There are two types of foam insulation. Foam-in-place insulation is widely used for older buildings and buildings that were not insulated when built. Rigid foam insulation is commonly used for exterior and foundation applications. Foam insulation has a top-rated value when it is installed correctly, compared with other types of home insulation.
Instructions
1. Measure and cut the rigid foam insulation. Mark the foam with a pen, pencil or marker, then use a chalk box to snap out lines so you can cut the rigid foam insulation with a hand or power cutout saw.
2. Install the rigid foam insulation on exterior foundations. In most applications, the rigid foam insulation is placed against concrete footings, basement foundations, crawlspaces or concrete slab on grades. For exterior foundation installations, first apply waterproofing to the concrete wall, then an adhesive to glue the rigid foam insulation in place. Use self-tapping concrete screws with washers to screw the foam into place. Space the screws every 24 inches on center both vertically and horizontally. Try not to sink the screws with the washers deep into the rigid foam insulation; you merely want the screws to hold the foam insulation in place. Cover the screw washers with a fiberglass tape to weatherproof the screws. For exterior applications, protect any exposed rigid foam insulation that sits 6 inches below grade and up with metal, cement board or stucco.
3. Install the rigid foam insulation on interior foundations. Waterproofing should still be applied to the exterior of the concrete walls. For basement applications, you will take furring strips and run them horizontally across the bottom and the top of your foundation. You may need to add more horizontal furring strips if the foundation is high. Use self-tapping concrete screws and an adhesive to hold the boards in place against the cement foundation. Then apply adhesive to the interior of the wall and attach the rigid foam insulation. Use self-tapping concrete screws to hold in place. The screws with washers will be placed 24 inches on center both vertically and horizontally. Place gypsum board over the walls and screw the gypsum into the furring strips. Furring strips are usually 1-by-2-inch strips of wood that are used when applying wood or gypsum board onto concrete or masonry walls.
4. Make holes in the walls large enough to insert a nozzle for foam-in-place insulation. Remove either shingles or siding near the top and bottom of the wall you will be insulating. Using a drill, make small holes through the sheathing and between the studs.
5. Spray the foam in place with a pressurized air hose. Plug the holes; you can also spray into the cavity of masonry walls if needed. You will need to remove individual masonry blocks and spray into the cavities of the wall. In some cases, you can also use some types of foam-in-place insulation for open walls. Spray the open walls between the studs and let it expand. Once it is dry, cut any excess with a long blade specially designed for this type of application. Finally, screw or nail the interior siding over the foam-in-place insulation.
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