Title says it all. When I got to Home Depot and ask for the stuff, what is it called and how do I keep from getting the wrong thing?
Thanks!
George
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They show it as sheathing. just walk down the isle in the back by the plywood and insulation until you see the pink,I call it, foam board.
Styrofoam insulation board.
My building supply carries product made by Dow Chemical. Dow Blue Board is higher density (higher compression resistance) than Dow gray board, both are adequate for layouts.
Owens Corning makes same material, colored pink (the Corning insulation Pink Panther). Other styrofoam board is colored green to give you the idea you are doing something environmental by adding insulation. The color differences are just a sales gimmick: it's the same.
What you do NOT want is expanded polystyrene board, otherwise known as beadboard, it is white, and has no structural strength or crush resistance. It is also "open cell" which means it absorbs moisture. You also do not want the yellow board (polyisocyanurate) faced with foil, not appropriate for layout use because of the foil.
You want styrofoam rigid insulation board, closed cell (does not absorb moisture), made by Dow (blue or gray) or Corning (pink.) If you are going to walk on your layout, consider the denser Blue Board, otherwise save a little $ and get the gray or Corning's equivalent.
It comes in various thicknesses, and usually in sheets 2' x 8'. You don't need the "tongue and grooved" edges for a layout, get the square edge if available.
good luck!
Thank you gentlemen! Extremely helpful.
Lately, I really don't like going into these stores. I always get the new employee who has no clue as to the item. Inevitably, what follows is the Standard Dumb Look (SDL) and the question: "what are you going to do with it?" 
George
Originally Posted by G3750:
Thank you gentlemen! Extremely helpful.
Lately, I really don't like going into these stores. I always get the new employee who has no clue as to the item. Inevitably, what follows is the Standard Dumb Look (SDL) and the question: "what are you going to do with it?"
George
I agree. I usually find what I am looking for and just to be a PIA, go find the employee and show him or her what it looks like and the correct isle location. 
"Extruded" Foam[closed cell]. Pink,blue,green.
Extruded Polystyrene--Dow is blue; Owens Corning is pink. I'm not familiar with the green stuff.
I have used both the blue and the pink in the past, with equal results. Getting ready to have a friend help me pick up a load of the stuff I(he has a truck) in the near future for use on my hi-rail layout. I use the 2" thick stuff in 4x8 sheets. Locally, I buy it at Lowe's. Be aware, though, that it is not available--readily at least--in all areas of the country.
I know the following has nothing to do with trains, my brother used the green foam sheets, two layers, to insulated his workshop ceiling. Then covered it with white steel siding. It kept the heat from going thru the roof. He said that it insulated better than the other stuff. He then insulated the walls with fiber glass, covered with 1/2" chip board topped with sheet metal. The building is now tight.
The one I buy at our local HD is made by Owens Corning.
• The name printed on it is "FOAMULAR 150".
• The description on it reads, "Energy-Saving, Moisture-Resistant XPS Insulation".
• XPS is extruded polystyrene, as Allan said, and Owens Corning further describes it as rigid foam board.
Alex
Just out of curiosity, how does the blue foam compare to homasote in the sound reduction department? I would imagine that it is atleast easier to work with.
Thanks.
Thanks again, all. Very useful info.
George
Originally Posted by TheRailKing:
Just out of curiosity, how does the blue foam compare to homasote in the sound reduction department? I would imagine that it is atleast easier to work with.
For sound reduction, Homasote is more effective than any of the foam products.
Owens Corning Foamular F-150 2 in. x 48 in. x 8 ft. Scored Squared Edge Foam
Model # 45W
Store SKU # 409926
1" pink foamboard Home Depot SKU 409959
1.5 " pink foamboard Home Depot SKU 104834
Homasote Home Depot Stock Number 123024
Any Home Depot can get these for you.
Go to the Pro Desk to ask. It is usually near the lumber isles at the front of the store.
Disclaimer: I do work for Home Depot. (I just don't always admit it.)
Originally Posted by Allan Miller:
Originally Posted by TheRailKing:
Just out of curiosity, how does the blue foam compare to homasote in the sound reduction department? I would imagine that it is atleast easier to work with.
For sound reduction, Homasote is more effective than any of the foam products.
Homasote may work better, but at least out here in the west its tough to find. Even after calling the dealers listed on the Homasote website I only found 1 of the 4 places listed that had it available and that place only had a few sheets that had seen better days.
Originally Posted by cbojanower:
For sound reduction, Homasote is more effective than any of the foam products.
Homasote may work better, but at least out here in the west its tough to find.
An alternative to homasote would be the acoustical ceiling tiles that are made of paper/cardboard/fiber, (not plastic) approximately the same stuff homasote is made from and doing the same job of muffling sound. They might also be a lot easier to work with since they are smaller sizes than the big sheets of homasote. Since you don't care what they look like, sometimes you can get a pile of mismatched or discontinued or damaged ceiling tiles. If not, they're still relatively cheap, get the cheapest ones you can find. They would be far better sound deadening material than the rigid foam. The foamboard really does not muffle sound, it is too rigid, I know it seems soft, you can dent it with your thumb, but sound bounces off it. You want the softer fiber of homasote, ceiling tiles, the stuff paper egg cartons are made of, to absorb the sound rather than bounce it around.
