How to mount insulation boards with adhesive foams?

When doing building or renovation works, our clients often ask what is the best and fastest way to attach boards and panels to a building’s facade, foundation and interior?

Penosil experts recommend using polyurethane adhesive foams for mounting exterior and interior insulation and decorative boards. Compared to traditional methods, adhesive foams make mounting insulation and decorative boards faster, easier and cleaner. 

Penosil experts have prepared some tips that, if followed correctly, allow you to achieve a higher-quality and long-lasting result when working with adhesive foams.

• When to use adhesive foams?
  Penosil has two adhesive foams in their product range: Penosil Polystyrol FixFoam 877 and Penosil Premium SpeedFix Construction 878. Both of these products can be used for fixing insulation boards on building’s facade and foundation, but also for mounting interior insulation and decorative boards, fixing windowsills etc.  
  
  Penosil adhesive foams have excellent adhesion with most common building materials such as thermal insulation boards, hard wool, concrete, wood, plasterboards, construction panels, bricks, blocks etc.
  
  On top of their adhesive properties, these foams also reduce the impact of thermal bridges and have excellent sound insulation properties.
• Preparation is the key to success.
  Before applying the adhesive foam, ensure that the surfaces to be sealed are clean from dust, loose particles and oil stains. Clean surfaces ensure stronger adhesion.
  
  If both the boards and structures surface are smooth, it is recommended to sand one of the surfaces a bit in order to improve adhesion. You can use some sandpaper or a construction grater for this.
  
  The adhesive foams require humidity for curing. Moisten dry surfaces with water mist (only at temperatures above 0°C) to ensure faster curing time and better end results.
• Temperature matters!
  You can find the correct aerosol can temperature information on the product’s label or penosil.com webpage. 
  
  Knowing the correct can temperature is especially important during winter. If the aerosol can is too cold, it must be brought to the right temperature by storing it in a warm room or placing it under warm water.
   
  Be careful also when working at very hot temperatures. Aerosol can’s temperature should never exceed the recommended 30°C. If the can is warmer than 30°C, store it in a cool place for a while or pass it under cold water to cool it down. Best results at +20°C.
• How to attach the aerosol can to the gun?
  Shake the can vigorously at least 20 times. Hold the foam can in an upright position with the valve up. Screw the can to the gun. Hold the can upside down when extruding the adhesive foam. Foam output can be adjusted with a gun trigger and adjustment screw.
   
  Do not aim the gun at people. Avoid screwing the can to the gun with the valve upside down. Do not screw the gun to the can. Do not bend or turn the can during screwing.

• How to use the adhesive foam?
  Apply the foam adhesive to a panel in a continuous flow, in parallel with the sides of the board (3 to 4 cm from the edge). Then, spray one strip in the middle, parallel to the longest side (up to 25 cm between adhesive strips). 

After applying the foam adhesive to the board, wait 2 to 3 minutes and press the board to the wall. The board can be adjusted during the next 5 min. 

With one aerosol can 10m² of wall surface can be covered with insulation boards.

After you finish working, use Penosil Foam Cleaner to clean tools and surfaces from uncured foam. Next, use Penosil Cleaning Wipes to clean hands and clothes from uncured adhesive foam. 

Check out also Penosil expert’s tips on other topics:
9 tips on how to achieve high-quality results when working with polyurethane foam
How to choose the right sanitary sealant?
How to apply or change sanitary sealant correctly?