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The tile backsplash is off my kitchen walls and the tiler will be by next week to put the new tile up. In the meanwhile, we sometimes get a breeze and ants through a couple of electrical outlets and I see there's a couple of large gaps in the drywall around the boxes.
My question is, Can I spray Great Stuff (foam insulation) in AROUND the boxes - in the cavity of the drywall (not in the box itself)? Do I need to shut off the electricity? Someone told me I could get electricuted because the Great Stuff is liquid.
As long as you are moderately careful, you will be fine spraying it in the cavity around the box. The wires are insulated once they leave the box, so electrocution isn't a huge concern. Remember, a little Great Stuff goes a long way. The stuff expands like popcorn, so a little dab'll do ya.
JimRom is spot on. A little bit of that stuff goes a LONG way.
Whatever you do, make sure there is a "outlet" through which the expanding foam can escape. I've seen that stuff buckle thresholds, bend door frames, etc.
Keep in mind too, that you can buy little outlet cover insulators. They're cheap, easy, and they really do a good job.
There is a type of spray foam that doesn't expand as much and is "softer" so it doesn't distort whatever it pushes against. I would use that type around your outlet boxes. I've seen regular Great Stuff foam push the side of a plastic box in quite a ways because it cured between the drywall and the box, or a tiny bit gets in between the box and the stud it is mounted to. The low expansion stuff eliminates that from happening and works great. I've used DAPtex from DAP before with good results. I don't remember where I bought it but probably any of the big home improvement places or Wally World should have it.
LOL. I remember my first time using the stuff many years ago when I sprayed it in a door frame, that door never did close right again.
Great Stuff sells a "blue can" designed for use around windows and doorways just to avoid bending of the frames. It does not expand as much as the original Great Stuff.
They make one especially for filling electrical chases:
GREAT STUFFâ„¢ Fireblock (http://greatstuff.dow.com/products/fire.htm - broken link)
Try Latex foan ;it doesn't expnd and push things around as much.
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