Keep your dog safe and comfortable in an outdoor pet shelter.
Ideally a pet shelter should be constructed using rigid foam board to protect pets from extreme temperatures outside. Rigid foam insulation board can stop air movement, is moisture resistant and it won't blow or shift out of place once it's installed. This makes it the perfect insulator to use to build an outdoor pet shelter. Rigid foam board should be used for the side walls, roof and floor. There are three main types of rigid foam boards, any of these can be used for your pet shelter.
Polyisocyanurate
Polyisocyanurate, or polyiso foam has the highest R-value per inch of any rigid insulation. R-value is the measurement of an insulation's resistance to heat flow. Included in this measurement is the material, thickness, and density of the insulation. Higher R-values means more effective insulating. Polyisocyanurate has an R-value of 6.5 to 6.8. This type of rigid foam board is usually faced with a reflective foil on both sides. Polyisocyanurate board is the most expensive of the three.
Extruded Polystyrene
Extruded polystyrene boards usually are not faced with other material. The R-value is about 5 per inch. It s highly resistant to moisture. It has a relatively high compressive strength and is stronger and more durable than expanded polystyrene. This makes it the most versatile type of rigid foam board. It is priced mid-way between polyisocyanurate and expanded polystyrene. It is know for it's long-term reliability and uncanny resistance to water, cold and heat.
Expanded Polystyrene
Expanded polystyrene, also known as molded polystyrene or beadboard, is the least-expensive type of rigid foam board available. It has the lowest R-value, which is around 3.8 per inch, but is still highly stable. Expanded polystyrene reduces air movements in walls, stops moisture condensation, and blocks air infiltration. It is available with foil facing (standard), special order plastic laminate, and high density unfaced boards. It will not decompose or decay, and is recyclable.
Installation
Rigid foam boards are extremely popular because of the ease of installation. Usually, the boards can be secured using just nails or glue. They are also easy to cut so you can fit the boards in any area needed. The ease of installation makes it possible for you to do it yourself, and save on labor expenses. Just make sure your boards are not exposed to direct sun. Over time, the sun's ultraviolet rays can damage the insulation. For roofs you can coat with tar, rubberized paint, or a layer of asphalt and roofing felt.
Tags: foam board, rigid foam, rigid foam board, type rigid, type rigid foam, ease installation, Expanded polystyrene