How to Cut Rigid Foam Board for Basement Insulation

A utility knife is an essential tool for this project.

Rigid foam boards are an effective option for insulating basement walls. The panels are light and easy to move, and there's no need to build a wooden stud wall onto the basement walls as there is to install regular foam roll insulation. Instead, you just glue the panels to wall with construction adhesives. But if you want a quality job, it's important to cut the foam boards properly to match your space.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Graph paper
• Straightedge
• Utility knife

Instructions

1. Measure the height and width of your basement walls. Sketch out the dimensions onto a piece of graph paper. Measure the length and width of the foam panels as well, if it is not printed on the panel. Sketch out a layout for your panels, based on their dimensions and those of the walls.

2. Measure any foam panels that need to be cut, based on your diagram. Place a straight edge onto the foam panel along the line to be cut.

3. Draw a utility knife across the foam panel, guiding it with the straight edge.

4. Bend the foam panel on both sides of the score mark. The panel will snap off along the cut.

References

• Complete Basements (Stanley Complete); Stanley