Would you like to know where to buy rigid foam insulation? Well, we have researched this question and have and have answers for you. It is helpful to know where to purchase rigid foam insulation to ensure you pick the option that works best for you.
Here is a list of where you can buy rigid foam insulation online and offline.
Online
- Amazon
- Grainger
- Buildclub
Offline
- Home Depot
- Lowes
- Your Local Supplies Store
In this article, we will learn where to buy rigid foam insulation. We will also learn the answers to other interesting related questions: which rigid foam insulation is best, and does rigid roam insulation need a vapor barrier? Keep reading to learn more.
Where To Buy Rigid Foam Insulation?
When looking for a location to buy rigid foam insulation, you have several options. Depending on your needs, you can purchase your rigid foam insulation online or in person. With both choices, you will also have some options with whom you do business.
Let's look at some of the online and offline options for purchasing rigid foam insulation to see the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Online
If you have a busy schedule and would like to save the time it takes to visit a store, you can buy online. Buying online can be faster and more convenient than buying in person.
When purchasing rigid foam insulation online, you have many options; however, not all options are as trustworthy as others. For that reason, you should stick with websites that have high ratings and are well known.
Let's look at some of the more well-known websites for buying ridged foam insulation.
Amazon
Amazon is a great website to buy rigid foam insulation for several key reasons.
First, Amazon allows you to shop through many businesses at once to compare products and prices, so you know you are getting what you want for the best price. Having all the information in one place makes Amazon an excellent first website to check.
Amazon also has an excellent return policy. In most cases, if you want to return an item within thirty days, they will accept and process the return. If you receive broken or damaged merchandise, they will help replace it or provide a refund, making you feel good about buying through Amazon.
Grainger
Another website you may want to try is Grainger. Grainger is an industrial supply store that sells rigid foam insulation. You can place an order online at Grainger.com and have it sent where you need it.
There are some advantages and disadvantages to shopping at Grainger. One of these advantages is the prices. Grainger mass produces many products efficiently to ensure great prices.
One of the disadvantages of Grainger's mass production is its high return rate. The products made by Grainger have a high rate of defects. The good news is Grainger has a great thirty-day return policy where you can return defective items for replacements within thirty days.
Buildclub
Buildclub is another website where you can buy rigid foam insulation.
One of the advantages of Buildclub is they offer same-day delivery. If you need rigid foam insulation shipped as soon as possible, it may be worth ordering it through Buildclub.
Offline
If you would rather visit a location in person, you can also try a Home Depot or Lowes. There are also local supplies stores if you want to support your local community. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods of acquiring rigid foam insulation.
Home Depot
Home Depot has many locations, so finding one near the job site shouldn't be too challenging. Having the store close to the job site will help to increase productivity and efficiency.
They also have an extensive supply network allowing them to offer competitive pricing. Cheaper pricing will allow your rigid foam project to better stay within budget.
If you sign up for Home Depot's Pro Program, you can save even more on rigid foam insulation and earn points for discounts and other perks.
Home Depot also has a great website that allows you to order from them online.
Lowes
Lowes also has many locations making finding a place near your job site easy. Like Home Depot, Lowes has a large supply network that allows them to offer similar prices.
Lowes also offers a program like Home Depot's Pro Program called MVP Pros. With Lowes MVP Pros, you can get discounts on rigid foam insulation and earn discounts on other products.
Lowes also has a website that makes purchasing rigid foam insulation easy online and offline.
Local Supplies Stores
Another option for buying rigid foam insulation in person is to visit a local supplies store. There are local supply stores in almost any city that sell rigid foam insulation.
Most local supply stores don't have the same connections as large chains, so they often can't offer the same prices. While you usually pay more at these stores, you will be supporting your local community.
Which Rigid Foam Insulation Is Best?
There are three types of rigid foam insulation; Open Cell, Closed Cell, and Polyisocyanurate. Let's look at each kind of rigid foam insulation and see how they compare to find which is best.
Open Cell
Insulation's ability to insulate is measured with something called an R rating. The R rating measures how resistant an insulator is at allowing heat to transfer through it, and a high R rating means better insulation.
Open-cell rigid foam insulation has the lowest R rating at around 3.5. While open-cell rigid foam insulation has the lowest R rating, it also has the lowest price.
If you live in an area where you don't need much insulation, you may want to use open-cell rigid foam insulation.
Closed Cell
Closed-cell rigid foam insulation has a higher R rating at about 5.5. This rigid foam insulation type offers a higher R rating, but you can expect to pay more for it at checkout.
Polyisocyanurate
The third type of rigid foam insulation is polyisocyanurate. This type of rigid foam insulation often has a reflective foil on each side to increase its R rating.
Polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation has an R rating of around seven, making it ideal if you live somewhere cold. This type of rigid foam insulation will cost the most and has the best insulation rating.
Overall, deciding the best rigid foam insulation will depend on whether you need cheap or high-rated rigid foam insulation. The best rigid foam insulation will be the most inexpensive insulation with a high enough rating for your location.
What Is The Difference Between Pink And Blue Foam Board?
There is no difference between pink and blue foam boards. They are made from the same material and have a different color of dye added to them. Both boards also have the same R rating.
The pink foam boards are made by Owens Corning Company, while Dow Chemical Company makes the blue ones. Other than marketing, the chosen colors have no specific meaning.
How Thick Should Foam Board Insulation Be?
How thick your rigid foam board insulation should be will depend on a few factors. Most foam board insulation is between three-eighths of an inch and two and a half inches thick.
If you live in a cold environment, you will want thick insulation. If you get lots of snow, you will need insulation at least an inch and a half inches thick.
In a warmer environment, it will be different than in a cold climate. If you live somewhere with a more mild temperature, you can get away with less thick insulation between three-eighths of an inch and an inch in thickness.
Ultimately you want to buy the thinnest insulation you can for your area, maximizing your efficiency versus price ratio.
Does Rigid Foam Insulation Need A Vapor Barrier?
Whether your rigid foam insulation needs a vapor barrier will depend on which type of rigid foam insulation you have. Most rigid foam insulations don't require a vapor barrier.
Closed-cell and polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation both stop water from moving naturally. However, open-cell rigid foam insulation does not naturally impede the movement of water.
If you use open-cell rigid foam insulation, you will need to add a vapor barrier to keep water out.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we learned you could buy rigid foam insulation online at Amazon, Grainger, or Buildclub, and offline at Home Depot, Lowes, or your local supply store. We also learned there is no difference between blue and pink rigid foam insulation except for which company manufactures it.
If you are using open cell rigid foam insulation, you will need to install a vapor barrier.
We hope you enjoyed this article. If you want to learn more, check out some of these other posts.