buying foam board

[Anonymous]

It ain't no better in the south either. Ive' been in the hobby since 1945 and I have yet
to see any "homosote" or anybody who knows what it is. Likewise with foam
insulation. There are no thicknesses here above 3/4inch.

[Anonymous]

If you want to go for a scenic drive to buy some Extruded foam there is a Home Depot on the South Central side of Calgary, AB, Canada that carries it by the truckload.. LOL, just kidding and good luck with your search.

[Anonymous]

I can see you at the counter...

"I would like to hand carry these two 4'x8' sheets... Will they fit in the overhead?" [:D]

[Roadtrp]

Snake,

By mid-January I will be more than ready for some Arizona warmth. Just send me airfare and I will deliver a couple of sheets to you personally!

[:D]

[Anonymous]

RoadTrp,

What would you charge to ship a couple sheets to AZ? [:D]

[Roadtrp]

You guys need to move to Minnesota!! [;)]

I stopped by the local Home Depot last night, and they had pallets full of 2" thick 4' x 8' sheets of the pink extruded foam. Cost? $14.34 per sheet. I should maybe setup a home business buying the stuff and shipping it to you guys! [:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi there. I too live in SoCal and have been down this path before and followed the issue on several other forums too. You may find a insulation supplier here or there that even knows what you are talking about and about 1 in 10 of those might actually carries some, but only the 1" thick variety and even then only in the 2' x 8' sheets (not 4' x 8') for like $18. I even found a Home Depot (in San Bernardino) that had 2 very old ,ratty/destroyed sheets of the 1" x 2' x 8' pink foam and they wanted $20 LOL Since I want the 2" boards and prefer 4' x 8' sheets, the cost of using these would be around $80 for the equivalent. Needless to say, I didn't buy any pink or blue foam. That's just the way things are in So Cal and the pink and blue foam.

An alternative would be to use the J-M foam boards which are Extruded, available in 2" thicknesses, come in 4 x 8 sheets, cost $16 ot $20, and are readily available in the Home Depot's and Lowe's in SoCal. HOWEVER, they come with foil faces that you will have to peel off - a real pain in the rear!! After peeling it off of about 2 sheets, you'll get the hang of it and it will go much faster after that, but, the first few sheets will be a very time consuming learning experience. An added advantage to using this stuff is that the foam is a sand color, so if you are modeling the So Cal or desert areas, your base will already be the right color.

I had an absolute need to keep my layout as light as possible yet as strong as possible, so I am using the JM foam. If you don't have a critical need for keeping your layout light weight, don't even bother looking for foam here and use plywood and hydrocal or sculptamold. Best o'luck to you.

Greg

[Anonymous]

I recent bought foam from Home depot. I paid about $5 for about 5 sheets that were 1'' x 4ft. I am using that to rebuild my HO layout. I live in Illinois. I have no idea if there are any laws about this from what others have said.

train2525

[Big_Boy_4005]

The yellow pages was a good idea, but try looking under insulation or maybe even foam or foundations. There are a lot of uses for that stuff, and I can't imagine that someone in your area doesn't have it. The trick is to find them.

Have you tried asking one of the national chain stores like Home Depot to special order it in for you? They obviously stock it, but only sell regionally.

[nfmisso]

People;

It does not matter if it blue, pink, white or fucia; what is important is that it is EXTRUDED, not compressed foam beads. Ask for "extruded foam insulation board".

See:
http://www.icbo.org/ICBO_ES/Evaluation_Reports/pdf/3628.pdf
http://www.diversifoam.com/cf15.htm

[Anonymous]

I too live in the San Diego area ( valley center) and am trying to locate dow blue foam .I am still searching in S.D. but have located it at other areas of ca. and may place an order and have it shiped. to north county. if anyone would be interested in sharing the cost contact me. wade at [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

It certainly amazes me that here in Florida, where we most certainly use more insulation to curb the high cost of air conditioning, that its not real common here either, but sometimes it is used on masonry structures, especially brick buildings, don't bother around any of the stucco buildings, as the contractors don't use it there..

Over $20 a sheet is expensive, it doesn't even cost that much down here where I'm at, the 2" thick stuff is about $14 when you can get it, I can get the one inch stuff as our local Lowes carries it.............:o)

[Anonymous]

WOW I guess that were spoiled up here in Wisconsin!! I picked up 5 broken sheets of the cheaper WHITE stuff for a song!! Keep trying the Hardware stores, (if they still have no clue) try the local Construction contractors. At last resort contact the Manufactures of the foam insulation. They should know who has what...WE HOPE!! Sorry to hear your delemia, Good Luck!!!
Icemanmike - Milwaukee

[Anonymous]

Sometimes you can find the foamboard when remodeling/repairs are done on office bldgs or shopping malls, etc. I 've found it ... free, truckloads.. some of itis broken some in sheets still, but hey we're going to cut out pieces anyway ,right!? Keep ypur eyes open when you drive around town.. GoodLuck!

[Anonymous]

Check your local "Yellow Pages" for building supplies, ask about Foam insulation Board. The stuff is common as dirt, Home Depot certainly carries it. (here in New Jersey at least, but it is our main cash crop)

[Anonymous]

I live in the Los Angeles area and I too have been unable to find the foam board. With respect to Homasote, I pay about $24/ 4x8 sheet from the only local place that carries it.

[Anonymous]

Ed is exactly right. Different building codes are in force in different parts of the country. Foam board is probably more common in northern California. You might have to special order it or take a long drive, if you're really set on using foam board.

Similar issue: I purchased Homasote for my new layout at the Home Depot in Waukesha. But at the Home Depots in Tacoma and Yakima Homasote isn't available. It's just not commonly used out here, although I can get foam insulation board by the truckload; ditto for Wisconsin. A Do It Best store here in Ellensburg, Wash., can get Homasote, but at $30 a sheet.

Paul Schmidt
Contributing Editor
Trains.com

[edo1039]

Its better known as insulation board,and being from San Diego,I think you may have a problem locating it,not much use there for insulation.Ed

[Anonymous]

I can't find the kind of foam board that articles and layout books mention (the pink and blue extruded foam.) I am from San Diego, California, and Home Depot, Lowes, and Dixieline don't even know what I'm talking about. Could someone out there please advise. Thanks.