Replies

1. 
   CableRigger | Dec 12, 2008 10:40pm | #1

   Had to resize the photos smaller - hope this works .....

   
1. 
   MikeSmith | Dec 13, 2008 12:51am | #2

   victor.... here you are using it as a cushion and as a thermal break... pretty ideal for EPS

   and i really like the borate treated eps ( tradename  Performguard )  because vermin doesn't like it

   we've used  just about every type and brand of foamboard over the years, and have revisited some of our past jobs

   i was alarmed at how the vermin and carpenter ants seemed to thrive in the foam..

    since that education , the only foam we use in  walls and ground contact , is the PerformGuard.

   there are some studies i have seen of extensive use of EPS in scandinavia in foundation work...  and their testing showed  minor absorption of water even in EPS immersed in water

   also road builders have used  preformed EPS blocks as substrate for engineered roads.... again  testing for water absorption showed negligible amounts and little degradation in insulating values.

   So...  good  insulation, no vermin, good  lack of absorption, and low cost.... what's not to like ?

   View Image

    

   Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

   Edited 12/12/2008 4:52 pm ET by MikeSmith

1. 
   CableRigger | Dec 13, 2008 02:00am | #3

   Thanks Mike - always good to hear approval over dissent.

   I did find a site that had some official study of treated vs. untreated EPS on concrete block below grade (link below) that found the treated  had 3% damage after three years, while the untreated had 24%.

   Reason I'm being paranoid is this old house has a history of rodents and bugs. When we moved in 10 years ago it had a colony of very busy carpenter ants who took over the old termite tunnels. After our first overnight there, I was sitting on the bed when my wife saw what we thought was a rat walking along wall right behind me - turns out it was a baby possum! Also heard from previous owner that a family of flying squirrels used to live in the attic - they let them stay 'cause they're an endangered species.

   The house is much tighter now so nothing more than an occassional mouse, but I've continued to fight the carpenter ants every year as they return like clockwork. I used to spray the Ortho killer all around house, around every 1st floor window and door opening, but have switched to baiting the ants with a trap and Gourmet Ant Bait (see http://www.kmantpro.com). The bait has small amount of borate in it, the worker ants bring it back to their nests and the queen, so it destroys the whole colony. Only thing is it takes a while for the process to happen, and meanwhile your watching ants crawl on and into your house. But they say if you spray them, the other ants won't follow that ant's pheromone trail and then they might not feed on your bait. No wonder ants have been around forever!

   What supplier do you use for the Performguard? I found Branch River Plastics in Rhode Island on the web - wonder if they sell direct...

   http://www.allbusiness.com/operations/facilities/375036-1.html

1. 
   MikeSmith | Dec 13, 2008 02:09am | #4

   yes.. i buy all my foam from Branch River... call ahead and give them your spec

    then go  pick up your load to save trucking

   View Image

   this is me and Roy picking up the foam for the RFH Ranch  at Branch River

   Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

   Edited 12/12/2008 6:14 pm ET by MikeSmith

2. 
   talkingdog | Dec 13, 2008 11:21am | #5

   Doesn't Performguard -- and the other treated foams, use borate, also? If that's the case, then I suppose the 3% insect damage reported above is just the bugs taking a few bites out of the foam before the colony got killed off.I have a theory that one could probably spray Boracare (or homemade boracare, which is boric acid plus antifreeze?) on open cell foam that is already in place as a bugproofing retrofit. The foam would soak up the "boracare" on the surface at least, and this might be enough to kill off the bugs.

1. 
   CableRigger | Dec 13, 2008 04:04pm | #6

   Sounds good to me. Although I would guess that the factory-made foam would be

   impregnated with the borate - not just on the surface.

   I don't think I'll be mixing up my own - especially with anitfreeze mixed in. My  house

   is just 50ft. from a vernal pond, lots of toads come out of there in the spring and

   hopfully keep the mosquito population down. Wouldn't want to do anything to hurt

   that.

    

2. 
   MikeSmith | Dec 15, 2008 05:14am | #7

   boracare is great stuff... but it's water soluable... you dilute it to apply it

   in protected areas .... like sill plates ...it's going to last

    

   in areas like foundations it will leach out and there will be no protection

    Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

3. 
   CableRigger | Dec 16, 2008 07:06am | #9

   Yes, I'm familiar with the boracare - am planning to use it when I rip out & replace the

   floor system in my living room - sills will be PT, but joists should be fine with the

   borate. That room is built over ledge - somewhat of a roller-coaster of a crawlspace,

   and unfortunately they left lots of soil in there 85 years ago. Once I clean it out and

   am convinced that my foundations aren't allowing any more water in there, only other

   decision will be whether to put a permament dehumidifier system in there. I'm a firm

   believer in UNvented crawlspaces as long as they're done correctly.

   Here's another old photo - I'm told the car is a Stearn-Knights. The two boys on

   the running board are the sons of the builder/owner of the house - they are both in

   their mid-80's now and each both visit once a year (on comes from Sacramento, the

   other from Boston area).

   
2. 
   bc | Dec 15, 2008 06:52am | #8

   awesome place post more photos...