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.

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.

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Walls