House Build 2023

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I have a 20x30 garage that I work in. I dug 2 feet down all around the outside and installed 2 inch closed cell foam. It was well worth it. The floor is a lot warmer. It probably helped a lot that I sealed the foam to the house wrap.

There will be brick all the way down to the footers, so dirt will not actually contact the blocks at all. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Buy the low expansion foam made for windows and take it easy with it. Excessive use of expanding foam will bow the windows.

So I really just need to make a small air dam, not try to fill the whole void?

 

[drumminj]

So I really just need to make a small air dam, not try to fill the whole void?

It does function as insulation, so thicker is theoretically better, but I believe filling the gap/stopping air flow is the primary goal

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Watched a video today Matt Risinger, where they used backer rod, then caulk to seal inside of window, taped outside. Less mess than foam. One point was to shim under the window, to leave a gap big enough to seal.
Wished I’d known all this when I built my house 26 yrs ago.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I foamed all the gaps that were big enough for the foam straw to get to tonight. I have foam all over me...

 

[4570Man]

So I really just need to make a small air dam, not try to fill the whole void?

That’s what I do. If it stops the air gap it’s done 99 percent of its job. Filling the gap completely full won’t help much more and runs a higher chance of warping the window.

 

[4570Man]

Your window/door installer should have done this? (at least mine did).

Definitely recommend this to stop air leaks. Use the yellow great stuff (window and door) vs the white loctite stuff...it's SOO much easier to use. Make sure to use the low-expansion window and door foam though.

(I feel I should always caveat -- I'm not a builder/trade at alll, but on the tail end of my house build and have read/researched a ton along the way)

The framers usually set the windows. They tape the outside but I’ve never seen them foam the inside. That along with the rest of the air sealing is the insulation crews job.

 

[caver]

Watched a video today Matt Risinger, where they used backer rod, then caulk to seal inside of window, taped outside. Less mess than foam. One point was to shim under the window, to leave a gap big enough to seal.
Wished I’d known all this when I built my house 26 yrs ago.

I saw that same video.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Insulation!

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

More insulation.