I get nervous about relying on spray foam too much, just because I’ve heard it can trap moisture if it’s not applied right. But I totally get what you mean about mice—batt alone is like an open invitation for them. I had a small section under my kitchen sink where they chewed through the batt and made a mess. I ended up using steel wool and then a little foam over that, just to be safe.
I’ve had to scrape off a big blob or two when I got carried away, but it does seal up those weird bends way better than tape.
Yeah, those blobs are annoying. I try to go light with the foam and always wear gloves—learned the hard way it’s a pain to get off skin. For code stuff, I double-check with the county’s website and take photos before closing anything up. It’s probably overkill, but I’d rather be safe than sorry if there’s ever a problem down the line.
Totally get the anxiety around spray foam—I've heard some horror stories about moisture too, especially in older houses where airflow isn't great. But honestly, steel wool plus a bit of foam sounds like a solid combo for keeping critters out. I’ve tried just stuffing gaps with batt in the past, and yeah, mice basically treat it like a welcome mat.
Taking photos before sealing things up is smart. I’ve been burned before when an inspector wanted to see something I’d already covered. It feels like overkill in the moment, but if you ever need to prove you did things by the book, you’ll be glad you have that backup. Out of curiosity, do you ever worry about off-gassing from the foam? I’ve read mixed things, and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth looking into alternatives for spots that aren’t mouse-prone.
And man, gloves are a must—one time I skipped them and had sticky hands for days. Learned my lesson there...
Yeah, off-gassing is one of those things that freaks me out a bit, especially in tight spots or if you’re sealing up somewhere you’ll actually be breathing a lot. I’ve started using those low-VOC foams when I can find them, just for peace of mind. For the less mousey areas, I’ll sometimes just use caulk or backer rod—less drama, less stink. And totally with you on gloves... tried to “just be careful” once and ended up looking like I’d lost a fight with a glue trap.
Man, I hear you on the gloves. I always think I can just be “super careful” and then end up scrubbing my hands for days. Low-VOC stuff is definitely worth it if you can swing it—sometimes the price stings, but I figure it’s cheaper than breathing in who-knows-what. I’ve used backer rod too, though sometimes it feels like overkill, but hey, whatever keeps the critters and the fumes out, right?
Yeah, I get what you mean about the backer rod feeling like overkill sometimes, but honestly, I’ve seen way too many critters squeeze through the tiniest gaps. I’d rather spend a few extra bucks than deal with a mouse nest behind my pipes. When you’re sealing up, do you usually go with foam or silicone for the final layer? I’ve had mixed results with both, depending on the spot.