this video was well researched and intelligently presented. a few comments. one of the things that they do to deter insect intrusion into foam insulation these days is to apply a borate coating on the surface. it doesn't prevent insects from boring into the insulation, but when they ingest the borate, they dehydrate and die. that said, after enough insects have "paid the price", eventually the borate coating is breached. one other feature about the different types of foam insulation is the coefficient of thermal expansion. eps has the lowest, xps is a little greater and polyisocyanurate is the largest (by about 50% as i recall). so, a large board would noticeably shrink in cold temperatures, opening up voids between the panels. since the insulation would sit behind cladding, you wouldn't typically see that. the story about polyisocyanurate losing its thermal properties at low temperatures is sort of a half truth, that got picked up and turned into a "whole truth" along the grapevine. there was a paper written around 2007, or so, entitled "analysis of variables in the determination of lambda/k-factor of construction insulations". what they found was that polyisocyanurate with a felt substrate showed a trend of increasing k-value at low temperatures. they did not observe that trend for polyisocyanurate with a foil substrate. the ultimate conclusion of the paper was that there were general problems with test methodologies for the determination of k-values of insulating materials. any of these foam insulation types can be a vapor barrier, depending on how thick the sheet is. for example, as i recall, xps is classified as a vapor barrier when the thickness is greater than one inch. you typically don't want to put a vapor barrier on the exterior of your wall in a heating climate, but advocates overcome these concerns by declaring that the continuous insulation increases the dew point temperature at the sheathing, with the objective of keeping the sheathing temperature above the dew point temperature so that you don't get condensation at the sheathing (thereby reducing the risk of mold growth). there are some assumptions built into that rationale. as an aside, one of my nits is seeing trademarks getting violated. "styofoam" is not the generic name for either eps or xps. it is a brand name for the blue xps insulation product sold by dow chemical company. in your video, you will notice that only the xps board made by dow chemical bears the name "styrofoam" (for what it's worth, i also get annoyed when people generically call a reciprocating saw a "sawzall").
Hello Belinda, I've been in the EPS industry for over 35 years and this is one of the top three best explanations of polymeric foams I've seen on youtube. I haven't seen an open-top block fill EPS block mold as you've shown in your video since the late seventies / early eighties. Great Job!
Hello, please I need reference websites that talks about EPS. My project is on EPS and google keeps giving me searches on styrofoams or XPS as expanded polystyrene (EPS) and it's so frustrating
Wow this is the best video I’ve ever seen comparing and describing EPS and XPS...could never fully understand the property differences and manufacturing processes..until now. Thank you!
@@videopipeline6419 could you please elaborate? Would help us viewers.. thank you! Edit: I saw you posted several other comments. If those are what you were referring to, then thank you and you can dismiss my comment!
@@Coolarj10 Yep, those are the key mistakes (feel free to "Like" them if they are helpful). The main source of the misleading info (reiterated by people who have a *little bit* of knowledge like the creator of this video) about polyiso having drastically reduced R-value is Owens Corning, which AFAIK doesn't manufacture any form of Polyiso foam. Also, not all materials cost the same in all parts of the US, because (especially with bulky materials like foam sheathing); it's highly dependent upon the location of the manufacturing plants, which are mostly in the eastern half of the US. Not all Polyiso is created equal. The example she chose, R-Max polyiso, which is stocked at some Home Depot stores in the western half of the USA, has much poorer cell structure consistency than Super Tuff-R or Thermax. Consumer grade polyiso sheathing like R-Max, Super Tuff-R or J-M AP Foil have FSK "Foil-Scrim-Kraft' facers, thus they have only a class C fire resistance rating. Commercial grades like Thermax have class A fire rating.
I am a person that believes in being very specific with detail. Old school, report who, what ,where, and when and sometimes why. Why is very important. Your doing a good job of reporting.
Once again, loving the information density in your videos! Just as a side note: after about 10 years of using XPS I've often seen sheets of it get too much UV-Radiation and from my experience it does indeed suffer from photodegradation. The outer layers become lighter in color and dissolve into a dust which has an unpleasant chemical odour, sticks to your skin and resists washing off. So make sure to have some sort of UV barrier between it and any gaps in roofing material or it will start to wear out
Hello Belinda, thank you very much! This is very helpful for me in my bee hive insulation materials research. Knowing the differences in material properties is valuable as well as the global impact when it becomes waste material.
Extremely helpful. Question: If polyisosyanurate is not stable below 50degreesF, then where is the best use of this produce? Inside a structure? Thank you - great information.
Hi there, I am also working as an insulator but just from last 8 months in NZ, but from your videos i learn alot about the R value thing and pros and cons of materials thanks and keep it up its good for new comers.
Great video. Very well put together. A couple corrections. The XPS industry went through a blowing agent change with increased the cost by 20%. Polyiso is now cheaper. Polyiso has no thermal drift unless you are below -40 continuously. It will regain its original r value when temps rise. It has a .002 water absorption rate, same as XP’s,where EPS has a 2% absorption rate.
I've commented this before - I'd love to see you do a whole video on thermal drift in insulation materials. I think this is an under-appreciated topic among Architects and many are fooled by the high initial R-value of materials like polyiso. Thanks this is great!
@@RJG772That would be very interesting. Essentially a rate of R value decay. It would also be interesting to know if polyiso reaches a thermal drift steady state, and if so, how long it takes to reach the steady state.
Your videos should be part of curriculum for real life application relatability and inspiration - I could see some being used for both highschool and college and trades. This is great. keep making great content!
Thank you for all the excellent details. I am using XPS to insulate our home, and I am more glad now than ever. Seems like the best option for the money. Really appreciate all of your work.
Very nicely done. Be aware that EPS and XPS have not used HBCD since 2016. Also, XPS ("Styrofoam") does not contain air, it contains blowing agents that ARE subject to thermal drift over time. These blowing agents were HFCs such as R134a, but the XPS industry is working to replace these with other gasses.
This is a great comparative look. I appreciate the lesson and will be watching your other videos as I want efficient homes to lower energy bills .R30 in roof with pink board in walls on a block building along with a vapor barrier in crawl space has amazed me already . Heat rarely goes on medium never sees high
Im 72 and use to build homes. I now build unigue bird houses for Ace hardwares. GREAT INFORMATION. People who dont appreciate you are ignorant non educted in this field of insulation. GREAT INFO in my opinion
I am building a Timber frame house in Alaska. With a 5.5" wall cavity I'm using 1.5" and 2" XPS foam boards in 3 layers to create an R-25 wall with sheathing closer to R-28. I will layer 3" XPS on the roof deck in 4 layers to create an R-60 roof. So easy to work with. Cleaner than glass batt or Rockwood type Insulation. Using spray foam to seal any cracks this makes a super well sealed and insulated structure. I may heat the place with a candle? LOL 😂
I found this video very educational. Your delivery of the information was on point and I absolutely loved the little jokes you threw in for fun. I can tell you really enjoy making these videos for others. Keep up your good work sharing the good vibes. Much love to you, dear.
One of the best videos on this topics. If you could/know to do a video on difference on paints (water, latex, oil...) and thinset in tile instalation it would be great. 👍
This is the second of your videos that I have watched. Thank you for your detailed description of these products and the pros and cons of each. Very helpful. Thank you. And, I am a new subscriber.
@@BelindaCarr Haha, yeah! Correction: EPS and XPS does not seem flammable. Yes, it loses its form, but as your demo shows on XPS the flame does not propagate, on the contrary, the flame extinguishes itself, this is called flame retardant. On your demo EPS did not even catch fire.
HI Belinda, Thanks for sharing the video and your analysis. If you consider producing a second video on building insulation, the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) and other building insulation trade associations would likely be interested in contributing information. The insulation industries have made several advancements in chemistries and technology that are not fully captured in your summary. Best, Justin, President, PIMA
Belinda, thank you for your explanation of the three foam products that are being used in so many different applications. I got my start in molding EPS foam blocks 59 years ago in Grand Rapids, MI. I recall the block molding machine (Kurtz) that Steve Buchanan commented on that represented old technology compared to today. It was one of the best available in the '70s and was so far advanced from our home-built block molds. By the way, in the 25 years that I was in this business, all our EPS was impregnated with n-pentane as the blowing agent. Wish you well. Mike Allen
Thanks for these informative videos. It would be interesting to compare these to natural insulators such as cork. I realise that there is not enough cork grown for industrial construction worldwide, but would still be of interest on specialised builds and reworking old buildings that only contain natural materials.
This was very useful for me. I didn't know about ants, and termites being attracted to it. I was planning on using it in a tropical country where ants and termites are a problem.
Thanks Belinda! I’m going to build an outbuilding and had considered different insulation options, but your thorough examination of a variety of insulation products has really helped me. Thank you!!!
This is the very first video I've watched of yours. I'm subscribing, simply because this is absolutely the best tutorial I've ever seen! Highly informative and entertaining, which my many years as a tutor have revealed are essential to the educational experience. You've got it!
These videos are great, but I wish she offered a Patreon tier where she'd look at a picture of my attic and just tell me which insulation to get. I can't decide!
Thank you for the insightful information. I wasn't aware that Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is the most environmentally friendly option among the three alternatives, especially due to its production process that involves steaming. The fact that this process can be made even greener by utilizing electricity generated from renewable sources is encouraging. I'm relieved to learn that EPS doesn't contain any chemicals that could potentially leach into the ground, especially as I intend to use it subterraneously in a Ground to Air Heat Transfer System under a greenhouse. The issue of ants being attracted to and consuming polystyrene was unknown to me. Now that I'm aware of this, I can mitigate the problem by laying down a protective plastic sheet. Again Thank you
I had been seriously considering Polyiso in my basement because its less likely to light on fire and just chars. But this video is making me rethink that.
We took out 20 year old EPS foam sheets from our cottage roof space. It was fitted in the rafters. Prior owners didn’t maintain the roof, it leaked and water got onto the foam. Mold grew on the surface, and ants were nesting in it. It’s been removed and rockwool and a vapor barrier going in. We removed it mostly to be able to inspect the roof plywood from inside to check for rot, but after it was out we decided R22 Rockwool would be a better choice. Had the roof not leaked, I’m sure there would have never been ants in it, they need water. But when an ant colony hatches inside your roof on a warm April afternoon, you’re ripping all of it out asap.
I love the information, and the way it's presented. That South Park clip just helped me choose to subscribe. We're buying our first house, and just trying to get hip to the lingo and way things are made. Thank you!
Belinda, I have this video on speed dial...(jajajaja), I refer to it so often!!!....a little update info to share: New XPS panels are replacing HFC-134a with HFO blends for a big greenhouse gas reduction. In the case of panels made of extruded polystyrene (XPS)-a closed-cell foam suitable for wet or dry conditions-that gas has been hydrofluorocarbon-134a (HFC-134a). HFC-134a is a good blowing agent, but it has a GWP of 1,430, meaning it traps 1,430 times as much heat as carbon dioxide does over 100 years. As regulations seeking to eliminate HFC-134a take effect this year in Canada and the US, panel makers including Owens Corning and DuPont are switching their blowing agents to blends containing hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). Additionally, GAF is now manufacturing a non-halogen Polyiso. As always, thank you very much for your channel....Architects are weird, when we walk into a party we are not checking out all the sexy people, we are checking out the alignment of the ceiling can lights and door details. When I pull an all-nighter, for a little break and distraction, I pull up one of your video. Yes, we are weird :)) Thanks again!
Good analysis on different insulations. I beg to differ about the claim that polystyrene is 100% recyclable. In foam or expanded form, especially used in packaging, PS causes huge environmental problems. The only plastic that has high recycling rates (above 80%) is PET. PE/PP follow with much lower recycling rates, but PS, PVC and all other plastics have near zero recycling rates; most plastics end up in landfills or, worse, discarded in the environment, polluting soil and water.
Belinda, just came across your videos. I would say they are informative in depth and the very best I've viewed on RUclips . You've got me, subscribed. VERY WELL DONE.
That was most comprehensive, thank you. I have need to know these things. I intend building my own Tiny House. (2 x 2.5 x 6 metres) I did start with the shipping container idea and realised it was impractical as it cost so much to be delivered and it's life expectancy was lower than mine. I have heard the other down sides from your videos and others. I thought caravan, but they have little insulation in winter, get damp and are not too stable on their own, plus well - I've tried living in a caravan, okay for the summer months, but you lose money on heating them during winter when the temperature drops and where I live in North West England it drops a lot. So I came up with a modular system based on a caravan base that is expanded on location ( so it complies with Mobile home restrictions). I'm still trying to configure the insulation and work out the heating costs for 5 months of the year which will be cold, 3 bitterly so. Roofing tiles that retain heat, solar panels that aren't an eyesore and land ownership for a small plot, say half an acre - (2023.43 metres). This area allows for the home and room to grow my own food, plus build a shed for working in - (building cycle trailers and campers).
Just some thoughts: Roofing tiles won't help because they are outside of your insulation. Thermal mass is not really something you can achieve, sans something like thick Soviet concrete construction, and that's a problem for THOWs due to trailer capacity.
I recently bought a 2" Polyiso board to test fit my garage door, primarily to keep the cold from penetrating inside the garage . Our winters here are much colder than 50F, looks like I'll be returning that Polyiso back to Home depot .
This was tightly packed with information and very neatly organized making it surprisingly easy to understand. I know nothing about construction and use foams for arts & crafts. Still, I was able to understand so much. Thank you.
Quick and straightforward. I’m looking to insulate my hottub. That industry would have me believe that I should just be throwing away my free packaging from all my Costco and Amazon purchases. Not so!! I’d be throwing away additional monies. Go Bubble-boys and Bubble-girls!!!
Good stuff. Something that gets missed in side by sides like this is that polyiso is much better because of how much pollution is reduced from the extra performance. That is the reason it's used commercially even though it costs about 50% more. Homeowners are simply to cheap to uses it.
I bought a 4x8 foot wooden shed that gets hot in the summer, and I’m thinking of using polyisocyanurate to insulate the shed. Haven’t really decided yet , I can very well put the shed in my patio and the sun never hits it. This would severely reduce how hot it gets in there.
"recyclable" is a misnomer of sorts. Recycling REQUIRES that the plastic be free of contamination. Thus, for example, food containers are not recyclable. In fact, contamination in a food container will turn a batch of polystyrene into useless junk. Similarly, a pizza box will destroy the utility of waste paper. Don't put even slightly dirty paper and/or plastic in the recycling bin.
EXCELLENT EXCELLENT VIDEO!!!!! From watching your (and a couple of others) I have decided on using XPS for insulating the attic crawl space and walls of a ranch house. However, I do know for a fact that according to code I must have an R30 or approx 6" of foam. Spray foam, Rockwool, fiberglass, etc... is not time/cost-effective in my case. Buying 6" foam is also very expensive. Gluing 2" foam sheets X3 together is much cheaper. With that being said, I am having WIDE CONFUSION on which construction adhesive is best to use for this application. It is down to 3M SUPER 77 spray and GORILLA GLUE SUPER CONSTRUCTION (which can be used on XPS) (caulk type dispensed). I trust your wisdom & judgment. You have been right on the mark with everything in construction. How do you see their pros and cons?? Keep up the GREAT VIDEOS!!!
Hi. I've used XPS (Foamular brand) and it is not even slightly resistant to sunlight. Leave it exposed and it will discolor and break down over the course of months. Take a sheet and put it in the sun with the black lettering face up. You'll soon have a three dimensional surface, with raised black lettering over a greyish background
Polyiso can be bought used, often marketed on Craigslist, bringing down the price by a lot. A friend wrapped his house and below grade foundation with it on the cheap.
Thanks for the video. With Polyiso insulation how long does it take for the thermal drift to hinder the R value performance? What are the different elements that would acelerate the thermal drift in Polyiso insulation?
watched a few of these, and they are all very informative.. your personality also shines through, so it doesn't feel like i'm listening to a text book. also really enjoyed the little memes you put in here and there. very nice. you got yourself a new sub. cheers!
Great videos! Super informative and well balanced point of view. Also, your pronunciation of the chemical compounds is awesome. I would still be doing retakes to get them right...!
Wow, I learned more about insulation in these 5 minutes than my whole life. Thank you!
Thank you for watching!
WOW ME TOO - Thank you for this video!
this video was well researched and intelligently presented.
a few comments. one of the things that they do to deter insect intrusion into foam insulation these days is to apply a borate coating on the surface. it doesn't prevent insects from boring into the insulation, but when they ingest the borate, they dehydrate and die. that said, after enough insects have "paid the price", eventually the borate coating is breached.
one other feature about the different types of foam insulation is the coefficient of thermal expansion. eps has the lowest, xps is a little greater and polyisocyanurate is the largest (by about 50% as i recall). so, a large board would noticeably shrink in cold temperatures, opening up voids between the panels. since the insulation would sit behind cladding, you wouldn't typically see that.
the story about polyisocyanurate losing its thermal properties at low temperatures is sort of a half truth, that got picked up and turned into a "whole truth" along the grapevine. there was a paper written around 2007, or so, entitled "analysis of variables in the determination of lambda/k-factor of construction insulations". what they found was that polyisocyanurate with a felt substrate showed a trend of increasing k-value at low temperatures. they did not observe that trend for polyisocyanurate with a foil substrate. the ultimate conclusion of the paper was that there were general problems with test methodologies for the determination of k-values of insulating materials.
any of these foam insulation types can be a vapor barrier, depending on how thick the sheet is. for example, as i recall, xps is classified as a vapor barrier when the thickness is greater than one inch. you typically don't want to put a vapor barrier on the exterior of your wall in a heating climate, but advocates overcome these concerns by declaring that the continuous insulation increases the dew point temperature at the sheathing, with the objective of keeping the sheathing temperature above the dew point temperature so that you don't get condensation at the sheathing (thereby reducing the risk of mold growth). there are some assumptions built into that rationale.
as an aside, one of my nits is seeing trademarks getting violated. "styofoam" is not the generic name for either eps or xps. it is a brand name for the blue xps insulation product sold by dow chemical company. in your video, you will notice that only the xps board made by dow chemical bears the name "styrofoam" (for what it's worth, i also get annoyed when people generically call a reciprocating saw a "sawzall").
Picking up on your last point, going back to the late 70's a friend's mother used to call all computers IBMs.
Hello Belinda, I've been in the EPS industry for over 35 years and this is one of the top three best explanations of polymeric foams I've seen on youtube. I haven't seen an open-top block fill EPS block mold as you've shown in your video since the late seventies / early eighties. Great Job!
Were those particular foam blocks for surf board blanks?
Hello, please I need reference websites that talks about EPS. My project is on EPS and google keeps giving me searches on styrofoams or XPS as expanded polystyrene (EPS) and it's so frustrating
Hi Belinda I see over my 40 years of experience EPS is the best product, but I need your professional advice about this what do you think
Wow this is the best video I’ve ever seen comparing and describing EPS and XPS...could never fully understand the property differences and manufacturing processes..until now. Thank you!
She got the basics correct, but made several key mistakes that may mislead people.
@@videopipeline6419 could you please elaborate? Would help us viewers.. thank you!
Edit: I saw you posted several other comments. If those are what you were referring to, then thank you and you can dismiss my comment!
@@Coolarj10 Yep, those are the key mistakes (feel free to "Like" them if they are helpful). The main source of the misleading info (reiterated by people who have a *little bit* of knowledge like the creator of this video) about polyiso having drastically reduced R-value is Owens Corning, which AFAIK doesn't manufacture any form of Polyiso foam. Also, not all materials cost the same in all parts of the US, because (especially with bulky materials like foam sheathing); it's highly dependent upon the location of the manufacturing plants, which are mostly in the eastern half of the US. Not all Polyiso is created equal. The example she chose, R-Max polyiso, which is stocked at some Home Depot stores in the western half of the USA, has much poorer cell structure consistency than Super Tuff-R or Thermax. Consumer grade polyiso sheathing like R-Max, Super Tuff-R or J-M AP Foil have FSK "Foil-Scrim-Kraft' facers, thus they have only a class C fire resistance rating. Commercial grades like Thermax have class A fire rating.
@@AdamA-pm3yn I'm sure that people who have chosen to be dumb*asses don't "GAF"
I am a person that believes in being very specific with detail. Old school, report who, what ,where, and when and sometimes why. Why is very important. Your doing a good job of reporting.
Great video. It's nice to hear somebody talk about foam who isn't either an installer or a GC.
It is a pleasure to listen to somebody who know their subject. Thank you for sharing.
These are simply excellent videos for the average DIY guy. Please keep them coming.
I think us architect's should get education credits for watching your channel!😍
Once again, loving the information density in your videos!
Just as a side note: after about 10 years of using XPS I've often seen sheets of it get too much UV-Radiation and from my experience it does indeed suffer from photodegradation. The outer layers become lighter in color and dissolve into a dust which has an unpleasant chemical odour, sticks to your skin and resists washing off. So make sure to have some sort of UV barrier between it and any gaps in roofing material or it will start to wear out
PIR and PUR aren't that different in this particular aspect. Most polymers are vulnerable to UV.
FINALLY some real objective information! After months of research this vid has had the best information to help my decision making. THANK YOU.
Hello Belinda, thank you very much! This is very helpful for me in my bee hive insulation materials research. Knowing the differences in material properties is valuable as well as the global impact when it becomes waste material.
Extremely helpful. Question: If polyisosyanurate is not stable below 50degreesF, then where is the best use of this produce? Inside a structure? Thank you - great information.
please continue this analyzing other insulators like batts, blown in cellulose, and 🤢spray foam🤢
yes, as well as rock-wool
Yeah this would be fantastic
@@timskufca8039 already has!
@@JohnSmith-kf1fc damn, I missed out on them then
such an informative video...thank you for your knowledge!!
@BuildShow this is an excellent overview of the differences between: XPS, EPS as Poly-ISO foam boards.
Hi there, I am also working as an insulator but just from last 8 months in NZ, but from your videos i learn alot about the R value thing and pros and cons of materials thanks and keep it up its good for new comers.
Best video on rigid foam insulation ever! Thank you!
Great video. Very well put together. A couple corrections. The XPS industry went through a blowing agent change with increased the cost by 20%. Polyiso is now cheaper. Polyiso has no thermal drift unless you are below -40 continuously. It will regain its original r value when temps rise. It has a .002 water absorption rate, same as XP’s,where EPS has a 2% absorption rate.
Please advise on adhesive to bond polyiso sheets. Desire to make floating dock 16" thick.
Wow. I was aware of everything BUT polyiso not working below 50°f. That's a real eye opener for the build I was planning. Thank you!
'Not working' was overstating it. Something like 25% less effective at 50 than at 75.
I've commented this before - I'd love to see you do a whole video on thermal drift in insulation materials. I think this is an under-appreciated topic among Architects and many are fooled by the high initial R-value of materials like polyiso. Thanks this is great!
Yes!
agree. Can you do this? I would like to know Polyiso over 5 winter/summer seasons what the R value is in the 5th summer.
@@RJG772That would be very interesting. Essentially a rate of R value decay. It would also be interesting to know if polyiso reaches a thermal drift steady state, and if so, how long it takes to reach the steady state.
You have no idea how valuable this video is to me. Thank you Belinda!
Your videos should be part of curriculum for real life application relatability and inspiration - I could see some being used for both highschool and college and trades. This is great. keep making great content!
Thank you for all the excellent details. I am using XPS to insulate our home, and I am more glad now than ever. Seems like the best option for the money. Really appreciate all of your work.
Very nicely done. Be aware that EPS and XPS have not used HBCD since 2016. Also, XPS ("Styrofoam") does not contain air, it contains blowing agents that ARE subject to thermal drift over time. These blowing agents were HFCs such as R134a, but the XPS industry is working to replace these with other gasses.
This is a great comparative look. I appreciate the lesson and will be watching your other videos as I want efficient homes to lower energy bills .R30 in roof with pink board in walls on a block building along with a vapor barrier in crawl space has amazed me already . Heat rarely goes on medium never sees high
We really appreciate your nerd-outs, Belinda. This is a discussion well worth having. Thanks for making it so accessible.
Im 72 and use to build homes. I now build unigue bird houses for Ace hardwares. GREAT INFORMATION. People who dont appreciate you are ignorant non educted in this field of insulation. GREAT INFO in my opinion
I am building a Timber frame house in Alaska. With a 5.5" wall cavity I'm using 1.5" and 2" XPS foam boards in 3 layers to create an R-25 wall with sheathing closer to R-28. I will layer 3" XPS on the roof deck in 4 layers to create an R-60 roof. So easy to work with.
Cleaner than glass batt or Rockwood type Insulation.
Using spray foam to seal any cracks this makes a super well sealed and insulated structure.
I may heat the place with a candle? LOL 😂
Excellent video, been working as an architect for years, but never really understood the differences, thank you!
I found this video very educational. Your delivery of the information was on point and I absolutely loved the little jokes you threw in for fun. I can tell you really enjoy making these videos for others. Keep up your good work sharing the good vibes. Much love to you, dear.
This is the second video I have watched and I already love you. So many things I did not know about materials I have been using for decades!
Outstanding performance! Information that every DYI installer should have before selecting materials. Had to view it twice to fully appreciate.
One of the best videos on this topics. If you could/know to do a video on difference on paints (water, latex, oil...) and thinset in tile instalation it would be great. 👍
This is the second of your videos that I have watched. Thank you for your detailed description of these products and the pros and cons of each. Very helpful. Thank you. And, I am a new subscriber.
Loved the Up house snuck in there
Really great information! Thanks!
I just found your channel; I love the nerd factor. Awesome!
Nerds Unite! :)
Our Indian friends are sharp people.
@@BelindaCarr Haha, yeah!
Correction: EPS and XPS does not seem flammable. Yes, it loses its form, but as your demo shows on XPS the flame does not propagate, on the contrary, the flame extinguishes itself, this is called flame retardant. On your demo EPS did not even catch fire.
@@BelindaCarr awesome job
These comparison are great.
Now we know for real what the heck is all about this materials once for all !
BRAVO !
HI Belinda, Thanks for sharing the video and your analysis. If you consider producing a second video on building insulation, the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) and other building insulation trade associations would likely be interested in contributing information. The insulation industries have made several advancements in chemistries and technology that are not fully captured in your summary. Best, Justin, President, PIMA
i've read and listened to numerous comparisons of these materials. This one is perhaps the most succinct and useful.
Thank you for making this educational video. I would have never thought these marerials would be sensitive to termites and other insects.
Beautiful, articulate and knowledgeable. Thank you for the information and superior presentation.
Belinda, thank you for your explanation of the three foam products that are being used in so many different applications. I got my start in molding EPS foam blocks 59 years ago in Grand Rapids, MI. I recall the block molding machine (Kurtz) that Steve Buchanan commented on that represented old technology compared to today. It was one of the best available in the '70s and was so far advanced from our home-built block molds. By the way, in the 25 years that I was in this business, all our EPS was impregnated with n-pentane as the blowing agent. Wish you well. Mike Allen
Thanks for these informative videos. It would be interesting to compare these to natural insulators such as cork. I realise that there is not enough cork grown for industrial construction worldwide, but would still be of interest on specialised builds and reworking old buildings that only contain natural materials.
It was an excellent video thanks
This was very useful for me. I didn't know about ants, and termites being attracted to it. I was planning on using it in a tropical country where ants and termites are a problem.
From a fellow Texan , thanks for all these great educational videos. I have learned so much and I’m gonna be utilizing some soon. Thanks again
Thanks Belinda! I’m going to build an outbuilding and had considered different insulation options, but your thorough examination of a variety of insulation products has really helped me. Thank you!!!
I didn't know about the issue with the use of polyisocyanurate insulation below 50 degrees. Thanks for the information.
Loved the Nerdy part!
Edit: the whole video is amazing too. Just the Nerd part was refreshing
Great job. Keep doing this analysis
I'm studying for the AREs and your videos have been so incredibly heplful! Thank you :)
l am a Swiss Mastercraftsman in Spengler/ Master Roofer.🇨🇭⚒
l enjoy your videos, very nicely explained and very correct information.
Very interesting. Been using Polystyrene all my working life for various jobs and never knew how it was made 🤯🧱👍🏼
I really appreciate your work. I send these to clients to help them make informed decisions. I love your delivery thank you
There is also rock wool insulation boards. RW boards are quite rigid and comes in different weights; it’s nice because it has a nice fire rating.
This is the very first video I've watched of yours. I'm subscribing, simply because this is absolutely the best tutorial I've ever seen! Highly informative and entertaining, which my many years as a tutor have revealed are essential to the educational experience. You've got it!
These videos are great, but I wish she offered a Patreon tier where she'd look at a picture of my attic and just tell me which insulation to get. I can't decide!
Thank you for the insightful information. I wasn't aware that Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is the most environmentally friendly option among the three alternatives, especially due to its production process that involves steaming. The fact that this process can be made even greener by utilizing electricity generated from renewable sources is encouraging. I'm relieved to learn that EPS doesn't contain any chemicals that could potentially leach into the ground, especially as I intend to use it subterraneously in a Ground to Air Heat Transfer System under a greenhouse. The issue of ants being attracted to and consuming polystyrene was unknown to me. Now that I'm aware of this, I can mitigate the problem by laying down a protective plastic sheet. Again Thank you
I really enjoy your video's! Thanks!
Could you make a video about SIP panels? I am interested about your opinion😊
I had been seriously considering Polyiso in my basement because its less likely to light on fire and just chars. But this video is making me rethink that.
We took out 20 year old EPS foam sheets from our cottage roof space. It was fitted in the rafters. Prior owners didn’t maintain the roof, it leaked and water got onto the foam. Mold grew on the surface, and ants were nesting in it. It’s been removed and rockwool and a vapor barrier going in. We removed it mostly to be able to inspect the roof plywood from inside to check for rot, but after it was out we decided R22 Rockwool would be a better choice. Had the roof not leaked, I’m sure there would have never been ants in it, they need water. But when an ant colony hatches inside your roof on a warm April afternoon, you’re ripping all of it out asap.
Ok. I just like your work. Second video I have watched. Detailed research and great presentation.
I love the information, and the way it's presented. That South Park clip just helped me choose to subscribe. We're buying our first house, and just trying to get hip to the lingo and way things are made. Thank you!
Belinda, I have this video on speed dial...(jajajaja), I refer to it so often!!!....a little update info to share: New XPS panels are replacing HFC-134a with HFO blends for a big greenhouse gas reduction. In the case of panels made of extruded polystyrene (XPS)-a closed-cell foam suitable for wet or dry conditions-that gas has been hydrofluorocarbon-134a (HFC-134a). HFC-134a is a good blowing agent, but it has a GWP of 1,430, meaning it traps 1,430 times as much heat as carbon dioxide does over 100 years. As regulations seeking to eliminate HFC-134a take effect this year in Canada and the US, panel makers including Owens Corning and DuPont are switching their blowing agents to blends containing hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). Additionally, GAF is now manufacturing a non-halogen Polyiso. As always, thank you very much for your channel....Architects are weird, when we walk into a party we are not checking out all the sexy people, we are checking out the alignment of the ceiling can lights and door details. When I pull an all-nighter, for a little break and distraction, I pull up one of your video. Yes, we are weird :)) Thanks again!
It's the snipets of movies and shows for me 🤣 really breaks it up. You're a great teacher!
Good analysis on different insulations. I beg to differ about the claim that polystyrene is 100% recyclable. In foam or expanded form, especially used in packaging, PS causes huge environmental problems. The only plastic that has high recycling rates (above 80%) is PET. PE/PP follow with much lower recycling rates, but PS, PVC and all other plastics have near zero recycling rates; most plastics end up in landfills or, worse, discarded in the environment, polluting soil and water.
Belinda, just came across your videos. I would say they are informative in depth and the very best I've viewed on RUclips . You've got me, subscribed. VERY WELL DONE.
I absolutely LOVE your no BS explanation of the different technologies. But you had me at NERRD! lol
I have no reason to care about foam and insulation, but these are REALLY GOOD videos! This is like my 6th one.
As a chemical engineer this video was very satisfying
Thank you for this quality video. I am a Beekeeper and sometimes we need to insulate or fill void spaces in the hives. Subscribed! ;)
That was most comprehensive, thank you. I have need to know these things. I intend building my own Tiny House. (2 x 2.5 x 6 metres) I did start with the shipping container idea and realised it was impractical as it cost so much to be delivered and it's life expectancy was lower than mine. I have heard the other down sides from your videos and others.
I thought caravan, but they have little insulation in winter, get damp and are not too stable on their own, plus well - I've tried living in a caravan, okay for the summer months, but you lose money on heating them during winter when the temperature drops and where I live in North West England it drops a lot. So I came up with a modular system based on a caravan base that is expanded on location ( so it complies with Mobile home restrictions). I'm still trying to configure the insulation and work out the heating costs for 5 months of the year which will be cold, 3 bitterly so. Roofing tiles that retain heat, solar panels that aren't an eyesore and land ownership for a small plot, say half an acre - (2023.43 metres). This area allows for the home and room to grow my own food, plus build a shed for working in - (building cycle trailers and campers).
Just some thoughts: Roofing tiles won't help because they are outside of your insulation. Thermal mass is not really something you can achieve, sans something like thick Soviet concrete construction, and that's a problem for THOWs due to trailer capacity.
Wow this is one of the better channels I've seen on RUclips. Definitely gained a sub 👍
I recently bought a 2" Polyiso board to test fit my garage door, primarily to keep the cold from penetrating inside the garage . Our winters here are much colder than 50F, looks like I'll be returning that Polyiso back to Home depot .
Finally someone who speaks my language!!!
This was tightly packed with information and very neatly organized making it surprisingly easy to understand. I know nothing about construction and use foams for arts & crafts. Still, I was able to understand so much. Thank you.
Quick and straightforward. I’m looking to insulate my hottub. That industry would have me believe that I should just be throwing away my free packaging from all my Costco and Amazon purchases. Not so!! I’d be throwing away additional monies. Go Bubble-boys and Bubble-girls!!!
Thank you for this video, about to purchase this type of material to insulate my garage door. I found it very helpful!
Good stuff. Something that gets missed in side by sides like this is that polyiso is much better because of how much pollution is reduced from the extra performance. That is the reason it's used commercially even though it costs about 50% more. Homeowners are simply to cheap to uses it.
I bought a 4x8 foot wooden shed that gets hot in the summer, and I’m thinking of using polyisocyanurate to insulate the shed. Haven’t really decided yet , I can very well put the shed in my patio and the sun never hits it. This would severely reduce how hot it gets in there.
"recyclable" is a misnomer of sorts. Recycling REQUIRES that the plastic be free of contamination. Thus, for example, food containers are not recyclable. In fact, contamination in a food container will turn a batch of polystyrene into useless junk. Similarly, a pizza box will destroy the utility of waste paper. Don't put even slightly dirty paper and/or plastic in the recycling bin.
EXCELLENT EXCELLENT VIDEO!!!!! From watching your (and a couple of others) I have decided on using XPS for insulating the attic crawl space and walls of a ranch house. However, I do know for a fact that according to code I must have an R30 or approx 6" of foam. Spray foam, Rockwool, fiberglass, etc... is not time/cost-effective in my case. Buying 6" foam is also very expensive. Gluing 2" foam sheets X3 together is much cheaper. With that being said, I am having WIDE CONFUSION on which construction adhesive is best to use for this application. It is down to 3M SUPER 77 spray and GORILLA GLUE SUPER CONSTRUCTION (which can be used on XPS) (caulk type dispensed). I trust your wisdom & judgment. You have been right on the mark with everything in construction. How do you see their pros and cons?? Keep up the GREAT VIDEOS!!!
You are brilliant. I love your explanations. Super informative.
Hi. I've used XPS (Foamular brand) and it is not even slightly resistant to sunlight. Leave it exposed and it will discolor and break down over the course of months. Take a sheet and put it in the sun with the black lettering face up. You'll soon have a three dimensional surface, with raised black lettering over a greyish background
You didnt mention ants termites etc with the Polyiso. Does it attract or repel them? And what about PIR?
Polyiso can be bought used, often marketed on Craigslist, bringing down the price by a lot. A friend wrapped his house and below grade foundation with it on the cheap.
Thanks for the video. With Polyiso insulation how long does it take for the thermal drift to hinder the R value performance? What are the different elements that would acelerate the thermal drift in Polyiso insulation?
Excellent video. Can you make one about reflective/bubble foil used in insulation. How it is rated, best used, miss used etc
You are quite correct when you say that poli ico is water resistant "when properly installed". When it is exposed to water, disaster ensuse.
watched a few of these, and they are all very informative.. your personality also shines through, so it doesn't feel like i'm listening to a text book. also really enjoyed the little memes you put in here and there. very nice.
you got yourself a new sub.
cheers!
I juar want to let you that you do a great explainings and your not a douch, for this reason i have subscribed to your channel.
Thank you 🙏
Would love to see more videos on these and similar materials and their uses, and properties.
I would love to see your breakdown on vacuum insulated panels and their pros and cons.
Very concise presentation. I really got a lot of useful information. Thank you.
Great videos! Super informative and well balanced point of view. Also, your pronunciation of the chemical compounds is awesome. I would still be doing retakes to get them right...!
Very Informative. It helped me make the best decision when I insulated my ceiling.
Hello Belinda! At 7:45 you mentioned that Polyiso should never be used with an internal vapor barrier. I'm not sure what you mean by this.
Great informative video. I think it would be good to see a chart at the end of the video to compare the three foams across all criteria.
great vid - as an idea for future, perhaps consider a final recap showing all three into one overview....?