Great Stuff not so great

Understudy · October 18, 2008, 01:25:18 PM

When I do removal I always tell the users to fill the void with fiberglass insulation. On the outside to either stucco or concrete the outside and to never use the cans of Great Stuff. Now Great Stuff has it's place but when it comes to bees. The bees will win. Because it will dry and they will simply chew through it.

Now in some of the modern homes have been using the commercial version of the expanding foam as insulation in walls and ceilings. Trucks with big tanks come in and spray it. You end up with a nice insulation that isn't itch or a bunch of blown fibers that turn to mush when wet. The problem is that any small void that leads outside is a good stater point for bees.

So now I have this nice house two years old. The attic has the roof trusses sprayed with the foam. It is a decorative roof that makes for easy voids. Well the bees moved in. And I found them because you could follow the sound of them chewing the foam.

In the pictures you will see a pile of the dust created by them chewing it.

http://www.brendhanhorne.com/coppermine_dir/thumbnails.php?album=166

Tomorrow I go crawl in an attic and remove these guys. It may qualify as the most difficult cut out I have had to do because I have to crawl to a very awkward corner and I cannot get to the sophet they are in.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Understudy · October 21, 2008, 11:47:57 AM

I went and did the cut out with two helpers. It was a tough tough job. Go back to the link and see the rest of the pictures.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

KONASDAD · October 21, 2008, 01:17:17 PM

Cutouts like this are why i keep my day job! I would have gotten stuck!

poka-bee · October 21, 2008, 02:32:53 PM

Brendhan, that didn't look fun at all! The bees did have a cozy home though! Looked like snow! J

Keith13 · October 21, 2008, 02:38:32 PM

Awesome pictures It looked as if that was no easy job for sure,

Keith

BjornBee · October 30, 2008, 10:10:52 AM

Thank you for sharing.
I have never seen anything like that in insulation before.

mudlake · November 26, 2008, 12:56:34 PM

Intresting pictures, I am glad that is not my attic. Not because of the bee's. Because of the way it is insulated. How long will it take with the insulation holding moisture next to the wood before they rot. Sorry just my two cents. Tony