Foam or, as Vikipedia says, polystyrene foam is one of the most used for insulation of building materials. If you need to insulate the floor, roof or walls of the house, utility rooms, an extension or balcony, then you can’t find the more easy to use and processing, this high -quality insulation is used absolutely everywhere and shows only positive qualities. Foam manufacturing technology is very simple. This is a gas that is enclosed in granules with microscopic walls using polystyrene. The foam of 98% of the gas consists, this is an explanation of the insulating properties that it has.
In addition to insulating properties, polystyrene is favorably differed in other physical and mechanical properties. High water resistance, compression strength, relative hardness, resistance to aging. The properties of foam depend on the brand (sometimes 15, 25, 35 and 50). As sellers and manufacturers say, the brand depends on the weight of the foam, the more initial raw materials, polystyrene, the higher the brand. But this is only partly. Much more brand depends on compliance with the technology of production and antiquity of the equipment on which it is produced. When buying, be sure to read the certificates, and also look on the Internet reviews about the manufacturer.
The most common thickness of the foam leaf: 10; 20; 30; 50 mm. Thickness 7 and 10 cm is much less common and mainly on order. The technology of manufacturing foam is so simple that you can make a product of any shape and density. You only need to interest the manufacturer with the number.
When working with polystyrene, do not forget that although they are often used to level the walls and floor, but the surface level of the surface should not exceed 0.5-1 cm. Otherwise, the sheets often break and lose the expected properties from them. In the case of large differences, it is recommended to apply a layer of glue for the installation of foam in problem areas.