Foam Board Insulation
One of the primary kinds of foam insulation is in the form of boards. Foam boards are solid planks of foam insulation which are laid throughout a home structure (walls, floors, etc.). These boards are laid across the face of a home structure side by side in a panel-like fashion until the entirety of the structure is covered.
Boards most commonly use a combination of polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, or polyurethane. Since foam board is a particularly malleable substance, there are form variations that foam boards can take depending on the insulative need.
One example of this would be molded expanded polystyrene (MEPS), or more commonly known as “beadboard.” In this iteration of foam board, the insulation is often used for everyday items. Since MEPS foam insulation is “molded,” it can take the shape of smaller things like coffee cups or shipping materials.
Another important form of foam board is Extruded expanded polystyrene (XEPS). This material is fairly similar to MEPS, with the primary difference being that the insulation is melted and cut into specific shapes depending on its use. Whereas MEPS is molded to the shape it is insulating, XEPS is pre-cut.