The holes where the television, telephone, and doorbell lines enter our house are much larger than the cables themselves. What is a good way to close up and insulate the gap? Janet
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Replies
expanding foam
aka 'great
expanding foam
aka 'great stuff'(which it aint imo, but would work for this application) or similar
"Duct seal" -- similar to plumber's putty but won't damage plastics (like wiring insulation), can be exposed to the weather, and can be painted. Comes in a "brick" in the elec dept at any decent hardware store.
Dan,
That's much better to
Dan,
That's much better to finish off the hole rather than spray foam. Foam deteriorates in the sun and moving wire can slop out the hole.
Dear Calvin,
How would you finish off the hole through the wood shingle? Sorry for what must be a very elementary question, but I have never had to close an outside opening.
Janet
Duct seal is a gray paintable putty that stays relatively soft. If your shingles are painted, it would blend in pretty well after painting. I would just leave the duct seal as is if the shingles are natural or stained as it's a commonly used sealant and would look entirely normal. I suppose you could make or buy some sort of a cover if it bothered you to look at it.
I'd still consider using foam to seal inside the wall, with duct seal on the outside.
Dear Calvin,
How would you finish off the hole through the wood shingle? Sorry for what must be a very elementary question, but I have never had to close an outside opening.
Janet
Janet,
As Mark suggests, foam inside the hole if you can neatly. Stuff with fibreglass if you're concerned about foaming all over the place. Or tape the area around it. Foam is not for the faint of heart. A small hole with a cable through it might be tough with spray foam.
I would either use the seal he talks about-it does stay pliable for just about ever, but holds itself and the cable pretty good as far as air and water infiltration. You mold it around the hole-getting some inside to give it some grabbing power.
Or, I'd use a complementary colored Urethane caulk. That stuff sticks to everything-no problem with wood or wire. Start the caulk inside the hole and carefully move it around the wire, sealing the opening. You can do a little artistic "molding" of it. Turns your fingers black if you get it on you and don't clean immediately with denatured alcohol.
Those wires etc should be held in place so they don't flop around. There's some cable clamps (find a phone guy etc and beg him for some). Hex drilling screw with a tab that goes around the cable. Aluminum-so no rust. Much better than staples. Make it neat, straight and run it where it doesn't look like shit if you can.
How big of a hole are you talking about?
Dig this janet. They fixed the Preview feature!
They eliminated it at least on this reply.
Pure genius.
Caulk works real well to seal up the exterior opening. Spray foam behind the caulk is a real good idea as well. Let the foam do the seal, the caulk is mostly for appearance and to protect the foam from UV.