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Extruded poly vs expanded poly insulation

jeff5295

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 3, 2008
Messages
88
Location
Dubuque Iowa
Just trying to get some info/advice. I'm looking to add some insualtion under my roof. Already have about 2" of closed cell spray foam (but looks to be a little less than 2"). Planning to nail 4x8 sheets of insulation boards to the underside of the roof purlins (open truss, not a flat ceiling).

I found a guy selling used 1" "ISO" foam boards so I went to Menards to compare new prices.

They have Owens Corning pink Extruded poly and also a white Expanded poly (similar to a styrofoam coffe cup).

The Extruded has a higher R value per inch, but the Expanded is substantially cheaper when comapring R values.

Obviously the pink is a denser, smoother finished inuslation.

I'm sure the pink would hold up better to impacts and abrasion, but this will be on a ceiling and it's way too high to be hit by anything so damage is not a concern. I will probably be covering either of these with white ribbed steel at some point to finish and protect the foam.

The pink is almost 50% more expensive, but has only 20% more R value than white (when comparing equal thicknesses). Seems like the white is the better deal. I would need to use thicker boards to achieve the same R, but would still cost less and I'd be looking at white instead of pink on the ceiling until I can afford the steel.

Still waiting to get a price on the used board, but thought I'd check other options for comparison.

Anyone know of any drawbacks to using the white Expanded poly on a ceiling instead of Extruded poly?
 
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Phuckin' Jim

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Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
235
Location
North of the Peg
I don't know of any drawbacks, except the extruded stuff is easier to cut. I would use the expanded stuff if it were me.
If you go with the used stuff make sure it is in pieces you can use, with straight edges, and not covered in tar, or other goo.
 
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jklingel

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2007
Messages
441
Location
Frbnks, AK
I'd be careful w/ "used". A guy up here sometimes sells used bluefoam (XPS) but if it has been wet and gone through several freeze-thaw cycles, it can possibly be wet inside and worthless. XPS is waterproof, but ice crystals that form on it can, apparently, break it down deeper and deeper each cycle, resulting in water-logged foam. If that can happen to waterproof stuff, then I can only imagine what might have happened to non-water proof stuff. Hey, the stuff you are referring to may have been kept bone dry and a great deal, but make sure it is not a tad heavy. I always worry about condensation via little air leaks, eventually getting foam wet, so I always try to use XPS. That's just me. Good luck. j
 
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