Subject: closed cell that isn't

Sam Finlay (sam.finlay@ey.com)
Mon, 10 May 1999 13:55:27 -0400


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Bernie,
I think that what you're looking for is called *extruded* polystyrene. I live in an agricultural
area and the stuff is available from farm supply businesses.
In the Shenandoah valley it's used for turkey/chicken house insulation. This is the
same stuff as Styrofoam "beadboard" but is made in a homogenous slab. When I
built my house we used it to insulate the basement floor and walls. Beadboard would have
eventually absorbed water and been useless. In the last 14 years the extruded poly hasn't
soaked up any water at all. I don't think it's available in as many thickness ranges
as beadboard. The thickest I was able to find was 2" in 4' X 8' sheets but it can be
glued together w/ panel adhesive ( from Home Depot, Lowes, etc. )
Sam
P-15 #1964 Indomitable
Luray VA

BTW I love your email address! Bernard Johnson <slithytove@earthlink.net>
Do you gyre and gimble in the wabe too? ( My apologies
to Mr. Dodson / Carroll for any mis-spellings )

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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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A couple of days ago I was really getting into this pour in foam
business - searches on the internet, almost ordered some from Defender
('til they told me about the surcharge), went out at lunch time to
Orchard Supply looking for spray stuff. Bought some spray stuff, one
can,"33% more free!" .Couldn't wait to check it out. Didn't say on can
whether it was closed cell or not, but apparently could do all sorts of
wonderful things. Sprayed some on a piece of cardboard before going back
into work so would be ready to test immediately after. Rushed out to
parking lot, broke a piece off, turned on windshield washers, dipped
piece of foam in little pool of water, squeezed, removed, squeezed
again, water came out, foam looked like wet bread. Glad only bought one
can.
Had day vacation yesterday. Fixing boat. Looking under flooring. Find
piece of IM's foam. Took in kitchen. Placed in pan of water. Bubbles
came out!!!!! Squeezed. More bubbles!!!! Appalled!!! This stuff is
bloody useless, to downright dangerous. True, it doesn't absorb water
instantaneously, so it would act as floatation in case of a swamping.
The fact that it will absorb water gradually over a period of time is
completely unnacceptable. I expect that when a material is described as
closed cell, it should be closed cell, PERIOD. I wrote back to Utah
Foams requesting full technical specifications. If I do purchase from
them, it will only be after thorough research, capped with written
assurance from them that their product will not absorb water over time.
I now feel uncomfortable with whatever IM has done, to the extent of
contemplating removing their pour in stuff. This would be a messy an
awkward job though.
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