[JayLeap]

Hi everyone, our back door and window installation was very poorly done originally and I'm wondering what are my options for sealing and insulating it.

When it's windy like today, I can feel cold air just streaming right in at several points along the outside of the frame.

I've attached photos of the situation with the trim removed. Is there anything I can do in a day or two that will significantly help? Duct tape and Great Stuff?

Won't let me post a real link even though I have already posted an intro post, so you can figure out the below I hope

imgur dot com/a/cODXocF

 

[joecaption]

Picture does not come up.
Yes is there's large gaps behind the jambs I'd be sticking the nozzle in as far as I could and use low expanding foam.
Do not try and fill the whole space in one pass you'll just make a mess.
I make one pass then come back in an hour and hit any places I missed.

 

[chandler48]

To second Joe's comments, I would just pull the trim molding on the inside and fill the voids with minimally expanding foam made for doors and windows in more than one pass. Old school had you poking Fiberglas insulation in there, and anytime you compress Fiberglas, you reduce it's insulation qualities.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

I'm acquainted with a person that wishes he had read the instructions on the can before using foam sealer and it wasn't me. I've never had a can of that in my hand.

 

[chandler48]

SS, I've seen it, too. Full expanding foam will bow frames like crazy. I use OSI Quad with the injector nozzle. Still do it in layers, though.

 

[Bud9051]

Note, there is low expanding foam and then there is DAP for doors and windows which I would rate close to zero expanding and sometime you want that.

When the cracks are too tight to get the straw in deep I used a 1/4" drill and made holes every few inches. Actually replaced one of those windows years later and got a chance to see if my foam had filled properly and it did a good job.

As Joe and Larry mentioned it can be a mess when you fill too much, my early attempts continued to expand and had to be cleaned up after they cured. Don't touch it before it has hardened.

But I had an chance at breakfast to ask an experienced contractor how he handled the foam around windows, they don't like to wait for the next day. He said use just enough to get a good air seal and fill the rest with batt insulation being careful to not compress it. Properly installed it still acts like insulation and combined with the air sealing of the foam you can get the job done quickly and properly.

That is when I did some testing and shifted to the DAP to avoid the unexpected expansion dripping on the wall and floor.

Bud

 

[SeniorSitizen]

SS, I've seen it, too. Full expanding foam will bow frames like crazy. I use OSI Quad with the injector nozzle. Still do it in layers, though.

That wasn't the problem.

The can he was using stated - to use - invert the can -. It wouldn't stop squirting foam for some reason and working in too close of a proximity to a pilot light it ignited. That makes one quickly drop it and find an extinguisher.

 

[chandler48]

Ouch, that made for a frowny day !