Styrofoam Insulation

Styrofoam insulation, more commonly called foam board insulation, can be used to insulate almost any part of your home. From the roof, down to the foundation, these rigid panels of insulation add structural strength to your home while providing superior thermal resistance. Installing styrofoam insulation reduces the conduction of heat through structural elements like steel studs or wood.

The most common types of materials used in making styrofoam insulation include polystyrene, polyurethane, and polyisocyanurate or polyiso. Foam board insulation is ideal for high moisture areas, including under boat and marina homes, in between the concrete forms of a house, or between basement walls and the outside dirt.

Installation

Maximizing the performance of styrofoam insulation depends heavily on proper installation. Because of this, it's best to have it installed by a professional at Knez.

Proper Care

To get the most out of your styrofoam insulation, it needs to be properly taken care of. It's best to protect all types of foam board insulation from direct sunlight to avoid damage. Over time, the sun's ultraviolet rays can damage the insulation.

For roofs, you can easily protect your insulation by applying a coating of silicone, tar, acrylic, or rubberized paint. In addition, the foam can be covered with a plastic or rubber membrane, or even a layer of asphalt and roofing felt. Be sure that you are using compatible products, as the solvents in some coatings can dissolve some types of plastics.

Aside from sunlight, moisture can damage styrofoam insulation as well. In cold weather, warm air from inside that contains water vapor can get past the wall finish and insulation, causing condensation inside the colder wall cavity. The same can happen in hot, humid climates in the reverse direction. During the summer, humid air from outside can condense inside cool, air conditioned wall cavities. If too much of this occurs and the water cannot escape, a number of moisture-related problems can develop, including wood rot or mold. Because of this, building codes will often require the installation of a vapor diffusion retarder on the warmest side of the wall cavity.

At Knez, we'll make sure your installation is always installed properly.