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-   -   where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board? (https://www.diybanter.com/home-repair/179117-where-buy-cheap-polystyrene-foam-board.html)

peter October 13th 06 04:57 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home stores
sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty expensive,
consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a boxed product.
OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic sheet (vapor barrior)
and R-factors printed on them. I can live without these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor barrior
or R factor.



jackson October 13th 06 05:06 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

"peter" wrote in message news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04...
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home stores
sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty expensive,
consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a boxed
product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic sheet
(vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I can live without these
extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor barrior
or R factor.


What part of the world are you in, I've got a stack of the stuff going into
the garbage this weekend......



ng_reader October 13th 06 06:00 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

"jackson" wrote in message
. ..

"peter" wrote in message
news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04...
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home
stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty
expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a
boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic
sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I can live without
these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.


What part of the world are you in, I've got a stack of the stuff going
into the garbage this weekend......


Yes, you might try craigslist or freecycle.org, both good websites.

But, perhaps you might want to review your penny saved penny earned
methodology (no offense).



JoeSpareBedroom October 13th 06 06:01 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
"peter" wrote in message news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04...
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home stores
sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty expensive,
consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a boxed
product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic sheet
(vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I can live without these
extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor barrior
or R factor.


Why not use the clear plastic shrink film? If you get the taped surfaces
clean, the tape sticks well, and I've had no problem removing it in the
spring. I've been eyeing my fireplace with the idea of using that same film
on the brass insert, but the film hasn't applied itself yet. I'll probably
have to do it myself.



George October 13th 06 06:51 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
peter wrote:
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home stores
sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty expensive,
consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a boxed product.
OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic sheet (vapor barrior)
and R-factors printed on them. I can live without these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor barrior
or R factor.



I don't understand how you can determine that the home store price is
high or low because people discard packaging material. Packing is often
a significant portion of the cost of a product and sometimes more
valuable than the product. Take a can of peas for example. The can cost
more than the peas.

Craven Morehead October 13th 06 06:51 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
This does beg the question...when shipping styrofoam, what does one use for
packing material? Ground up printer parts?
"jackson" wrote in message
. ..

"peter" wrote in message
news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04...
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home
stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty
expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a
boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic
sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I can live without
these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.


What part of the world are you in, I've got a stack of the stuff going
into the garbage this weekend......




Pete C. October 13th 06 07:01 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
Craven Morehead wrote:

This does beg the question...when shipping styrofoam, what does one use for
packing material? Ground up printer parts?


Nope, you use the competitive recycled paper pulp packing material, or
the starch based packing peanuts, or bubble wrap or the inflatable air
pillows or the foam in place wrap...

Pete C.

Craven Morehead October 13th 06 07:07 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
Now ya see Pete, that was what is known as a joke. The idea that many
things are shipped within a Styrofoam shell or that styrofoam packing
material is used to cushion mechanical shock while...oh, just forget it!
"Pete C." wrote in message
...
Craven Morehead wrote:

This does beg the question...when shipping styrofoam, what does one use
for
packing material? Ground up printer parts?


Nope, you use the competitive recycled paper pulp packing material, or
the starch based packing peanuts, or bubble wrap or the inflatable air
pillows or the foam in place wrap...

Pete C.




Edwin Pawlowski October 13th 06 09:21 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

"Craven Morehead" wrote in message
. ..
This does beg the question...when shipping styrofoam, what does one use
for packing material? Ground up printer parts?


We use plastic bags, cartons, stretch wrap, depending on the size of the
parts. Really.



Edwin Pawlowski October 13th 06 09:29 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

"peter" wrote in message news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04...
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home stores
sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty expensive,
consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a boxed
product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic sheet
(vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I can live without these
extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor barrior
or R factor.


That is really not a bad price. That works out to 33¢ a board foot. If
you buy TL quantities, you can get better. Raw material today is about $1 a
pound, plus conversion, extruding, shipping, etc.



[email protected] October 13th 06 11:35 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

peter wrote:
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home stores
sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty expensive,
consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a boxed product.
OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic sheet (vapor barrior)
and R-factors printed on them. I can live without these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor barrior
or R factor.


How much does it cost if you buy 4-feet x 8-feet pieces and cut it
yourself?


October 14th 06 02:01 AM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
news:EGSXg.39$9z6.25@trndny03...

"peter" wrote in message
news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04...
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home
stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty
expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a
boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic
sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I can live without
these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.


That is really not a bad price. That works out to 33¢ a board foot. If
you buy TL quantities, you can get better. Raw material today is about $1
a pound, plus conversion, extruding, shipping, etc.

I thought exposed non-skinned styro in a living space was a no-no, due to
the outgassing if it gets exposed to flame?

aem sends...



Jim Yanik October 14th 06 02:04 AM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
"peter" wrote in news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04:

I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape
to my windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season.
Home stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems
pretty expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after
unpacking a boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an
extra plastic sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I
can live without these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.



are you planning on not seeing out of your windows or getting any light in?

Why not construct wood frames with a sheet of clear plastic stretched over
it,to fit into your window recesses as a "storm window"?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Edwin Pawlowski October 14th 06 03:02 AM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

wrote in message
I thought exposed non-skinned styro in a living space was a no-no, due to
the outgassing if it gets exposed to flame?


When used as wall insulation, code requires it to be covered with
sheetrock.. Fact is, the material is less of a problem than most other
items in the room. First, the material must be the modified version of
polystyrene (all foam sold for insulation is). That means it has self
extinguishing properties. It will not burn unless there is another source
of ignition.

Factory Mutual did some testing in their labs some years back. They set up
a "typical living room" with different wall coverings. One test was with
the vinyl covered paneling that was popular some years ago. Another test
was exposed foam insulation. A wastebasket with papers was set in the
corner and lit on fire. The paneling made horrific flames and smoke while
the foam plastic burned up a couple of feet above the wastebasket and went
out on its own.

The main product of combustion of burning styrene is soot. Of course, it
makes a fair amount of soot and you don't want to breath it, but it does not
produce deadly gasses. It is essentially the same as burning oil, the raw
material it is made from.

If the insulation on the windows is burning, you have much more serious
problems that the products of combustion from the insulation will cause.



peter October 14th 06 08:44 AM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
"Jim Yanik" wrote in message
.. .
"peter" wrote in news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04:

I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape
to my windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season.
Home stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems
pretty expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after
unpacking a boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an
extra plastic sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I
can live without these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.



are you planning on not seeing out of your windows or getting any light
in?

Why not construct wood frames with a sheet of clear plastic stretched over
it,to fit into your window recesses as a "storm window"?


It is a test to see if insulating the windows would lower the heating bill
significantly. If it does, then I may upgrade the windows to better ones.

A sheet of plastic film will stop heat loss due to air leakage, but not heat
loss due to air convection, or due to conduction. Although, a sheet of film
over a window frame traps some air inside and slow down the convection, so
it should have some insulating effect.



peter October 14th 06 08:46 AM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
"jackson" wrote in message
. ..

"peter" wrote in message
news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04...
I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape to my
windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season. Home
stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems pretty
expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after unpacking a
boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an extra plastic
sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I can live without
these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.


What part of the world are you in, I've got a stack of the stuff going
into the garbage this weekend......


seattle, washington



October 14th 06 11:09 AM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
om...

wrote in message
I thought exposed non-skinned styro in a living space was a no-no, due to
the outgassing if it gets exposed to flame?


When used as wall insulation, code requires it to be covered with
sheetrock.. Fact is, the material is less of a problem than most other
items in the room. First, the material must be the modified version of
polystyrene (all foam sold for insulation is). That means it has self
extinguishing properties. It will not burn unless there is another source
of ignition.

Factory Mutual did some testing in their labs some years back. They set
up a "typical living room" with different wall coverings. One test was
with the vinyl covered paneling that was popular some years ago. Another
test was exposed foam insulation. A wastebasket with papers was set in
the corner and lit on fire. The paneling made horrific flames and smoke
while the foam plastic burned up a couple of feet above the wastebasket
and went out on its own.

The main product of combustion of burning styrene is soot. Of course, it
makes a fair amount of soot and you don't want to breath it, but it does
not produce deadly gasses. It is essentially the same as burning oil, the
raw material it is made from.

If the insulation on the windows is burning, you have much more serious
problems that the products of combustion from the insulation will cause.

Huh. I was just remembering the green smoke and acrid smell that would come
off the foam scraps I would throw on the construction trash fire as a kid,
from the type of foam panels in use in those days (mid-70s). That was
generally the blue stuff that felt almost like sandpaper, and fractured like
wood when broken, without breaking up into a zillion little balls like the
modern white stuff does. I'm no chemist, so I have no idea what the non-dino
components of the stuff were.

aem sends....



JoeSpareBedroom October 14th 06 01:17 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
"peter" wrote in message
news:sz0Yg.112$AR6.90@trndny02...

"Jim Yanik" wrote in message


Why not construct wood frames with a sheet of clear plastic stretched
over
it,to fit into your window recesses as a "storm window"?


It is a test to see if insulating the windows would lower the heating bill
significantly. If it does, then I may upgrade the windows to better ones.


Welcome to the 54%.

Your test is a complete waste of time and money. Do you think homeowners
upgrade windows or apply window film because their bank accounts were full,
so they had to spend some money? OF COURSE insulating the windows works. It
always works, and it always makes a difference, unless your attic
insulation's not up to par or you have a gaping hole in your roof. And, even
if the difference in heating cost is not big and impressive, it definitely
makes for more comfort.

Test.....unbelievable.



[email protected] October 14th 06 11:31 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

peter wrote:
"Jim Yanik" wrote in message
.. .
"peter" wrote in news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04:

I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape
to my windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season.
Home stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems
pretty expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after
unpacking a boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an
extra plastic sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I
can live without these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.



are you planning on not seeing out of your windows or getting any light
in?

Why not construct wood frames with a sheet of clear plastic stretched over
it,to fit into your window recesses as a "storm window"?


It is a test to see if insulating the windows would lower the heating bill
significantly. If it does, then I may upgrade the windows to better ones.

A sheet of plastic film will stop heat loss due to air leakage, but not heat
loss due to air convection, or due to conduction. Although, a sheet of film
over a window frame traps some air inside and slow down the convection, so
it should have some insulating effect.


I think single-pane windows have an R-Value of about 1 while
double-pane windows have an R-Value of about 2.

I've always thought that insulated shutters that you could close at
night from inside the house would be pretty nifty.

Also, years ago, I saw a double-pane window someplace (maybe on TV)
that had a blower motor that would blow insulation between the panes
and then suck it back out again with the press of a button.


Goedjn October 14th 06 11:49 PM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 
On 14 Oct 2006 15:31:10 -0700, wrote:


peter wrote:
"Jim Yanik" wrote in message
.. .
"peter" wrote in news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04:

I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape
to my windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season.
Home stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems
pretty expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after
unpacking a boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an
extra plastic sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I
can live without these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.



are you planning on not seeing out of your windows or getting any light
in?

Why not construct wood frames with a sheet of clear plastic stretched over
it,to fit into your window recesses as a "storm window"?


It is a test to see if insulating the windows would lower the heating bill
significantly. If it does, then I may upgrade the windows to better ones.

A sheet of plastic film will stop heat loss due to air leakage, but not heat
loss due to air convection, or due to conduction. Although, a sheet of film
over a window frame traps some air inside and slow down the convection, so
it should have some insulating effect.


I think single-pane windows have an R-Value of about 1 while
double-pane windows have an R-Value of about 2.

I've always thought that insulated shutters that you could close at
night from inside the house would be pretty nifty.

I've seen shutters that *MOUNT* on the inside.



[email protected] October 15th 06 08:57 AM

where to buy cheap polystyrene foam board?
 

Goedjn wrote:
On 14 Oct 2006 15:31:10 -0700, wrote:


peter wrote:
"Jim Yanik" wrote in message
.. .
"peter" wrote in news:7IOXg.10$3C6.5@trnddc04:

I want to buy about a dozen pieces of polystyrene foam board to tape
to my windows/doors/fireplace as temporary insulation for the season.
Home stores sell them: 1.5 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet for $4. This seems
pretty expensive, consider this is what most people throw out after
unpacking a boxed product. OK, the ones sold by home stores have an
extra plastic sheet (vapor barrior) and R-factors printed on them. I
can live without these extras.

Where can I buy foam boards at lower price? I don't need the vapor
barrior or R factor.



are you planning on not seeing out of your windows or getting any light
in?

Why not construct wood frames with a sheet of clear plastic stretched over
it,to fit into your window recesses as a "storm window"?

It is a test to see if insulating the windows would lower the heating bill
significantly. If it does, then I may upgrade the windows to better ones.

A sheet of plastic film will stop heat loss due to air leakage, but not heat
loss due to air convection, or due to conduction. Although, a sheet of film
over a window frame traps some air inside and slow down the convection, so
it should have some insulating effect.


I think single-pane windows have an R-Value of about 1 while
double-pane windows have an R-Value of about 2.

I've always thought that insulated shutters that you could close at
night from inside the house would be pretty nifty.

I've seen shutters that *MOUNT* on the inside.


It's all starting to come back now. I think this window insulation
thing dates back to the 1980's and my wife and I went through that
phase at least 20 years ago. Looking around the house, most of my
windows have pull-down, thermal window shades. Funny, that I should
forgot those. They haven't been pulled down in years.

I'm trying to remember why I lost my enthusiasm years ago for
super-insulating my house. I think it was because gas prices went down
and the county that I happen to live in has an issue with radon gas
which is a good reason not to make your house too airtight.

It looks like insulated shutters, by the way, could provide an R-value
of 9.50 or more.
http://muextension.missouri.edu/expl...des/gh2815.htm


German Jerry October 15th 06 05:12 PM

ways to tighten up windows and the fireplace from cold air
 
I have found that even regular heavy curtains make a significant
difference. My livingroom was cold on the feet (leaky fireplace damper)
and cold on the back (couch backed up against large 1 pane window.) I
put a chimney balloon that I bought on Amazon in the fireplace chimney
to keep the cold air from comming in that way and we bought heavy light
blocking curtains for the big front window. Im not sure what the
R-value is of thsoe two items but I know they only cost me $40 for the
chimney balloon and $265 for the curtains and the livingroom is much
more comfortable especially at night. I close the curtains when the
direct sun is not comming through, but it is south facing. Im not sure
my wife would go for the foamboard on the windows and firepalce idea.

Jerry



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