Expanding foam has a wide range of uses. It is used to seal cracks and holes. Expanding foam can also be used for insulation purposes.
Sometimes, when you use expanding foam, you may be left with some spaces that need to be filled and sealed. Therefore, you may consider adding some caulk, a sealant that prevents air and water entry.
But before combining these two products, it’s important to confirm whether they are compatible. That will be the focus of today’s article, which highlights whether you can use caulk over expanding foam.
Is Caulk Compatible with Expanding Foam?
Expanding foam and caulk are incompatible. When you spray expanding foam into a crack and follow it up with some caulking, the water in the caulk reacts with the foam and causes it to re-expand.
If you use a considerable amount of caulk, the expanding foam may re-expand to the point it bleeds through the caulk.
If there is some space over expanding foam that you need to fill, you are better off using another filler as long as it’s not caulking.
What Ingredients are in Caulk and Expanding Foam?
Expanding foam and caulk are both fillers and sealers. However, they can’t be used together. If you are considering using caulk over expanding foam, it’s a good idea to check both products’ ingredients to determine whether they are compatible.
Let’s start with caulk. Most modern caulks are made of silicone, latex, acrylic, or all three ingredients. It’s also worth mentioning that caulks are water-based.
This water interacts with expanding foam and triggers a reaction that causes it to re-expand. You can also get caulk made of polyurethane or rubber.
On the other hand, expanding foam is mostly made of polyol resin and isocyanate. These two ingredients react together and cause the expansion of the foam. The polyol resin and isocyanate reaction causes the foam to expand up to 60 times.
If you are considering using caulk over expanding foam, you need to familiarize yourself with the ingredients in each product. This information will help you gauge compatibility.
What Can You Use to Fill Expanding Foam?
Before we even answer this question, we must take you through a quick guide on how to use expanding foam. If you are filling a hole, you need to spray expanding foam in adequate amounts.
Please wait for it to expand until it pops out of the hole. To create a smooth finish, cut the protruded dried expanding foam. Sand it to achieve a uniform smooth finish, then wrap it by painting over it.
However, if there is still some space after you have covered a hole with expanding foam, all you need to do is spray more expanding foam.
Expanding foam is compatible with old or dried expanding foam. It’s a much safer option than caulk
Will Caulk Adhere to Cured Expanding Foam?
Once expanding foam dries, it is known to be resistant to a wide range of things. Therefore, you can be tempted to use caulking over expanding foam, but I strongly advise you against doing this.
The thing is, the caulking product you use may contain certain ingredients that will react with the dried expanding foam. As a result, the foam may re-expand, resulting in a huge mess.
Therefore, even if the expanding foam has already cured, it’s not worth the risk of using caulking which may reactivate the expansion of the spray foam.
Will Expanding Foam Push Caulking Out of a Crack or Hole?
Assuming that you go ahead and use caulk over expanding foam, you may be worried that the foam will push out the caulk. Firstly, this isn’t a project that experts would advise you to engage in.
Secondly, there is a good chance that the caulking will be pushed out when the water activates the re-expansion of the foam.
To be safe, stick to only one filler. If it’s expanding foam, use only that. The same applies to caulking.
How Does Caulk Compare to Expanding Foam?
From the above, it’s clear that caulk and expanding foam perform the same job. Both can be used as fillers and sealants.
However, these two are quite different and aren’t compatible. However, how do the two compare against one another? Which one should you consider using for a filling and sealing job?
Caulk is a flexible product that can bond to many materials. It is used in metal applications and masonry most of the time.
Caulk can dampen sound and resist exposure to the elements for almost a decade. You can find caulk in a wide range of colors, and it cures into a hard substance.
Caulk works better in sealing smaller holes, unlike expanding foam which can be used in bigger holes. There are different types of caulks ranging from latex to acrylic.
Every kind of caulk has its pros and cons. It’s advisable to weigh the features of each variety before buying some.
Expanding foam, on the other hand, expands and clings to joints. After it cures, expanding foam conforms to the shape of the hole being filled.
Even though expanding foam is as flexible as caulk, the former is more durable and doesn’t shrink. Both options are ideal for sealing and filling.
However, depending on the project you are working on, you should evaluate which features appeal most to you.
It’s also worth mentioning that spray foam costs more than caulking. If you are on a budget, you may want to lean more toward the latter option.
Caulking is also the traditional method of sealing up gaps and cracks. Spray foam is a bit more recent. However, it’s becoming quite popular due to its many benefits.
Instead of using caulk over expanding foam, you should stick to just one. for instance, if you go with expanding foam to seal gaps, you will get a more durable seal.
Does Expanding Foam Need to Be Sealed?
One of the reasons you may consider using caulk over expanding foam is to seal it. However, before you put two incompatible products together, you need to ask yourself – does expanding foam need to be sealed?
As long it’s installed correctly and given time to dry, expanding foam doesn’t need to be sealed. Expanding foam doesn’t let air or moisture through. Therefore, it doesn’t need to be sealed in any manner.
You don’t have to use caulk over it. You can proceed directly to painting or laying a finish of your choice on top of it.
In your quest to seal expanding foam over caulk, you need to understand how the former product works. This will help you avoid wasting both expanding foam and caulk.
How Long Does Caulk Over Expanding Foam Last?
When the caulk reacts with the expanding foam, the two products may not last for more than a day. This is one of the most significant challenges associated with using caulk over expanding foam.
The reaction can occur at any time, and the foam will bleed through the caulk. Therefore, the gap will be left empty, and you will have some mess to clean up after.
Can You Use Caulk to Cover Expanding Foam?
Caulk isn’t a suitable product to use to cover expanding foam. Once you are done applying expanding foam, give it time to harden. Don’t be in a rush to scoop off the excess.
When it sets, cut down the excess and sand it until you get a smooth finish. To cover the expanding foam, you can use plaster or paint.