StyroFoam.... I need a huge sheet of it.

CRK

CRK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Location
Cary, NC
Does anybody know where to buy huge thick sheets of styrofoam?

I need a piece 11 feet long by 7 feet wide by 6 inches thick. It does not need to be a single sheet but any more than 3 sheets will start to be out of the question.

to give some of you an idea of what I need... think of the floating docks at the lake..


So where can I find this with out it costing an arm and a leg?
 
They might have 4x8 sheets for home insulation but I dont think what they have will be thick enough.... Hmmm off to lowes I shall go. I need to pick up grass seed anyhow :)
 
yeah, what about that bouyancy foam you mix. build you a form and pour it in. dunno where you buy it....look at boat building websites.
 
Chris,

Try piedmont plastics in Raleigh, I used to get foam core boards and a lot of other stuff like that. Raleigh location was off of Glenwood ave. Not sure if they will have it or not, but I also believe your biggest problem will be finding it local in greater than 8' lengths.

http://www.piedmontplastics.com/
 
Ok here is what I am going to do with it...... this will give a better idea of what i am looking for.

I have a pool built into my deck at the house. The demensions are 11 feet long, 7 feet wide and 3 feet deep. I am going to use the foam to make a cover for the pool. It will be an insert and will be in contact with the pool water.

It needs to be thick so the dog, kids, drunk adults will not break thru it and drown.

The pool is heated and this will help keep the heat in. Also the foam needs to stand up to the chemicals in the water.

Some where local to the rtp/cary area would be great
 
kcarroll said:
Chris,
Try piedmont plastics in Raleigh, I used to get foam core boards and a lot of other stuff like that. Raleigh location was off of Glenwood ave. Not sure if they will have it or not, but I also believe your biggest problem will be finding it local in greater than 8' lengths.
http://www.piedmontplastics.com/
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I just called them... They do not sell styrofoam, plus the fact that the guy I spoke with may not have fully understood what I am trying to do.:confused: BUT.... The website looks very promising. They may have something that will work for me but it will require a visit to look around and see what they have.

Thanks for the link!!!
 
there is a simular product like great stuff that I used last summer. Didn't become crumbly and seems to hold up good to UV's Seems it was a poly type base. Sorry can't remember the name of it, but was sold at sLowes right beside of Great stuff
 
Is this for code compliance or piece of mind? Wondering if whatever you cover it with has to be lockable or permanently attached? Something that big and strong enough to support the weight of an adult or two falling, but still light enough to be movable/storable when not in use, getting airborne in a heavy thunderstorm/hurricane would be a serious hazard.

Is that over thinking it? I guess 4 4'x8' something or another could be cut down enough to float inside and still be small enough to be movable? Plywood on styrofoam blocks? But, someone could still fall in between? Perhaps a strong net attached to flip-up rings in the deck? Drain it and it could double as a ball pit, like at chuckee cheese? :bounce:
 
There's a place along US1 right before (or after can't remember) the Neuse River on the right just past a driving range that had a sign out selling styrofoam - any size. It's been a while since I've been up that way so hopefully someone from up that way can chime in...
 
CRK said:
The demensions are 11 feet long, 7 feet wide and 3 feet deep. I am going to use the foam to make a cover for the pool. It will be an insert and will be in contact with the pool water.
It needs to be thick so the dog, kids, drunk adults will not break thru it and drown.
Click to expand...


3 - 4'x8' sheets of whatever foam sLowes has used w/ the 8' length across the 7' width of the pool... drop a layer of fiberglass on it & paint (like surfboard construction).

- Light
- Strong (enough for most drunken adults)
- Paint should stand up to the pool chemicals
- Should insulate nicely
 
kcarroll said:
Is this for code compliance or piece of mind? Wondering if whatever you cover it with has to be lockable or permanently attached? Something that big and strong enough to support the weight of an adult or two falling, but still light enough to be movable/storable when not in use, getting airborne in a heavy thunderstorm/hurricane would be a serious hazard.
Is that over thinking it? I guess 4 4'x8' something or another could be cut down enough to float inside and still be small enough to be movable? Plywood on styrofoam blocks? But, someone could still fall in between? Perhaps a strong net attached to flip-up rings in the deck? Drain it and it could double as a ball pit, like at chuckee cheese? :bounce:
Click to expand...

No its is not for code. It is so I do not have to drain it in the winter, keep in the heat, keep the leaves out of it, and the dog or one of my rug rats from falling in if they walk across it.
 
There is a place on capital blvd, that I bought foam to refurbish my boat seats, they had tons of foam, literally. They will also cut it to size for you, and you buy it by the pound.

This place was going north on capital from Raleigh towards Wake Forest, a couple miles past 540, on the right. It is a large building that is probably 8000 sq ft, I think they specialize in furniture refurbishing.

You will pass a very small place on the right before you get to 540 that says foam.... Don't stop there b/c they buy their foam from the same place up the road and mark the price up.
 
If you used the 2" thick foam from lowes you could sandwich plywood between one of the 3 sheets, and use sub floor adhesive between each sheet. Three sheets of foam glued together like laminate plywood will probably be enough to support your weight. It will be 3 times stronger than one solid piece
 
You could use two thin sheets of aluminum and 2 sheets of 2" foam. Glue the foam sheets together and then glue a sheet of the aluminum on each side of the foam. It would be strong enough and the the aluminum skins would protect the foam from damage. Also with the tough outer skin of aluminum you could bolt handles to the cover to make it easier to move and handle.

<><Fish
 
you could try filling your pool with dirt and planting trees in it like my neighbors..

but i think thats a little more long term..
 
JThomas said:
If you used the 2" thick foam from lowes you could sandwich plywood between one of the 3 sheets, and use sub floor adhesive between each sheet. Three sheets of foam glued together like laminate plywood will probably be enough to support your weight. It will be 3 times stronger than one solid piece
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x2.. great idea Stump..

Hey CRK.. exactly how in the hell are you going to get a 7'x11' sheet of foam into the give-up-on-life-mobile? :flipoff2:

I do like the idea of the drunk adult test.. I volunteer to be a tester.. after all, think of the kids safety!
 
Rich said:
x2.. great idea Stump..

Hey CRK.. exactly how in the hell are you going to get a 7'x11' sheet of foam into the give-up-on-life-mobile? :flipoff2:

I do like the idea of the drunk adult test.. I volunteer to be a tester.. after all, think of the kids safety!
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Yeah that was going to be my next question.......Rich can I barrow your truck:flipoff2:

on top of the van:huggy:

as far as the drunk test.... come awn.... I got 2 bottles of Crown in the freezer right now!!!!! what time are going to come by?

Aluminum will not work it will oxidize from the chemicals in the water.

Thanks guys for all the ideas, keep them comming
 
CRK said:
Aluminum will not work it will oxidize from the chemicals in the water.

Thanks guys for all the ideas, keep them comming
Click to expand...

Keep the P out of your OOL. :lol: Didn't think about aluminum and the chemicals. Would thin sheets of stainless steel work?

<><Fish
 
Well I went to Lowes got 3 4x8 sheets of 2 inch styrofoam. I tied them together then tied them to the "got-no-life" mobile and off I went. Good thing is I live less than 1.5 miles from Lowes = no problem:)

I figured I would start with only 3 sheets and see how it goes... worked like a charm. Its by no means safe to support any type of weight right now. The main goal was to keep the heat in and the leaves sticks pollen out.

I will spend some time thinking of how to build up the thickness and strength with the goals of light weight, strong and inexpensive being the most inportant.

Thanks guys!!

I will post up some pics in this thread later. If any one has more food for thought let me know
 
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