Repair holes in garage firewall An attached garage is a great place to keep your car warm and out of the weather. It is also a convenient place to store your belongings, work on small projects, or set up workout equipment. However, the garage can also be a significant safety and health hazard for the occupants of the home. That is because the garage can be a source of toxic fumes and also the starting point of a fire. Maintaining an intact fire boundary between the garage and the house is a critical safety consideration. Garage fires tend to spread farther and cause more injuries and property damage than fires that start in all other areas of the home. Every year there are approximately 7,000 garage fires in the United States.

The main deficiency that is found in fire boundaries between garages and homes are gaps and holes in the walls and ceilings of the garage. These holes and gaps, even if small, can allow fumes to vent into the home and can facilitate the spread of a fire that starts in the garage. Sealing these openings is often very simple and something that a homeowner can do without much effort or expense.

Holes in firewall Gaps and holes in the walls and ceilings are most often found around penetrations. Look for them around electrical receptacles and switches, HVAC ducts and plenums, gas and water pipes, and structural components like posts and beams. Sometimes gaps can be difficult to see because of obstructions – we recommend taking the time to make sure that you find all of them.

Sealing the holes is a simple process. Make sure you purchase a fire-rated caulk, adhesive, or expanding foam. Choose the product that best suits the task – for example – an expanding foam will allow you to fill large gaps that a caulk would not cover. Fire-rated products should be used to ensure that the sealant or foam does not fail in case of a fire. These products are typically orange or red in color to help identify them as a fire-rated product. Once you have the product, apply it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you wear proper protective equipment when doing so. We also recommend ventilating the space where you are working.

Most caulks and adhesives will come in tubes that will require a caulk gun to dispense. Caulk guns are relatively inexpensive and are a great tool to have around the house because they also allow you to apply sealants in areas like the bathrooms and kitchen. Expanding foam will come in two forms – one that has its own dispensing tube and one that requires a foam gun. Foam guns are not cheap but allow you greater flexibility when applying the foam and make it easier to apply the foam.

However you choose to accomplish the task of sealing garage wall and ceiling penetrations, you will be creating a safer and healthier home for yourself and your family.

You can see a review of fire-rated foam here: