Furring Strips & Foam Board Installation Guide (Maximizing Home Insulation)

Foam board is undeniably one of the best insulation materials you can use to build your residential or commercial property.

However, despite its many attributes, foam board lacks the structural strength to support other materials like drywall or siding. And that’s where furring strips come in handy.

Installing furring strips over foam board creates a firm surface for you to attach additional building materials without worrying about compromising the structural integrity of your walls.

If you’re interested in building such a setup, in this article, I’ll be taking you through a detailed guide on how to install furring strips over foam board.

Furring strips

Can You Install Furring Strips Over Foam Board?

Of course, you can install furring strips over foam board. Due to the physical properties of foam board, most people usually assume that you can’t attach anything to it.

Though true to some extent, the likes of wooden or metal furring strips can easily be bonded to foam board. And this is usually done to create a stable surface for builders to attach other materials to foam board.

How Do You Install Furring Strips Over Foam Board?

Step 1: Gather Essential Materials

You don’t need a lot of things to pull off such a job. You’ll need construction adhesive, a set of long screws or nails, a measuring tape, a leveler, furring strips which can either be made out of wood or metal and finally some foam board insulation.

Step 2: Apply Construction Adhesive to the Foam Board

Next, grab a generous amount of construction adhesive and spread it on both sides of the foam board. Attach the foam board to the wall and ensure that it firmly sticks to it.

Step 3: Calculate How to Space the Furring Strips on the Foam Board

Before installing the furring strips over the foam board, you need to calculate the ideal space. That will depend on the size of the foam board you’re working on. Preferably, the distance between furring strips is about 16 to 24 inches.

Step 4: Install the Furring Strips to the Foam Board

There are two things we’re going to use to attach the furring strips to the foam board. The construction adhesive that you applied earlier.

And a set of screws or long nails. With these two, you’re assured of a strong bond between furring strips and the foam board.

Start by gently pushing the furring strips to the foam board. The construction adhesive will hold it. Then secure the furring strips to the wall studs with long screws.

Some people use nails but I don’t like them very much. Because as you hit the nail with a hammer, the force exerted can damage the furring strips or foam board.

Screws are a much safer option and are quite effective at securing furring strips to the foam board.

And that’s it. You’ll have successfully installed furring strips over your foam board. From there, you can hang drywall, siding, or whatever material you were interested in attaching to the foam board.

Why Should You Install Furring Strips Over Foam Boards?

Do you know that creating a stable mounting surface isn’t the only reason why people install furring strips over foam boards?

On the contrary, there are plenty of other benefits contractors and property owners can experience from installing furring strips over foam boards, which include;

• Furring strips over foam board can help make the wall surface more even in case there are imperfections.

• It can also create more room to accommodate electrical equipment such as wires and plumbing fixtures like pipes.

• Adding these strips over foam board can also create an air gap which can help improve the insulation of your home. This applies to both thermal and noise insulation.

• Another reason why you should install furring strips over foam board is to create a drainage plane for moisture. Long term, this is a solution for mold and other moisture-related issues.

Therefore, your reason to install furring strips over foam board shouldn’t just be limited to creating a stable mounting surface. Other perks come with this setup.

Foam insulation

Are There Foam Boards That Come with Furring Strips?

We have to hand it down to manufacturers for their creativity and innovation. The thing is, there are foam boards that come with furring strips already installed.

Therefore, these offer a 2-in-1 solution to installing both foam boards and creating a mountable surface. An excellent example of such a product is the Envirostrap that’s made by Amvic Building System.

If you would like to skip the step of attaching furring strips to foam board, you can get one that’s pre-installed and proceed straight to hanging it to your walls.

Even though these foam boards that come with furring strips make your work easier, they have a few downsides.

First of all, you won’t have the opportunity to space the furring strips according to your project. You have to rely on the spacing designed by the manufacturer.

Also, from a price point of view, foam boards with pre-installed furring strips cost more than buying a regular foam board and fastening the furring strips by yourself. So, you may incur more costs if you’re working on a large project.

Before jumping into this idea of buying foam boards with pre-installed furring strips, weigh the benefits of each option and figure out which is ideal for you.

If you’re a DIY enthusiast, I would advise you to buy some foam board and install the furring strips by yourself.

What Screw Length Should You Use to Install Furring Strips Over Foam Board?

When explaining how to fasten furring strips over the foam board, you may realize that I didn’t mention the ideal screw length you should use. The reason I omitted that detail was that there isn’t a recommended size for all projects.

Foam boards and furring strips come in varying thicknesses. Therefore, if I mention a certain screw length, it may be insufficient to properly fasten all setups.

You have to calculate, on your own, the ideal screw length. And that can be done by measuring the thickness of the foam board and furring strips.

Assuming that your furring strips measure 0.50 inches and the foam board is 1.5 inches thick. That leads to a total of 2 inches.

In this scenario, you should use screws that are at least 3 inches. The extra inch compensates for other materials like wall studs that will be on the other end.

Most people often overlook screw length when installing furring strips over foam board. But getting the correct size is crucial in ensuring a strong connection between these two materials.

Also, while we’re still on screws, make sure that you get the ones that are designed for substrates like foam board. If you can also get rust-resistant screws, that would be great!

Styrofoam insulation

How Long Do Furring Strips Last Over Foam Board?

Under the right conditions, furring strips can last for years and even decades over foam board. They’ll not last forever because both materials are vulnerable to getting worn out with time.

But if you fastened the furring strips firmly over the foam board, you don’t have to worry about longevity.

Please note that the quality of materials used can have an impact on the lifespan of the furring strips. Always go for pre-treated wood because it’s more durable.

Also, if you could keep pests and moisture away from the furring strips, you’ll have significantly prolonged their lifespan.

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2 thoughts on “Furring Strips & Foam Board Installation Guide (Maximizing Home Insulation)”

  1. I have seen 1″ x 2 ” furring strips glued to the edge of Formular 4 x 8 x 1″ for both protection and reinforcement – But I do not know where! I am 85 and am about to make an shower cubicle with the foam covered with epoxy resin. The pouring of the resin provides (if poured correctly) a rounded edge but I wish to have a sturdier outer edge! on the side walls. Can you point me to any information that will aid me – with my white stick – to such a site??

    Ian Q

    • Hi Ian,

      Thank you for your comment and for sharing your experience with furring strips and foam boards. It’s wonderful to hear about your upcoming project! Here are a few resources that might help you create a sturdy outer edge for your shower cubicle:

      1. YouTube: There are many tutorials available on YouTube that show how to reinforce foam boards with furring strips and apply epoxy resin. Search for terms like “reinforcing foam board with furring strips” and “applying epoxy resin to foam board” for visual guidance.

      2. DIY Forums: Websites like DIYChatroom and HouseRepairTalk have forums where you can ask for advice and see other users’ projects. These can be great places to get tips from experienced DIYers.

      I hope this helps you with your project. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

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