments about this product. The only valid one is that the trigger/nozzle you see in the product photo is VERY POORLY MADE. Take the seal around the cap off with care. HANDLE the nozzle with care. If it breaks, super glue a soda straw to the outside where the nozzle broke off, let the super glue set completely, and carry on. There. Now you know how to use it if it breaks.To apply this product ... have you ever painted with a spray can? You use quick, light, running passes. The same applies here, but there are no do-overs.Get your plan of attack in order: Which direction are you going to go? Is your path clear? Do you know how you're going to get where you need to without obstacles? Can you physically get the product to the area you need to? Did you shake the can vigorously for 30 seconds? If you don't have ALL of these questions answered YES before you start, then don't start yet. You'll end up hating life, and rightfully so.When you start to use it, it makes a fuss, but its just getting started. Don't drop the can. It isn't going to explode under these circumstances.If you're laying line, say in an attic around an access on the floor, put the nozzle at the furthest point away from you and your exit point and LIGHTLY press the nozzle. Don't put the nozzle on the floor. You'll bury the nozzle in foam. Give yourself about 2" from where you want it to be. Light, quick short bursts will get you started as you and Great Stuff become acquainted with each other. Soon you'll be best friends. When you have the lightness of your trigger finger where you like it, start moving away from your starting point at your comfort level.Using this stuff is like applying a bead of caulk. Except for the fact you can't go back over this to smooth it out. If you're not comfortable doing it just yet, go out in the back yard, away from the house, extensions, fences, neighbors and family members (pets included), and practice. If you have Bermuda grass, then you don't need anything to put on the ground. Just spray it. It'll grow back. Its a weed, after all. Don't be alarmed that your first beads will be fuzzy and malaligned. This stuff is going to be applied between something in the end.If you're going to apply it in a hole in a vertical wall, start at the furthest point away from the opening. AGAIN ... LIGHTLY apply pressure to the trigger. Don't put nozzle on the wall either. The same thing will happen to it. About 2" from the furthest point from where you are, give it a small burst. Let it expand for a few seconds, and make little fuzzy balls of fluff in that manner, and stop when you are about an inch from your opening. Sit back and wait a minute. Soon you will see it slowly expand through the hole you were just spraying in.Don't compress this stuff, i.e. - don't "work" it, don't push it down, don't poke it with anything. If you do, you're wasting the money you wanted to save by using it.Hope this helps. This Stuff really works, if you use it like you're supposed to. I'll be buying some more to seal up my shed.It didn't appear damaged but the straw applicator had a crack in it.. . So when I shook it up and began to fill the foundation crack the straw broke, inturn the nozzle broke... it turned into a foam rocket, we couldn't stop laughing until we tried to get it off of ourselves and our dogs... so as others have said be careful...3 of 4 containters i ordered didnt work