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Does Great Stuff shrink?

John Waller| Posted inEnergy Efficiency and Durabilityon

For 1/2″ gaps, should I use Great Stuff or the 2 component foam? Which bonds better, shrinks less?

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Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay||#1

    John,
    Neither product should shrink if properly installed. Both products are tenacious. However, neither product forms a perfect air seal, and it can sometimes be hard to fill a narrow crack that is only 1/2 inch wide.

    Other options (especially if your chief concern is air sealing) include caulk and a high-quality tape, especially one of the European tapes designed for air sealing.

  2. David Meiland||#2

    If you have consistent 1/2" gaps, it's easy to use foam backer rod instead of canned foam.

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