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What is Foam Board Insulation?

A high resistance value recommends the use of foam board insulation in buildings. However, this resistance value can be affected by various factors, like the initial density of the foam board, the way the panels are handled, the type of facing used, the conditions during installation and such. Even so, foam board insulation is preferred against other products for its resistance qualities.

How to Install Foam Board Insulation

There are several ways for applying foam board insulation. Foam board insulation can be used from aerosol containers and sprayed as a chemical mixture or in bulk from a pressure sprayer. This way, all the cavities and spaces in walls are completely covered and sealed. Foam board insulation can be applied as a liquid that enters all the holes before it expands. Also, foam board insulation comes in the form of solidified plastic foam applied as loose beads into blocks or as rigid panels.

Foam board insulation is preferred when air infiltration must be kept under control, as other insulation products are less efficient. Foam board insulation is also used when there is not enough space to install non-foam products or the existing insulation cannot be changed due to construction impediments. Other insulation products, like fiberglass and cellulose, cost less per their thickness, but foam board insulation is considered ideal as its resistance value is higher.

Where to Use Foam Board Insulation

Foam board insulation can be used on roofs, curtain walls, foundations, entry and overhead garage doors, pipes and tanks, and climate-controlled storage units. Foam board insulation is also recommended for sheathing and insulating the inside surface of basements or space walls. Foam board insulation is also used beneath basement slabs and slab-on-grade floors. When insulating walls, the best solution to incorporate foam board insulation is through pouring foam beads into masonry.

Problems with Moisture

One problem when using foam board insulation is related to moisture. When it is cold outside, the warm air from the inside, filled with vapors, pass through the wall insulation. On the cold surface of the outside walls condensation might appear.