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Old timer told me to stop using expandable foam on exterior gaps, I ignored him for a year
Guy named Ed who's been installing alarms since the 80s told me last summer that expandable foam traps moisture and rots out the siding around sensor holes. I thought he was just being paranoid. Fast forward to a warranty call in Portland last week where I pulled a trim ring off and found the wood behind it completely soft and black. Ed was right. Does anyone here use acrylic caulk or butyl tape for sealing exterior runs instead?
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holly_walker7624d ago
Haven't you ever had a buddy learn that lesson the hard way? My buddy Mike used that foam around his garage door sensors and six months later the whole frame was mush, had to tear it all out. He switched to butyl tape and hasn't touched the stuff since.
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emma_clark24d ago
Ed had your back on that one, that's for sure. It's one of those lessons you almost have to learn yourself before it really sticks, but man, it's a tough way to find out. I've seen the same thing happen with window frames and it's never a quick fix once the rot sets in. Butyl tape has been my go to for exterior seals for years now, it just seems to hold up better in the wet weather. Sorry you had to deal with that mess, but at least you caught it before the whole wall got involved.
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