Painting Rigid Foam Insulation Board

Now 45 years later waterborne paints are practically the industry standard.

Painting rigid foam insulation board.

The foil facing on insulation is nonporous making it ill suited for adhesion. Acrylics dry faster and are easier to clean up. This foam board insulation is the rigid pink or blue panels that can be found at home centers in many different thicknesses. For new construction use rigid boards to insulate slabs and the outside of foundation walls.

When painting foam insulation it is important to remember to prime the surface to seal the foam. It is denser than eps and provides more r value with a rating of 5 per inch of thickness. Foam insulation takes paint well as evidenced by its many uses in decor costuming and crafts. Step 1 sand along the edges of the foam to create a smooth finish.

Use acrylics when painting on foam board rather than oil based paint. Scenic designer and master carpenter glenn davis shows you how to paint a cement design on foam and stage floors. Smooth the edges of the foam with sandpaper when you re. Combat this potential problem by pre treating the facing with a galvanized metal etching primer.

Before you start painting foam wall insulation find out whether local building codes require a fire barrier such as gypsum board. This foam board insulation is available with straight or tongue and groove edges to help limit air movement. Per square foot of r value rigid foam board insulation costs about twice as much as fiberglass. The paper layer when painted will look much different than the foam edge but both will hold.

For a basement remodeling project consider insulating basement walls with foam board. Rigid foam r value. It is an inexpensive material and could be purchased in larger sheets. If you want to paint foil faced insulation you must first employ the proper preparation techniques.

A 1 1 2 inch thick sheet of rigid foam insulation has a r value of 7 5. Sanding foam insulation is only necessary if you are creating crafts or decorations. Make sure to wear a face mask while doing this since the particles can be inhaled. Use a premade kit for this type of project.

Rigid foam insulation tends to have a low to moderate r value per dollar compared to fiberglass. Otherwise they could chip away and leave visible white spots. Sand down the foam edges before painting. When painting the foam insulation remember to initially prime the surface to cover up the foam.

Follow with a 2x4 frame wall and. You can paint polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene beads using a waterborne paint to protect it from solvent attack by subsequent coats of paint.