What is the best way to stick foam during construction and repair?

When using new materials, the question often arises of how to properly assemble and connect them. You decided to make decorative elements from a lightweight porous material and decide how to glue the foam so that the seam is durable and invisible? Trading companies can offer you a wide range of materials for fixing plates, you just need to choose the right glue in accordance with the operating conditions.

What is polystyrene foam?

In modern construction, foam or polystyrene foam is often used. These materials are 98% composed of gas, which is an excellent heat insulator. The huge block weighs almost nothing; a weak woman and a teenager can carry it. When working with lightweight material, you do not need a lot of physical strength, you can ask the children to feed the plates while you yourself will mount them on the ceiling.

To obtain a foam, foaming of polymeric materials is carried out in special equipment. Small cells filled with air are separated from each other by walls of microscopic thickness. The material does not rot, with proper use it can last hundreds of years and not lose its qualities. In the manufacture of products, you can give any shape, for the construction of expanded polystyrene is often produced in the form of plates.

Builders rated polystyrene for its ability to withstand temperature extremes, precipitation and other atmospheric phenomena. The material does not change its size during the transition from heat to cold, does not shrink. Air plates have high rigidity, they do not bend and do not deform under stress. Blocks can be easily cut into fragments of the right size, during installation, the material does not emit harmful substances, you can work with it without protective devices.

Polyfoam also has disadvantages. It breaks easily, does not let air through. The living room cannot be completely covered with polystyrene plates - you need to leave areas that can "breathe". The material must be protected from sunlight, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, it decomposes. For painting, special compositions should be used, because many solvents destroy the porous structure.

Polyfoam in construction

Polyfoam can be useful in the construction of new buildings, and in the reconstruction of an old house or apartment. If a very noisy neighbor lives through the wall, you too will not have rest, you will have to listen to his favorite rap day and night. Porous slabs will reduce noise, and the whole family will enjoy the silence. According to building standards in the northern regions, the thickness of the outer walls should be at least 3 bricks. Imagine what kind of cargo you have to transport and lay if you want to build a cottage somewhere in Norilsk. If you build building structures with foam, the house will be warm, and the consumption of materials and the complexity of the work will decrease several times.

Polyfoam can be used not only for thermal insulation and noise protection. From this material decorative elements, designs for creating interiors are made. What did porous blocks like for builders and home craftsmen?

The material has a number of positive properties:

• it is light, almost weightless, even a child can lift a huge block;
• perfectly isolates the room from temperature extremes and noise;
• does not cause installation difficulties;
• It is inexpensive;
• with a small thickness perfectly performs the function of an insulator.

If you are interested in this material, it remains to solve the question of how to glue the foam on various surfaces. You can fix building structures to glue and mechanical devices. If work is carried out on a part of the building located in the open air, for reliability, adhesives, dowels, bolts or other fasteners are also used.

If you want to decorate the facade, not any glue will do. It must be frost-resistant, withstand rains, snowfalls and other climatic phenomena.

How to stick foam?

In the store, the manager will offer you many brands of glue for foam. He wants to sell his product and is not always well versed in the properties of different brands. If the composition includes acetone, gasoline or other aggressive solvents, the structure is covered with holes, and it can only be thrown into the trash. If you use expandable substances, such as polyurethane foam, the plate will deform and also go to landfill.

Polyfoam can be glued to any surface, if you choose the right bonding material. You can install a small decorative element, the seam will be completely invisible.

Construction professionals recommend choosing:

• liquid foam;
• silicone sealants;
• liquid nails (if the instructions indicate that they are suitable for attaching foam);
• anhydrous concrete contact mixtures;
• special glue foam.

Much of your choice will depend on what you are going to attach the foam to. Liquid nails are best suited for bonding with metal. The easiest way to solve the problem is how to glue the foam together: any composition for polystyrene foam is suitable. For fastening on concrete, it is advisable to use a special foam based on polyurethane.

On sale you can find special compositions for attaching foam plates:

• "Master";
• "The Dragon";
• "Vanguard" - a dry mixture for facade work;
• "Ceresite."

If you want to stick foam inside a heated room, you can use gypsum-based mixtures. These materials are made in powder form and must be diluted with water in accordance with the instructions before use. Work should only be carried out at positive temperature and normal humidity.

Material consumption

Before you go to the store for glue, measure the area on which you are going to install the plates. The consumption of material depends on the brand of glue, and on the base. Read the instructions, there should be indicated how much the composition goes to 1 m².

For example, for the brand “Ceresit” it is recommended to use the following values:

• for a flat base - 3 kg / m²;
• if the height of the irregularities does not exceed 1 cm - 6 kg / m²;
• if irregularities approach 1.5 cm - 8 kg / m².

To save on materials, conduct a good preparation of the glued surface. The smoother the wall or ceiling, the less glue you will need. When using putties, make sure that their composition is compatible with the selected brand of glue.

If you are going to apply the composition manually, do not forget to get a good spatula. The right tool will allow you to apply a thin layer of glue that will hold the board well.

Some compounds are sold in spray bottles; to work with others, you will need to purchase a mounting gun. Try to apply the solution quickly so as not to create thick layers and not waste material.

How to stick foam structures?

First you need to carefully prepare the base for sticker sheets of porous material. Remove the lagging paint, destroy the fungus and discard any parts that do not hold well. Glue must be applied to the foam sheet. Level the base, close up all the cracks and potholes.

If you have purchased a finished composition, you can immediately get to work. Dry mixtures must be diluted immediately before application, the working solution can not be stored for a long time.Do not cover the entire surface of the tile with adhesive; air must escape from the material.

Glue application methods depend on the size and shape of the sheet.

• If the base is uneven, apply in strips.
• When gluing on a smooth surface, apply the adhesive around the perimeter, stepping back a couple of centimeters from the edge, and in the center of the sheet.
• If the sheet is large, apply glue around the perimeter and then spiral to the center.
• On the sidewalls, apply a thin layer of the composition in zigzags.

Lubricate the sheet with glue first, then let it lie down for several minutes. Set the part in the desired position and press for a couple of minutes to the base and adjacent plates.

Tip

When gluing ceiling tiles, you can use a rolling pin for dough.

If excess glue comes out, remove them with a spatula until the composition has hardened. If the foam is used for insulation, fill the gaps between the fragments with glue. Allow the materials to dry properly, and only then can you start the next construction work on this site.

Tip

To seal cracks and potholes, it is advisable to use materials from the same manufacturer whose glue you bought.

Depending on the brand of composition, sometimes the base needs to be moistened, and sometimes left dry. Read the instructions, the manufacturer described in it all the subtleties of the installation process. To apply the composition to the tile, you can use both a spatula and a special mounting gun. If you did not manage to use the entire solution and it began to dry, do not try to dilute the composition with water, this will lead to a deterioration in its quality. Throw out the unsuitable material and next time prepare a not so large portion. It is better to once again engage in the dilution of the adhesive composition than to dispose of throw away the seized solution.

Do not be afraid to take on the job with foam. This is an inexpensive material, in case of failure you can tear off unsuccessfully pasted sheets, buy new ones and repeat the work taking into account previous mistakes. The main rule: you need to know exactly what glue to attach the foam to the facade or internal structures. Get the most convenient composition to work with and boldly get down to business - you will succeed.