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Screws for insulation sheets

wantacoe

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I am using 3 1/4" foam board insulation. I can only find a few screws that are long enough but then they are too heavy duty and expensive. Any ideas for some smaller more economical screws? Thanks
 
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marak

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I have used 3 1/2" deck screws by first boring a 1" deep x 1/2" dia. hole in the insulation with a forstener bit, which worked very well and made a clean hole, then used a 1/2" washer.
 
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CraigStu

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Could you glue them instead? I am pretty sure I have seen construction adhesive specifically for foam insulation. And there are some instant grab glues that I have used and worked great but they were for wood projects.
 

gmcgeo

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Screws and plates are hard to come by right now, How many do you need? im assuming you are mechanically fasting the system.

There are other options but on a large scale it would be crazy expensive
 
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wantacoe

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Could you glue them instead? I am pretty sure I have seen construction adhesive specifically for foam insulation. And there are some instant grab glues that I have used and worked great but they were for wood projects.
That may be an option but I am working in an unheated building. Not sure if the glue would dry in the cold?
 
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wantacoe

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Screws and plates are hard to come by right now, How many do you need?
Not sure how many but it is for a 40x50x15 building.
 

duneslider

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where is this going? Just curious if you are having a hard time figuring out how to attach the foam board, how do you plan to attach a final surface over the foam?
 

gmcgeo

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Could you glue them instead? I am pretty sure I have seen construction adhesive specifically for foam insulation. And there are some instant grab glues that I have used and worked great but they were for wood projects.
That may be an option but I am working in an unheated building. Not sure if the glue would dry in the cold?
the glues take longer to flash off in the cold but it can still be done.
 

Dumber than lumber

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Consider using the Great Stuff style of expanding foam. Use the foam as an adhesive. Cures pretty quickly, and you can put a little on a test board to monitor cure time.
Maybe make a frame or ledge type support structure from vinyl stucco edge material. Or similar light and cheap material.
 
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u2slow

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Here's a plastic washer type:

There used to be a version that had maybe a 3/4" countersink to it so it not only ended up flush, but you didn't need as long a screw. Can't find them now...
 

CTyankee

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You may want to consider glue and screws, you just need enough screws to hold the sheet in place until the glue dries. Here are some 4" screws with the insulation plate on them.

I actually have been searching for something similar at a reasonable price, but just the washer itself. I found these thanks to some of words in your link(y)


To the OP, just an FYI, as someone who has driven literally 10s of thousands of screws over the years, you don't want to be screwing any 4" screws of that have a philips head, get some good torx head..JMO
 

geneg

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Go to a roofing company that does epdm or sheet roofing. They use screws (with washer heads) to attach both flat & tapered rigid insulation to roof decks. You can probably buy a small quanity from them.
 

gmcgeo

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Go to a roofing company that does epdm or sheet roofing. They use screws (with washer heads) to attach both flat & tapered rigid insulation to roof decks. You can probably buy a small quanity from them.

you would be very very lucky to find them at a roofing company, we have been trying to purchase them for 5 months.... we have a shipping container supposed to come in feb, but its been pushed back 2 times already
 

rustyjames

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The way to go is with adhesive for foam board, it's cheap and it holds. The only bad part is if it has to be removed. I've worked on demo jobs that were brutal removing the glued insulation board. Locktite makes adhesive for it. If you're applying it to painted surface use PL Preimum, otherwise the regular adhesive for foam board is fine.
 

toyotadriver

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Consider using the Great Stuff style of expanding foam. Use the foam as an adhesive. Cures pretty quickly, and you can put a little on a test board to monitor cure time.
Maybe make a frame or ledge type support structure from vinyl stucco edge material. Or similar light and cheap material.

This right here. Don’t use foam rated adhesives. Just use canned spray foam as an adhesive. Works WAY better than the foam rated adhesive.
 

67CarGuy

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I've had good luck with the foam-rated adhesive in my previous garage, along with screws and plaster washers.
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/hardware/nuts-and-bolts/washers/5938576

The foam-rated adhesive probably won't like the colder temps right now if you're working outside. Cans of Great Stuff, etc. will likely work just as well, but be prepared to use the entire can once you've started, as the nozzles like to clog / seal up before you're through the whole thing (in my experience).

Is this above-grade wall insulation, below grade wall, or...? Interior or exterior? What are you screwing into - wood, I'm guessing? Rather than screws and foam / adhesive, can you just brace the insulation while the foam sets? Maybe some plywood plates on either end of some 2x4s?
 

CraigStu

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I have used foam to glue a 2x6x2ft to a concrete wall so I could then support a PVC pipe. It worked great. My concern w/ using foam for a 4x8 sheet is how much it may expand as it sets and will the expansion push the foam board out from the wall. I suppose one could make up some way to keep some pressure on the foam board as the foam sets. I don't know how critical it is in the OP's situation but I could see the foam board ending up w/ waves in it from uneven foam expansion. All the construction adhesives I have used have an acceptable temp range for their use in the instructions printed on the tube.
 

mike93lx

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I actually have been searching for something similar at a reasonable price, but just the washer itself. I found these thanks to some of words in your link(y)


To the OP, just an FYI, as someone who has driven literally 10s of thousands of screws over the years, you don't want to be screwing any 4" screws of that have a philips head, get some good torx head..JMO
It's through 3" of foam, not oak. Philips is fine
 
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danfromsyr

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gmcgeo

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following this rabbit hole of insulation anchors. I found that I can get 500 SS 3/4in fender washers for $20/delivered

these will suit my small need and I can use left overs on well alot of things.
i have heard a lot of ppl using these in the recent weeks
 

danfromsyr

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in my past with a small siding job where I had 2in polyios on an exterior wall.
I used Plaster washers.. as I could get them in small batches at the big box store.
but now I'll have plenty of SS fender washers on hand ;-)

 
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