oh bubble wrap

[cparcell]

so im in the middle of my garage refurb. im currently getting ready to finish my walls of my 40x30. my current walls are tin with sealed 1 inch foam board. i bought some more foam board to layin the area between the runners but after talking to one of my brothers i may have access to all the bubble wrap i want. so the idea is to leave a 2 inch air gap, put the bubbles facing the tin and staple to the runners then tape and seal. place the osb on the outside of this. i am limited to the insulation type because of the area i have to fill it in with. 2 inchs is not alot of area for insulation. any thoughts? pole barn construction

 

[fitz11]

I would stick to you original plan and use the foam.

 

[albaran]

The foam is designed for insulation. I used to work for Sealed Air Corp who originally designed bubblewrap. It is designed for cushioning purposes only and I doubt it will hold up long term.

 

[JakeKohl]

The foam is designed for insulation. I used to work for Sealed Air Corp who originally designed bubblewrap. It is designed for cushioning purposes only and I doubt it will hold up long term.

that, and the burn characteristics of bubble wrap may be a little different than materials intended to be put inside walls.

 

[Morrison]

The foam is designed for insulation. I used to work for Sealed Air Corp who originally designed bubblewrap. It is designed for cushioning purposes only and I doubt it will hold up long term.

Sealed air is one my main competitors

Anyway bubble wrap doesn't stay inflated forever. Think about what happens to a balloon over time. Bubble wrap doesn't lose air as fast as a balloon but it will eventually

 

[rlitman]

bubble wrap doesn't stay inflated forever. Think about what happens to a balloon over time. Bubble wrap doesn't lose air as fast as a balloon but it will eventually

I don't buy it.

Balloons filled with helium deflate rapidly because helium fits right through the latex.
Balloons filled with air deflate because the stretched balloon creates pressure on the inside. Once they have deflated to the point that the latex is no longer stretched, they will not deflate any more.

Bubble wrap is not pressurized. Yes, the plastic acts as a membrane that lets air out, but with equal pressure on each side of the membrane, air will enter at the same rate that it leaves. No deflation.

Anyway, I've seen rolls of bubble wrap on the shelves sit around for many years. They don't just deflate.

OTOH, foamboard does actually deflate over time. Published R values for foamboard are based on testing the board as it comes out of the factory. As the "blowing agent" (the gas within the bubbles in closed cell foam) diffuses out through the foam and is replaced by air, the R value decreases. It takes a few years for this to happen, but it does happen well within the lifetime of the structure.

Still, I expect that the R per inch of foamboard is much higher than the R per inch of bubble wrap, but it is an interesting question as to how much.

Bubble wrap is probably awful in a fire, but exposed foam is probably worse.

 

[Morrison]

I don't buy it.

Bubble wrap is not pressurized. Yes, the plastic acts as a membrane that lets air out, but with equal pressure on each side of the membrane, air will enter at the same rate that it leaves. No deflation.

Bubble wrap has a shelf life and depending on the environment it can begin to break down faster or slower. The air that slowly leaks out is not being replaced with new air entering. Look here, the manufactures all know that it does slowly leak overtime. Higher grade films prevent loss to a point but for your average material it is not going to last forever.

http://www.sealedairprotects.com/NA/EN/products/bubblewrap/advantages.aspx

 

[rlitman]

Under a weight load, sure. That creates internal pressure just like the stretching of a balloon.
But the physics of a semi-permeable membrane do not allow for gas transfer to work in only one direction. Once the pressure has reached atmospheric pressure, it will not deflate any more.

I would expect the shelf life to be dependent on UV damage to the polyethylene.
In cold dark storage, polyethylene has an indefinite shelf life. That is why it is one material of choice for archival storage.

Again, I have no doubt that foamboard will outperform and outlast bubble wrap as insulation. But free bubble wrap vs open air gap, I'd seriously consider the bubble wrap.

 

[JerryB]

As others have written: Bubble wrap is designed to CUSHION. Approved insulations, foam or other, are designed to INSULATE.

Around 10% of a sheet of a new sheet of bubble wrap does not have any separation, so therefore virtually no 'insulating' quality in those areas.

As to the argument about air leakage, if there is no leakage, there is no separation. Even though the bubbles appear somewhat slack, they are still at a very slightly higher pressure than their surroundings, and will 'leak.' If they are not at that very slightly elevated pressure, (". . . atmospheric pressure . . .") they will not have any positive separation between the two sheets. Any insulating qualities are gone.

Good insulation is one of the cheapest investments one can make when building. Doing it with qualified materials is paramount to make that investment hold or increase in value.

Installing 'free' bubble wrap is not even worth the 'free' price. It will still cost to install, not have good insulation qualities or significant long-term performance, and will cost a lot more to replace in the future.

 

[rburke65]

Just my 2 cents, but Im voting for the foam board insulation.

 

[cparcell]

lol this went big quick,
against foam board to bubble wrap in the fire aspect, have you ever lit a piece of foil foam board on fire...... try it.
i was thinking of the bubble wrap more as a house wrap vapor barrier behind the osb since i already have one layer of foam board installed. sometime i just wonder if i can find 2x4s cheap enough to stud my walls and lay batt insulation.

 

[JoeFin]

The foam is designed for insulation. I used to work for Sealed Air Corp who originally designed bubblewrap. It is designed for cushioning purposes only and I doubt it will hold up long term.

God Bless them for inventing Bubble Wrap

When I was stationed in Korea our barracks was the warmest in the Winter because we taped bubble wrap over our windows.

Did I mention I saw snow in June there

 

[KCarGuy]

I work for Sealed Air, in the Protective Packaging Division.
And If I had my choice on any of the Products, Free being the Cost...
I would used the Foam. Each Density has a Different R Value...Although our Products are not designed for that.
But, the statement of Shelf life is correct, It has limits.
The less expensive Bubble wrap has less Nylon in it and will loose its "Sealed" air sooner than the more expensive High Quality Bubble wrap.
But, the main concern is under load, or If a product is surrounded and boxed up, and sitting on a shelf.
Also Air with Shrink and swell with Temperature, On a Cold, Cold day...you will loose what you are really looking to use. Your Air Gap.
Long story short, I would not suggest using Bubble wrap as an insulation in your walls.
Good Luck.

 

[KCarGuy]

As a Side Note...
Bubble wrap was invented in the 60's (remember i said the 60's)...as a type of Wall Paper. Than Failed to catch on.
Sealed Air then turned it into Protective Packaging.
So the Use for Homes...was already tried.