Can I use insulation board instead of drywall?

Instead of using a more complicated or expensive alternative, such as decorative fiber cement boards, fiberglass panels or magnesium oxide (MgO) board, consider insulating your drywall with engineered EPS foam panels, such as InSoFast UX 2.0, particularly in a moisture-prone basement.

Can insulation board be used in walls?

Rigid foam board insulation can be used throughout the home, but most often it is found in basement walls. If you are a do-it-yourself homeowner finishing your basement, this likely will be your first encounter with closed-cell rigid foam.

Can you leave foam board insulation exposed?

Tests have shown that these laminated boards can withstand UV ray damage for a reasonably long time. That said, it's still advisable to cover any foam board insulation exposed to the Sun within 30-60 days at the most. On most projects, that's more than enough time to finish the exterior walls.

Can you use Styrofoam insulation on interior walls?

Rigid foam insulation, whether it is expanded or extruded polystyrene, does have to be covered if it is installed in the interior of a building. This wall covering must have a minimum fire rating to protect the insulation from quick combustion during a fire.

What do you use insulation board for?

Because of its resistance to moisture, foam board insulation is a great choice whenever and wherever there is a chance it could get wet, such as: an exterior foundation, inside a basement against the foundation, and on the outside of a house beneath a house wrap.

DIY Remodeling? What to use instead of drywall!!? Shiplap planking is the WAY TO GO!

How do you stick insulation board to the wall?

The short answer is that insulated plasterboards can be bonded over existing plaster using acrylic sealant adhesive or low expanding PU foam adhesive so long as the plaster is sound, solid and dry.

What is the difference between pink and blue foam board?

Both are manufactured using the same process and contain similar chemical components. The two products also have the same insulating power. However, blue foam boards are manufactured by Dow Chemical Co. whereas the pink foam boards are manufactured by Owens Corning company.

Does foam board insulation need a vapor barrier?

Foam insulation usually does not require a vapor barrier. For some foam insulation types, such as closed-cell spray foam and foam board insulation, the insulation itself stops the movement of most water vapor.

Do you put Tyvek over insulation board?

DuPont™ Tyvek® wraps can be installed UNDER or OVER exterior foam insulation. The DuPont™ Tyvek® wrap should be installed on the same plane as the window flanges to allow for the most effective installation.

Is foam board insulation fireproof?

While many modern foam insulating products do not themselves readily support combustion (that is they don't catch fire and burn alone) they may give off thick acrid or toxic black smoke in a fire, making it difficult to safely exit the burning building.

Which side of foam board insulation faces out?

The reflective side of the board should be oriented to the exterior and the non- reflective white side should be oriented to the interior. EXCEPTION: If vinyl siding is to be installed over AP™ Foil- Faced sheathing, install foam boards with the white nonreflective side toward the vinyl siding.

Does foam board mold?

Foam building insulation, in both spray foam and foam board products, is resistant to mold growth but as we will explain here it is not absolutely mold-roof, and on occasion we do find mold growth on the surface of even closed-cell foam, in open-celled foam (rare), and on th surface of EPS and other foam insulating ...

Can foam board insulation be painted?

If you are looking for a way to improve the insulation in your home, you may be wondering if it is possible to paint foam board insulation. We did our research, and here's what we found out. The answer is yes. You can paint foam board insulation as long as you use water-based acrylic or latex paint.

Can you leave rigid insulation exposed?

Q. I plan to install rigid foam insulation in a crawlspace. As far as I know, most types of rigid foam insulation can't be left exposed, but need to be covered with a layer of drywall for fire resistance.

How thick should insulation board be?

Rigid board insulation generally comes in standard thicknesses ranging from ½ inch to 2 inches. It is possible for homes located in extreme climates to order specialty thicknesses of up to 6 inches directly from certain manufacturers. Obviously, the thicker the rigid board, the higher the insulation capacities.

What goes on first insulation board or house wrap?

If you choose to install house wrap with rigid foam, generally, it should go under the insulation, not around it. However, you can rely on the advice of your contractor to make your final decision, since not every professional agrees on this order.

What goes first house wrap or foam board?

Simplifying the decision

If you are installing “innie” windows, your housewrap should go under the foam. If you are installing “outie” windows, your housewrap should go over the foam.

Can I use house wrap inside?

Tyvek^® HomeWrap^® and Tyvek^® CommercialWrap^® are non-directional and are equally effective if installed with the logo facing the inside or outside of the wall or with the logo oriented in any direction.

Is foam board breathable?

EPS - Expanded Polystyrene Foam Insulation Boards:

Rated at R4 per inch; EPS foam insulation boards are more permeable to air and moisture than XPS, but it doesn't retain moisture to the same extent because of it's more closed cell structure and it's breathability which lets it dry out.

Should you put plastic behind drywall?

Without poly beneath the drywall, water vapor hits the drywall and diffuses through to the drier (in summer) indoor air. By installing a sheet of poly there, you cut off that drying mechanism and water that finds its way into walls can stay there longer and do more damage.

Can you drywall over rigid insulation?

Drywall, which is actually a mineral called gypsum, resists fire. It also helps insulate and soundproof the room. The most common way to hang drywall over rigid foam insulation is to glue and screw it into place.

What is blue foam board used for?

DuPont Styrofoam™ Insulation (Blue Board) is a nonstructural, rigid board insulation manufactured of Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS). Blue Board can be used both on exterior and interior walls to give you a continuous insulation barrier that can increase effective R-value of the wall by up to 20%.

What is the R-value of 2 inch blue Styrofoam?

A wall utilizing STYROFOAM T-MASS Technology with a 2-inch exterior layer and a 4-inch interior layer of concrete along with a 2-inch layer of STYROFOAM extruded polystyrene insulation would result in a material R-value of approximately 11.33.

Is insulated plasterboard worth it?

While you could theoretically use insulated plasterboard on internal walls, it is more cost-effective to insulate the spaces between internal walls by using fibreglass or foam. Insulated plasterboard can also be used for ceilings, preventing heat from escaping through your ceiling or roof.