Foam?

[Anonymous]

I read the long thread about using foam and its benefits. I am a newbie to the hobby and am learning as i go. My only question is where is the best place to get foam for the best prices? Can you get it at a reasonable price at say a Lowes or Home Depot??? All responses are appreciated.

[Anonymous]

In a word yes, I happened to by my 4"x8'x2" at Menards and I think that I paid around
8 bucks a sheet.
The Harven

[tstage]

mojo4280,

Welcome to the forum! [:)]

Yes, any home improvement store (like the one's you mentioned) are probably the cheapest places to purchase the stuff. I paid more like $15 for a 4 x 8 x 1-1/2" here in Cleveland. If you have a friend or know someone who is a contractor, he might be able to pick it up for you even cheaper.

Keep in mind that the extrude foam insulation damages somewhat easily. So make sure that it is protected somehow when you're bringing it home. I didn't have a big van so I had to rope mine on top of my Corolla very gingerly. Thankfully, I am only live about 2 miles from the Home Depot. It still took side streets...

Tom

[Bikerdad]

Just a note: not "any" home improvement place will have the foam. The extruded polystyrene foam (i.e., real Sytrofoam) can be fairly uncommon, if not unavailable, at bigbox home improvement stores in the Sunbelt. Generally, the expanded foam is available.

How, you ask, can you tell the difference? Expanded foam is the same stuff used to make disposable beer coolers. It is more brittle, costs less, doesn't shape as well, and makes even more of a mess.

Venturing beyond the home improvement centers, commercial suppliers in the Sunbelt will usually have the extruded foam available. Its used in commercial refrigeration installations (i.e., walk in coolers and freezers). This stuff comes in a variety of grades and thicknesses, including some that you can walk on in stilleto heels without denting! It can be very tough stuff, which is one reason why they use it in making surfboards, windsurfers, and R/C aircraft.

[Anonymous]

Hadn't thought about walking on my foam baseboard in stilleto high heels. Sure would make making a field of sink holes in the scenery easy!

The visualization is not very pretty!

[Anonymous]

i picked up some at HD, i got a 4'X8'X1/2" peice for around $8

[pbjwilson]

I'm in the trades. Alot of foam insulation is thrown out at job sites. If you see a house or houses being built just stop and ask if they have any scraps. I picked up several full 4x8 sheets as a guy was loading them into a dumpster. The amount of good lumber being thrown out at new home sites is mind bogling. It's just cheaper to throw the stuff out than to store and transport it.