Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We just experienced 2 days in the 40s followed by a quick deep freeze. The result is huge chunks of ice on the river, and amazing ice sculptures in the woods.
We just experienced 2 days in the 40s followed by a quick deep freeze. The result is huge chunks of ice on the river, and amazing ice sculptures in the woods.

![Spray Foam Insulation Contraction Noises while Separating from a Metal Quonset Hut Roof
This may well be the most boring video on YouTube. It is similar to watching paint dry, only less exciting. It is the sound of spray foam insulation popping and cracking as it separates from a metal roof.
I decided to build a [metal] Quonset hut a year ago, and insulate it by spraying foam insulation into the inside of the roof. The metal roof ended up leaking a bit prior to insulating, and we had to caulk some of the seams and bolts to get it to be water tight. But I was assured by MANY people that the spray foam would seal the roof and keep out all water even if we failed to catch all of the leaks.
Well, that turns out to be half right. The foam forms a complete seal, but it will not keep any water out.
The foam is applied very hot and it expands quickly and sticks to almost anything. What most people do not understand is that after the foam expands, it contracts. And when it contracts, it pulls away from the metal roof, leaving a small gap. And this means that were the metal roof to leak, water would accumulate in that gap and progress down the outside of the foam to the floor.
I wanted to document this phenomenon, so I took my phone out to the Quonset and video taped a 10 minute segment. That was pretty boring for me, so I put a camera out there and filmed another 30 minute segment, for a total of 40 minutes of video. I then combined and edited the videos to remove the silences in between the noises. And that is what you will be watching. About 2:30 of popping and cracking noises as the foam contracts. By the way, it sounds best with the volume turned way up!
I wonder if anyone will actually watch it to the very end... Spray Foam Insulation Contraction Noises while Separating from a Metal Quonset Hut Roof](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_vrxXi3sExo/mqdefault.jpg)








