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ByFamily Handyman
Updated: Apr. 17, 2024
We all know spray foam is an insulation powerhouse, but it's also a versatile home improvement tool. Here are some genius uses for spray foam that you may have never considered.
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Quiet Noisy Pipes
Water supply lines can create a racket when in use. That’s because they vibrate when water runs through them, which gets amplified through the framing of the walls.
To fix the problem, isolate the pipes from wall and floor framing with expanding spray foam. If you can reach the offending area, spray foam between the wood and the pipes. If the area is sealed, drill a small hole and squirt in some expanding spray foam. Don’t overdo it though; too much foam could literally bow out your drywall. Patch up the hole when you’re done and touch it up with a little paint.
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Family Handyman
Secure Landscaping Rocks
If you want to create a backyard oasis, you might want to consider addingbackyard waterfall and streamto the plan. To ensure a beautiful flow of water, use waterproof spray foam to secure decorative rocks and fill gaps to keep water flowing freely.
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Firm Up a Wobbly Showerhead
Over time, showerheads come loose, but there’s an easy fix you can do with spray foam. Squirt a little expanding foam around a loose shower arm to make solid as a rock. Let the foam set up until it’s stiff and carve off any excess around the. Slide the cover plate tight to the wall and you’ll never know there’s foam holding things together. This same trick firms up any other loose or wobbly pipes.
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Fill Gaps
Versatile spray foam is a go-to solution for insulating and filling gaps in walls, crevices and around windows and doors.
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AJ Cespedes/Shutterstock
Carve Spray Foam
There is no shortage of creative uses for spray foam, and carving it is just one of many. Like the toy plane pictured, you can create props, costume accessories, and decor with a little patience and ingenuity.
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Packing Material
Whether you’re sending something fragile in the mail or keeping valuables safe during a move, secure packing is everything. To protect a delicate item, simply fill a spare shopping bag half-full with spray insulation foam and place in the bottom of a box, pressing the item gently into the bag as it hardens to cushion the item. Repeat for the top and you have a DIY custom packaging solution that can handle the rigors of delivery.
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Zivko Trikic/Shutterstock
Frame It
Picture frames are a popular DIY project for beginner and advance woodworkers alike, but if you want a little different take on a frame make it with spray foam. All you need for this one-of-a-kind craft is a little cardboard for the frame, spray foam and the spray paint of your choice. Use another piece of cardboard as a picture backing and use finishing nails to finish this instant art.
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2M Media/Shutterstock
Shore Up the Tub
If you have a bathtub that flexes underfoot, simply fill it with water to weigh it down and fill the space underneath with spray foam. Many stand alone tubs have access panels that will allow you to reach these spaces. Otherwise, a small hole in facing drywall can do the trick and will require little patching to repair afterward.
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Pest Control
Any crack can be an interstate highway for pests to enter your home. Close any possible points of entry by filling cracks with copper mesh, using a screwdriver to push it in and then filling remaining gaps with expanding foam. Use this foam for setting fence posts.
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Family Handyman
Prevent Mold in Corners
Mold remediation is a big job, so it’s useful to do what you can to prevent it. Due to some framing practices, corners of exterior walls can be particularly susceptible to mold growth, because pockets of uninsulated space may allow cooler air to pool and condense.
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Improve Your Sink
Insulate and soundproof an aluminum sink by spraying the underside with spray foam, paying particular attention to the gap between sinks. If you do this while the sink is installed, ensure you are wearing safety equipment and prepare the area beneath the sink for drips.
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Photos: Courtesy of Demilec
Shore Up Concrete Problems
Spray foam really is a magical tool for household insulation, but it’s also useful outdoors to help fix concrete and pavement.Demilec, a company located in Texas, has invented a type of insulation foam that can help correct cracks and uneven pavement problems. Geolift can help to lift existing concrete surfaces and fix those problem areas around your house with much less labor. Geolift works for driveways, sidewalks, patios, garage floors, even pool decks. And yes, it is a foam, just like your beloved spray foam!
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Igor Meshkov/Shutterstock
Insulate the House
When it comes to insulating the house, fiberglass tends to be the most common form of insulation. However, when comparing fiberglass and spray foam insulation, you might be surprised that spray foam outperforms fiberglass.
Spray foam is a type of insulation that expands after you spray. The foam expands and seals, deterring moisture (which can create mold) and pests from eating through your walls. It protects the lining of your house, and can even assist in the heating and cooling of your house during those unbearably cold or hot days.
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Cdrin/Shutterstock
Shore Up Holiday Decor
Porch urns or ceramic vases are an excellent way to add seasonal curbside flair to your home. However, tall items such as twigs, birch stems or even pumpkins can sway in the breeze and make a mess of your carefully planned decor. To prevent things from shifting, place your items in the container and spray around them with expanding foam to create a comfy nest that will keep items from blowing over and potentially breaking your urn. Place a layer of moss, hay or greenery on top to finish the look.
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Famveld/Shutterstock
Get Crafty with Spray Foam
Expanding spray foam can be used to build mountains — albeit small ones—which is perfect for school projects or hobbies, such as model volcanoes or scenery for miniature train sets.
There’s so much you can do with spray foam, it’s worth keeping a couple cans of it in your DIY tool kit.
Originally Published: September 22, 2020
