Using Styrofoam Insulation Between Studs

Styrofoam is a brand name for a polystyrene foam board.

Using styrofoam insulation between studs.

The studs conduct more heat than the insulation between them. Plywood has an r value of 1 25 and fiberglass batts have an r value of 3 14. The correct method of using rigid foam is to run continuous 4 foot by 8 foot sheets of the foam across the concrete basement wall making the rigid foam the de facto wall. Insulating boards are just one of the many types of foam insulation.

It s nothing more than framing with 2x6s or deeper studs and using any option of insulation product i e. This eliminates thermal bridging which is the energy lost through wall studs. Closed cell expanded foam insulation cellulose batts etc. Acoustically it can reduce and muffle or help block noise from entering or leaving a room.

A typical question might go like this. Here at gba readers regularly ask about the best way to install rigid foam insulation between studs or rafters. Rather than using long drywall screws i ripped down 3 4 plywood into furring strips and screwed them through the foam board into the studs with 3 screws make sure you mark your stud locations and an impact drill is your friend here. Most builders who install a continuous layer of rigid insulation use rigid foam polyisocyanurate expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene.

There is nothing wrong with the addition of foamboard between the studs in that it is better than nothing. Polystyrene boards whether pink blue white or another color are usually used in construction but it has other applications as well. I plan to cut the rigid foam pieces a little bit loose and seal the edges of the polyiso with canned spray foam. Using the insulation within your wall cavity and other updated construction industry standards will allow you to use most any exterior finishing products fiber cement siding.

Using styrofoam insulation for soundproofing. You can build a double stud wall or you can install a continuous layer of rigid insulation on one side of the wall. I d like to insulate between my studs with strips of 2 inch thick polyiso. After that thin furring strips are installed on top of the foam to provide a firm base for the drywall screws and drywall but can you run rigid foam between the studs just as you would do with fiberglass rolls or spray foam.

The panels provide a continuous energy efficient surface. 3 benefits of rigid foam sheathing. There are two main ways of reducing thermal bridging through studs. My question really is about the wisdom of using rigid foam board between studs.

More effective insulation with r values ranging from 3 6 to 8 0 rigid foam sheathing has much better insulation per inch than other materials i e.