Insulation is the best way to conserve non-renewable energy. Installing foam boards is the best option to insulate your home and help environment largely. There is a wide range of foam boards available in the market. The R – value of the foam boards will depend on your need and the place where you will install it. A particular kind of foam boards comes with the lowest R value, and so it’s the most inexpensive. There is also a higher density foam board which is much easier to work with. These boards do not absorb moisture easily as they come with a much higher R value. You will also have to refer to the local building codes before installing the foam boards. Many municipalities have regulations regarding the installation of foam boards for both fire and moisture issues.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Time required: 2 hours
Resources required
- Construction adhesive
- foam insulation boards
- 2-by-3 inch wood boards
- 2-by-4 inch wood boards
- vapor barrier
- framing nails
- utility knife
Instructions
1. Framing out a wall
Choose a wall in your basement (where you want to put the insulation boards). If t he wall is devoid of any frame then you will need to make arrangements to frame the wall. Use the wood boards for the plates and studs. Use the 2-by-4 inch wood boards for the plates and the 2-by-3 inch boards for the studs. Make sure that you place the studs at least twenty-four inches apart. These plates need to be installed at the bottom and top of the chosen wall. If your wall is about ten feet in length, you will need at least eight foot studs.
2. Cutting the foam
You will need to use a utility knife to cut the foam boards. Bend it and then cut through it. You can use a fine toothed hacksaw for this purpose. This will create a powdery waste when you cut the foam boards. This waste can be easily vacuumed and cleaned without much of a hassle. You can also use a craft knife for cutting the boards. Make a line with the edge of the knife and then cut through it pushing it longer than the width of the board. Cut pieces of the foam board to fit them properly. When you are cutting the boards, be sure that you cut them to the perfect size. Keep it a little extra, if you want.
3. Attach the boards to the wall
After you are done with the cutting of the foam boards, use a strong construction adhesive to fix the boards to the wall. Always be cautious that you don’t nail the boards as if there are holes in the board, it will reduce the R value of the boards. This will make the foam boards less effective.
4. Use the vapor barrier to cover
Foam boards are prone to absorbing moisture and this also creates mold problems. So, you will need to use vapor barrier to cover the foam boards. Foam boards are prone to catching fire and so these barriers will help protect them. Vapor barriers are easily available, generally made of thick plastic and are normally found on the inside of the walls. So, check with the local building code office before you start with the installation process.
5. Cover up your wall
After you are done with installing the foam boards, cover your walls with paneling or drywall. This is very necessary if you want to safeguard the foam boards and protect their R value. The lesser the R value, the less effective will be the foam boards.
Tips
1. You will get these materials in local building and hardware shops. They are easily available and won’t be much of a hassle for you.
2. Follow the above instructions accurately. Also take proper precautions while installing them.
3. Make sure that you don’t keep the boards in the sun before you install them. This will reduce the R value of the boards and they will become less effective.
4. Check with the local building code office before you start with installing the foam boards.
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