FOAMULAR 150 Alternatives???

[Overhaulin63]

Any suggestions for less expensive route to insulate for heated floors?

Wow...this stuff is $33 a sheet. That's a sheet load of money ($2K) on a 32x60 garage.

 

[Crazy68Dart]

The experts will say that you will get this back in comfort and (eventual) heating costs as this method is more efficient (many other factors here though -- walls, ceiling, doors, windows, etc. etc. etc.).

XPS is what you are looking at, you can also do EPS, which is less cost. Trouble I have found is finding EPS with the needed PSI rating at a DIY-type store.

I know this is not much of an answer, but radiant is not a cheap deal.

 

[Voi]

You could price those foam panels that are vapor barrier, insulation and pex hold down tabs all in one package. I feel like there is one thread on this forum that suggests they come in a bit cheaper than extruded foam since there is no need to buy separate vapor barrier, tape and wire to hold the pex in place. Also less labor.

Crete-Heat is one and Thermal Star is another.

http://www.crete-heat.com/

http://atlaseps.com/products/thermalstar/radiant-in-floor-heat

 

[dlhindiana]

Not sure where you are located but i found 25 psi EPS for under slab. It was $27 a sheet. You might find the 150 or 15 psi stuff hard to work on. I will break/crack easier. If you try and search on here there are people that used insulated doors that were defects/ blems.

 

[rburke65]

There is a place right down the road from you that is really inexpensive.

 

[wssix99]

No alternative. Just other brands and sellers. I recall finding 2" less than $30 a sheet. Your concrete or HVAC company can probably also get a better deal on the stuff than you can.

 

[Overhaulin63]

Thanks guys!!!

 

[matt_i]

Keep in mind the Foamular lineup is designed for higher compressive strength than the garden variety stuff you buy at a big box store.

In other words, I wouldn't compromise your concrete floor by putting mushy stuff under it unless you are planning to balance with a ton (nearly literally, in a 32x60) of rebar.

They build airport runways which are radiant-heated. and insulated. Which land multiton jets with a decent amount of downward impact. Larger scale concrete with more engineering in it to help distribute the loads, but the insulation must ultimately support the compressive load or else a hole is going to be broken in the concrete.

 

[tdkkart]

Yep, it's expensive, but if i had to do it again I'd put down 2 layers everywhere.
Insulation is somewhere you DON'T want to skimp on, and in most cases you can't go back and do it again. If it means delaying something else, so be.

BTW, pretty sure I used 250 under my slab.

 

[Highbeam]

No reason to waste money on XPS. The much cheaper EPS is designed/rated for use under slabs. You don't list your application but you certainly don't need 25 psi EPS but it is available and I used the 25 psi EPS due to the small price increase. We use EPS under roads that see 105000# semi trucks.

 

[reader2580]

Home Depot carries Foamular 150 or 250 in 2" thickness for $28 or so at least here locally.

 

[Lootenny]

Just as a point of reference, the Crete-Heat shown above comes in 2' X 4' pieces, at a quoted $14.92 a sheet. Yes, it's about twice as expensive as 4 X 8 sheets of XPS.