Foam board insulation is made of rigid panels of insulation. It can be used to insulate many parts of a home or a building. It is possible to install it from the roof down to the foundation. Foam board insulation provides a good thermal resistance and can add structural strength to your home or building. It insulates by reducing heat conduction through structural elements, such as wood and steel studs.

Foam-board Insulation resists the flow of heat. Heat is a form of energy-it always travels from hot to cold. It flows outward in winter and inward in the summer. Since insulation slows the heat flow, a house that is insulated correctly uses less energy in winter for heating and less in the summer for cooling.

Many homeowners struggle to keep up with the payment of utility bills. Heating and cooling bills account for 50 to 70% of energy use in the average U.S home. Roughly 20% is towards heating water. Ironically, lighting and appliances, and other items account for only 10 to 30% of the energy used in most residences. Having a house that is properly insulated can help with this problem. But not just with the payment of energy bills but keeping the climate inside your house at a steady level during the hot and cold seasons. Areas such as your garage, basement, and attic, typically have unsteady temperatures during the different seasons.

According to the US department of energy, the most common types of materials used in making foam board include polystyrene, polyisocyanurate or polyiso, and polyurethane. Many foam insulation products are more expensive than other types of insulating materials, such as reflective insulation, fiberglass, cellulose, etc. Foam board insulation prices can vary as well depending on the seasons. During the winter less people insulate their house or building due to the cold temperatures. This is the time when prices usually drop for insulating materials (find good prices on insulation by clicking here).

Molded expanded polystyrene (MEPS) is a material that can be molded into many different things. Some coffee cups, shipping materials and, large sheets of foam board insulation are made out of it. Molded expanded polystyrene is commonly known as beadboard. The material expends under heat and pressure to become foam blocks that can be shaped to the desirable form. The density of the board will vary according to its application. A board used on the roof has is more dense than one used in a wall. A variety of facings are available. A weakness of beadboards is that water transmission through the insulation may become an issue; in that case a vapor diffusion retarder is needed. Beadboards have an R-value per inch that varies from 3.8 to 4.4.

Extruded expanded polystyrene (XEPS) is a closed-cell foam insulation similar to MEPS but it is more expensive. It is more resistant to water transmission and It has a more consistent density which makes it better for roofs and walls applications. It is also available with a variety of facings. Extruded expended polystyrene has an R-value per inch that usually equals 5.

Polyisocyanurate or polyiso and polyurethane are two materials that are very similar. Polyiso foam boards can be made with different compressive strengths which can give more resistance to the material against a force or a load. Its performances will be stable between temperatures as low as -100 ºF and as high as +250ºF. Its qualities make it a good roofing insulation. A laminated aluminum foil facing will provide a moisture or vapor barrier. Those materials are also suitable to insulate places with space limitations. This is due to their R-values per inch that vary from 5.6 to 8 which allow to use a thinner board.

All these different types of foam boards can be used to make structural insulated panels (SIPs).

Foam board insulation needs a proper installation to perform at its best. It is recommended to have it professionally installed by a certified insulation installer. Prices of insulation vary by more than a factor or two.

It is not do-it yourselfers friendly. If you choose to install it yourself, you will need to get instructions from the manufacturer (not always available). By installing it yourself you are taking the chance to loose some of the insulation performance due to possible improper installation. Don’t forget to check your local building and fire codes. All types of foam insulation need to be protected from direct sunlight to prevent sun damage. It is also needed to install a vapor diffusion retarder to avoid moisture-related issues. Foam board insulation is usually placed between the exterior finish and the studs of exterior walls. To prevent air infiltration, you should place rigid insulation boards tightly together and seal the seams with tape. Insects can be a problem as well because they can easily tunnel through the insulation. Insect burrows reduce the R-value and structural integrity of the insulation. For these reasons, some manufacturers treat their foam products with an insecticide, usually a borate compound. Another solution is to the foam board over the interior of the basement walls rather than on the exterior which prevent the insect issue but can create more moisture problems. The installation of a fire barrier over the interior foam board is often a requirement from the jurisdiction which adds extra cost. It is very important to insure fire protection because once the foam insulation is ignited; it burns readily and emits a dense smoke containing many toxic gases.

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Summary

When it comes to installing foam board insulation it is probably best to hire a professional unless you have proper knowledge of how the job is completely. What is most important is that the insulation is installed properly. When choosing the type of foam-board insulation that you want, expanded polystyrene (EPS), also known as beadboard, is the least environmentally damaging product in the rigid foam board family because it is not manufactured using ozone-depleting chemicals.

Remember to check for R-value when purchasing any type of insulation. R-value rates the effectiveness of the product. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.