How to Install Foam Board Insulation in a Bonus Room

Bonus rooms are typically multi-purpose rooms built as part of a new home. They're often situated above a garage or in an attic and are intended for use as a workshop, home office, hobby room, or apartment. Bonus rooms are often left in an unfinished, or roughed-in, condition when the house is built, allowing the owners to finish the room to match their needs and wants. One of the first things to do when finishing a bonus room is to add insulation to the walls. Foam board insulation is well-suited for this.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Utility knife
• Construction adhesive
• Caulk gun
• Vinyl tape
• Acrylic caulk

Instructions

1. Measure the distance between the studs in the unfinished wall of the bonus room, starting at one corner of the room. Measure the height of the wall.

2. Transfer the measurements to a foam panel and mark with a pencil. Score the foam panel with a utility knife along the marked lines, guiding the knife with a straightedge. Snap off the excess foam panel with your hands.

3. Place the foam panel in position between the studs to check the fit. Trim any excess foam if necessary.

4. Apply construction adhesive to the back of the foam panel and place it against the wall. Hold the panel in position for several minutes to allow the glue to set.

5. Move to the next set of studs and cut a foam panel piece to fit. Install as before.

6. When all the wall spaces are finished, cover any seams between foam panels with vinyl tape. Caulk around the edges of the foam panels with acrylic caulk.

References

• What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating; Amy Johnston