Which board is best for insulation?

Foam board made from polyisocyanurate (polyiso) generally offers the best insulation capacity and 6.5 per inch.

Are insulation boards any good?

Foam board insulation is a great alternative to the very common fiberglass batt insulation that is in most of our homes. It has a higher R-Value per inch of thickness, it's resistant to moisture and is easy to work with.

Is rigid foam board a good insulation?

Characteristics of Foam Board Insulation

All types of rigid foam board insulation have several common characteristics or features. These characteristics are: Excellent heat-resistant properties. In fact, this is the insulating material with some of the highest R-values currently available.

What is the thickest foam board insulation?

The thickest foam board insulation goes up to 6 inches thick, but needs to be custom ordered. Standard thicknesses available for most foam board insulation ranges from 1/4-inch to 2 inches, depending on the type. Obviously, the thicker the foam board insulation, the better it will be at insulating your home.

Which is better foam board or insulation?

With R-values ranging from 3.6 to 8.0, rigid foam sheathing has much better insulation per inch than other materials (i.e. plywood has an R-value of 1.25 and fiberglass batts have an R-value of 3.14).

Testing The Burn Ability Of Insulation In Wall

Can I use foam board instead of insulation?

Yes, foam board insulation is an excellent complement to batt insulation. Foam board insulation can add insulation and eliminate thermal bridging when used in wall and ceiling assemblies insulated with batts. It can potentially replace the vapor barrier and house wrap as well.

How thick should my foam board insulation be?

Most panels range between 3/8″ and 2.5″ in thickness, though other dimensions and thicknesses are usually available through custom order.

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.

How much does foam board insulation cost?

The cost of foam board insulation ranges from about 30 cents per square foot to close to $1.00 depending on the type and thickness of the board. When an insulation contractor installs the insulation, the total cost of materials plus installation is $1.50 to $5.50 for most projects.

What is the R-value of 2 foam board?

With an R-value of 13.1 for a 2" thick sheet only two 2" sheets are required to achieve R-25. 2. Extruded polystyrene or XPS (foam is usually pink or blue) XPS has an R-value of 5 per inch of thickness requiring 5" of insulation to achieve R-25.

What is the R-value of rigid foam board?

Rigid foam R-values range from R-1 for 1/4-inch thick sheathing panels to R-15 for 3-inch thick panels. R-value is not entirely a function of the thickness of the material, as the facing material and type of foam used will affect the R-value of the material.

What insulation board has the highest R-value?

Polyisocyanurate: Known as polyiso for short, polyisocyanurate foam has the highest R-value per inch (R-6.5 to R-6.8) of any rigid insulation.

Are all insulation boards the same?

Not all insulation boards are the same. However, we understand that all the different types can be confusing. This post outlines some of the different types of rigid insulation, and highlights which might be the most suitable for your application.

Are polystyrene boards good for insulation?

Polystyrene is a material with uniformly small closed cells and a smooth skin which make it suitable for a wide range of demanding insulating applications.

What is the cheapest insulation material?

The most common form of home insulation is the “batt and roll” or “blanket” type, which is the least expensive to purchase and install. Its most common material is fiberglass, but if you're looking for an alternative, check out these natural fiber options: Mineral wool.

Are foam boards waterproof?

How Can You Waterproof a Foam Board? Foam board insulation doesn't absorb water, which essentially limits the amount of moisture build-up in your insulation. Polyiso and extruded polystyrene foam boards have the strongest waterproof properties.

Is foam sheet a good insulator?

Sheet foam provides better insulation and takes up less space than traditional fiberglass, and is much better at blocking air transfer when installed properly. The insulate properties of an inch thick foam sheet can be up to 3 times greater than other insulates of the same thickness.

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 blue foam used for?

Blue Foam. Also sold as buoyancy billet, blue foam is a closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam normally used for constructing floating structures. As a prototyping material, blue foam is an easily shapable rigid foam useful for exploring complex shapes and forms.

Is blue board insulation waterproof?

Is Rigid Foam Board Waterproof? Technically, EPS and XPS rigid foam board insulation are considered to be water-resistant. A product branded as waterproof means that it offers complete impermeability, even if permanently immersed in water.

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.

Does foam board block heat?

Foam board insulation provides good thermal resistance and reduce heat conduction through structural elements, such as wood and steel studs, according to the U.S. DOE.

How do you attach foam board to a wall?

Cut a piece of thick string or yarn to stretch across the back of the project. Don't pull the string too tight; it needs to give a little. Hot glue the string to the back of the foam board. Stick a thumbtack, nail or picture hook into the wall and slip the string over it to hang.