Does anyone know where I can order extruded foam from online? 4x4 or 4x8 preferred. I would have to get it shipped as I do not have any other way of transporting it from a retailer. Also, back when I did have a way of transporting it.. my closest retailer did not even carry the stuff.. So if anyone can connect me to an online source I'd be very happy! Thanks. -Mark
I haven't had any luck finding it either - Lowes, Home Depot, 84... none of the local places seem to have it. :tb-frown:
If you are talking about the pink or blue stuff, obviously HD or Lowe's. As to delivery, the cost of packing and shipping and delivery of 4x8 sheets is going to be prohibitive. Your info states that you are in San Francisco. How about a local lumber or building supply place that can throw it on a truck for home delivery? You are in a temperate climate. It HAS to be in stock. A friend or family, if available, could help on delivery.
Go here: http://www.owenscorning.com/around/locator/SearchAreaStore.asp Put in your zip code for dealers in your area. I used a friend's zip in Marin county and got a bunch of San Francisco dealers. You can cut the board to smaller size to transport in your car. Take a razor cutter with you... Dan
This is where I bought all my foam since in out warm climate anything over 3/4" is unavailable locally. http://www.wicksaircraft.com/ They have all sizes. I used 4 inch thickness for the base.
Hi Mark, It's hard to find in the bay area. After much searching I found it at: Pacific Supply 1625 Mission Road South San Francisco 415-285-1010 I don't know if they ship. No website. I don't know if they will cut it for you; I borrowed my daughter's mini-van. Hope this helps,
Nope, I've checked local places, multiple Home Depots, Lowes, etc. Nobody in this area has it. Phil, thanks for finding Pacific Supply - might have to take a little drive.:tb-wink:
Instead of big box stores, look under "Insulation." Most insulation dealers will have a bunch of it. That's where I found mine in Albuquerque. Even though it was available in the big boxes, it was cheaper at a dealer! Most builders use it for insulation around and under a concrete slab.
Ordering and having foamboard SHIPPED would almost be out of the question. To even get a decent price you would have to most likely make a MINIMUM purchase, say like 10-20 4 x 8 sheets. You might be able to get a small quantity shipped to you, but the shipping and handling would eat you up. 1) As Pete stated check out INSULATION SUPPLIERS. I would also check out DRYWALL & INSULATION SUPPLIERS/DEALERS. If nothing else, if you know one or go ride around until you find a builder, ask them where they would buy foamboard if they used it. 2) You didn't mention what you wanted the foamboard for. Do you want it as a scenery base? Flat pieces to lay track on or do you want to stack up pieces to build mountains or hills etc? 3) You can get odd shaped pieces for building scenery, at many different places that have equipment shipped inbound in boxes or crates. Many times these places would more than happy to have somebody that would take the foam packing off their hands just to save dumpster space.
I ended up doing what Pete said, going to a insulation dealer. They'll sell it to most anyone with a credit card. The place I went to offered both 1" and 2". Around here, both Home Depot and Lowes had zilch.
Home Depot and Lowes had one inch thick 2' x 8' sheets that were tongue and grooved along one edge. The insulation dealer had the full 4 x 8 sheets in a number of thicknesses up to 4 inches, and would special order thicker stuff.
Hi guys, Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately and for reasons I don't know, our local Home Depot here in San Francisco does not carry extruded foam.. only the bead stuff. Also my only mode of transportation is the public bus so anywhere outside of the actual city (Marin, Oakland, ect.) would cost me just as much in taxi/van rental as it would to have it shipped or delivered. However I have found a few small local places that state they supply the pink stuff.. I will be going tomorrow to see if its true. (Oh and yes, its for scenery on my N scale layout)
I've thought it would be a natural for an enterprising LHS to sell foam. They could buy sheets and chop it into 2x4 or so and price it accordingly and at a profit.
Woodland Scenics sells foam in 1x2 sheets. At $3.98 per 1/2" and 4.79 for 1" sheets its definitely more than extruded 4x8 from the hardware store. But if an LHS were to cut them up and sell at a profit I doubt that it would be that much cheaper.
Whoa, that's a stiff markup! I'd think a 2 x 4 foot size would be manageable on a subway or bus. If you could find a place to cut a 4 x 8 sheet for you into four pieces, you'd have a light package only 4 inches thick. Or find a place with 2 x 8 sheets, bring a box cutter or Exacto, and slice it in half yourself. When I lived in Boston, I used to transport at least a 2 x 4 foot portfolio case from agency to client. I remember no difficulties on even the ancient street cars
BTW- Pinck comes in 3/4" also. Anything thinner (and it is carried) is more of a soft material and not suitable for us.
The bead board works. It just makes an unholy mess of electro-static particles. It's not as structurally strong as foam board all by itself. My previous layout was built with bead board. I just kept a small vacuum handy to control the flyaway pieces. I'd use it again, when I run out of foam board. It's much cheaper, and incapable of forming fine geological formations. But for a scenery base, why not?
