QA

Question: How Thick Should Foam Board Insulation Be

How Thick Is Rigid Foam Insulation Board? Rigid board insulation generally comes in standard thicknesses ranging from ½ inch to 2 inches. For homes located in extreme climates, it is also possible to order specialty thicknesses of up to 6 inches directly from certain manufacturers.

What is the R value of 2 inch foam board?

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.

How thick of foam board insulation do I need?

If you’re using low-density Home-Depot-sourced R-3.8 EPS foam (a sheet of white beads, like styrofoam), that means you need 2.7 inches of EPS to be code-legal and safe. Round up to 3 inches. XPS (blue or purple and smooth) is R-5, so you could get away with only two inches of XPS.

What is the R value of 1 inch foam insulation?

Closed-cell spray foam has a far better R-value per inch than other, less effective insulations like cellulose, fiberglass, or even open-cell foam. All these have R-values ranging from R-3.2 to R-3.8 per inch. The R-value of closed-cell foam is R-6.5-7 per inch.

What is the highest R value foam board?

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. This type of rigid foam usually comes with a reflective foil facing on both sides, so it can also serve as a radiant barrier.

What is the R value of 3 inch foam board?

R-Value Chart for EnerfoilTM Rigid Foam Faced Insulation

Thickness (Inches) R-value (in I-P/Imperial) RSI (R-value in Metric)
2.0 12.4 2.16
2.5 15.5 2.7
3.0 18.6 3.24
3.5 21.7 3.78

Should you use faced or unfaced insulation in a basement?

Place faced insulation between the studs with the vapor retarder facing the interior of the room. For the band joist, use unfaced cut-to-fit pieces of insulation and place them snugly into the space.

How thick should foam board insulation be in a basement?

Boards come of varying thickness up to 2in. You get a thermal capability of R5 per inch of thickness. I recommend going with the 2in thick for an R10 rating.

Do you need a vapor barrier with foam board insulation?

The goal is to keep the inside face of the foam sheathing above the dew point of the interior air. 2) Don’t use a vapor barrier, such as poly, on the interior. If the wall cavity get wet for any reason, then the wall will need to dry primarily to the interior.

Is foam board insulation better than fiberglass?

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.

Which foam board insulation is best for basement walls?

Rigid foam boards are attached to basement walls to seal and insulate the space. Rigid foam is ideal for the basement environment because of its water resistance and durability. Rigid foam won’t be damaged by leaks or mold, ensuring you have a long lasting solution for your home.

What is the difference between Styrofoam and foam board?

The major difference between Styrofoam and EPS foam blocks is that Styrofoam is made from extruded polystyrene (XPS) while EPS foam blocks are made of expanded polystyrene. Both are polystyrene foam products made from polystyrene resins but they are manufactured into sheets and blocks very differently.

Does Dollar Tree have foam board?

Bulk Readi-Board White Foam Boards, 20×30 in. Dollar Tree.

What is pink foam board insulation made of?

Pink and blue rigid foam insulation boards are made from polystyrene resin that is melted and then forced through a die to form it into the desired shape. As insulators, pink and blue boards perform virtually identically, with an insulating value of R-5 per inch of thickness.

Which side of foam board insulation faces out?

If you’re wondering whether to put the foil side of foam insulation board shiny side in or out, consider whether you want to make the space inside warmer or cooler. If you want to make the space warmer, the foil should face inside so it can reflect radiant heat back into the room.

What is the R value of 4 inch rigid insulation?

This product typically has an R value of 3.6 to 4.0 per inch of thickness.

What is blue foam used for?

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.

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 house wrap go over or under foam board?

The answer, happily, is yes. In fact, the two products combined make your home super-insulated from outside wind and weather. If you choose to install house wrap with rigid foam, generally, it should go under the insulation, not around it.

Does rigid foam insulation need to be covered?

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.

Can you put rigid foam insulation between studs?

Even with its flaws—namely, its inability to perfectly mold to the bays between the studs—rigid foam insulation will be a better bet than no insulation. Using low-expanding spray foam sealant to seal those gaps further increases rigid foam’s insulating properties between studs.

Is foam board insulation flammable?

Does foam board burn? “Rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams will, when ignited, burn rapidly and produce intense heat, dense smoke and gases which are irritating, flammable and/or toxic. Therefore, foam can be particularly hazardous during construction or renovation, as it is often exposed.

Does insulation go paper side out?

Regardless of whether fiberglass insulation is installed in a wall, attic, or crawlspace; the paper facing should always face toward the inside of the home. That’s because the paper contains a layer of asphalt adhesive which prevents water vapor from passing through it.

Does foil insulation need an air gap?

Radiant barrier foil has a 97% reflectivity, basically it’s only letting about 3% of that heat pass through. You MUST have an air gap in order to get either the emissivity quality or the reflectivity quality that you’re looking for, otherwise the foil will not work as a radiant barrier.