Consider 210 square feet to be the entire amount of rigid foam insulation … This ONLY applies to DOW foam, not other manufactured brands of foam or insulation products. Styrofoam™Brand Wallmate Insulation can be installed to the outside or inside edge at corners of interior basement walls. Where inspectors draw the line often depends on whether or not there is a mechanical system in the crawlspace. Half-inch thick gypsum board is commonly used for that purpose. Although insects can tunnel through foam boards, if you read about this as a potential problem, it usually refers to foundation installations. Outside (Figure 7) 1. BUILDING AMERICA (BA) has been advocating the use of rigid foam sheathing insulation for years as a means to improve the home’s thermal envelope, by increasing R-value while minimizing thermal bridging in wood-framed walls. Press drywall corner bead over outside corner of wall covered with Styrofoam™Brand Wallmate™Insulation. Re-siding an existing home presents an opportunity to upgrade the home’s energy performance. The problem with that application has always been that the foam board needed to be covered with a “thermal barrier” or “flame spread barrier” like drywall in order to meet local fire codes. If the foam board is installed properly, the rigid material can create an air barrier. There are also some scratch coat materials which are troweled over the insulation like a stucco coating. And fyi, people seem to be so unaware of this, but depending on your climate zone you may be required by code to also install a vapor barrier on the warm side of the wall, so check with your local code. Serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Accurate Insulation is a good company to call when you need to insulate all parts of a new home or need more insulation for your rim joist, basement or crawl space. Rigid foam boards used in ceiling insulation are often made of either cellulose fiber, fiberglass, polystyrene, or polyurethanes. We are currently planning on building our first home and we’re making sure that everything is settle first before we start building. It can be installed on the exterior of the foundation walls, but in order to be effective, needs to be installed to the full height of the wall which means protecting the above grade portion. Once the foam board is in place it can be covered with waterproof concrete board or specially treated sheet rock. Spray-Foam Spreads Fire Very Fast & Creates Massive Amounts Of Toxic Smoke. You will likely meet some “resistance” from your local code officials, but DOWNLOAD THE CODE REPORT and look for the sections described below, For more information about specifics and installation best practices, consult the Dow Builder’s Guide to Continuous Insulation. Conventional thinking was that foundations did not need to be insulated since they are primarily below grade and not subjected to the full load of outdoor temperatures. These coverings will ensure a good long life for the foam insulation by keeping moisture from its surface. Cover The Spray Foam With Fire-Retardant Spray. More effective insulation, better at controlling moisture, and … Unfortunately for most homeowners paying high energy bills, that conventional thinking was wrong. Paul Fisette is a wood technologist and former director of the Building Materials Technology and Management program at the University of Massachussets in Amherst, Mass. All XPS and EPS foam must by law be covered by a thermal (fire) barrier and if that is all you're putting in there for insulation, then you need furring sticks between the foam and the drywall. You can use rigid foam panels or do as Tom Silva does with nearly all houses these days: Hire a pro to install spray foam insulation. Building codes restrict the use of unprotected foam in habitable or accessible spaces. Once the board is cut to size and fit in place, spray foam seals gaps around the edges. However, most building codes allow the installation of unprotected rigid foam in a crawlspace that has no open connection to a basement, as long as the foam has passed alternative testing procedures. We haven’t done our plans for the basement so this article will really help. This can lead to … As a result, air passes though these areas. Because foam board insulation isn't flexible, it does a poor job filling the gaps and cracks that exist in walls. FOAMULAR 150 1 in. 2. 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. For example, the wall may be 30 feet long by 7 feet high. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. Air traveling in an out will bring moisture with it. The thinking here is that a fire could be set off by either the equipment or activity of people in the space. The Ontario Building Code requires foam insulation products to be protected with a 15 minute thermal barrier if they are inside the building envelope. When properly constructed, it provides a tight, dry, warm, and durable structure. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. Does Fiberglass Insulation Have to Be Covered in Tampa? With spray foam, unlike with loose fill or batts, you must cover the soffit vents (they aren't needed to keep the roof cool). However, they do not provide the same performance in terms of insulation level per inch, water resistance, or air resistance. The quick answer is: it … A.Corresponding Editor Paul Fisette responds: Not that I know of. Foam board insulation is easy to use and is a great DIY way to add some insulation. The structural elements of below grade walls are cold (concrete is in direct contact with the ground)—especially when insulated on … The foam provides a vapor-barrier so the ductwork won’t sweat. How to Install Rigid Foam Insulation Between Studs Measure the Project Area . © 2014-2020 Great Lakes Home Performance LLC A.Corresponding Editor Paul Fisette responds: Not that I know of. That's what separates it from the occupied spaces. Insulating the basement or crawlspace walls of a home is a crucial step in lowering energy bills. What are the effective system R-values for the THERMAX™ Wall System? We plan on making the basement a 2nd living room and it will really help if it’s properly insulated and won’t moist. Cover the insulation with a vapor barrier before you install it; all foam boards absorb water vapor. One of the preferred products for insulating foundations is Dow XPS extruded polystyrene foam, commonly called “blue board” in the trades. Builder's Business, Performance Professionals, Recommended | 2 comments. Adding a layer of rigid foam to the walls of any building is somewhat labor intensive. For that reason, you will need to use a fire barrier. Basement Foam Board Insulation Pros: Some rigid foam products are water-resistant that can help limit moisture buildup and mildew growth. It comes in standard-size 4×8 sheets, and smaller sizes, in many different thicknesses from 1/4 inch to 2 inches. Application without Prescriptive Thermal Barrier: Application without Prescriptive Ignition Barrier, For more information about specifics and installation best practices, consult the. Allowing interior air (that is usually full of moisture, especially in the humid summer months) to touch cold surfaces will cause condensation and wetting, rather than the desired drying. 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