Applications
Foundation and frost protection
Board against the foundation before backfill, and wing insulation out from the footing where the frost depth demands it. It holds up under soil pressure and it does not wick, so the R-value it starts with is the R-value it keeps.
Below grade
The wall is buried for a hundred years. The insulation has to last that long too
Insulation on the outside of a foundation wall spends its life in wet soil under backfill pressure. Anything that absorbs water stops insulating, and nobody is digging the wall back up to find out.
Extruded board takes on 0.2 percent water by volume. That is the property that makes it the one rigid insulation recommended for constantly wet and below grade conditions.
- Backfill pressure. Compressive strength from 40 to 100 psi, so the grade can be matched to the depth.
- It does not wick. Closed cell all the way through, rather than beads pressed together.
- Frost wings. Horizontal board out from the footing, sized to the frost depth your code requires.
Frost protected shallow foundations
A shallow foundation works by keeping the ground under it from freezing, using insulation rather than depth. It takes excavation, concrete and time off the job, and in this climate it has to be detailed properly to do it.
- Less excavation, less concrete
- Wing insulation sized to frost depth
- Works with monolithic slab forms
- Forms, foam and rebar on one delivery
The detail is only as good as the insulation that survives the backfill.
Foundation questions
What is a frost protected shallow foundation?
A foundation that sits above the frost line and stays safe because insulation holds ground heat under and around it, instead of being dug below the frost depth. It removes excavation and concrete from the job. The geometry and the wing dimensions are an engineering question tied to your frost depth and your code, so it is specified rather than guessed.
Which grade goes below grade?
It depends on the backfill depth and what sits above. ECO 40 covers most residential foundation work. Deeper backfill and loaded conditions move it up. Tell us the detail and we will tell you the grade.
Does it need protection above grade?
Yes. Rigid board exposed above grade needs a protective finish or a coated board, both for impact and for sunlight. That part is standard practice and your builder will have a preferred detail.
Will insects get into it?
Rigid foam on the outside of a building wants a termite or bug screen detail at the base, which is normal practice for any exterior foam and worth designing in rather than adding later.
Can I get the forms and the rebar with it?
Yes. Send the plans and we will do a takeoff covering the forms, the foam, the rebar, the lumber and the poly, and put it on one delivery.
What customers say
Trusted by the crews who pour the concrete
Five out of five across every Google review, from contractors across the Upper Midwest.
I have used them and their materials several times. Not only is their material far better than their competitors but the service is as well. I was in a jam and Caleb hand delivered what I needed within the hour. I highly recommend.
Amazing product! It is the only foam we will use beneath our concrete. It performs far better than its direct competitors at a similar price. Service has been excellent, and our materials always show up on time.
EFS is a top-notch supplier. Their high-density eco foam is an excellent new product, strong, clean, and reliable. Great quality materials and service we can count on. Highly recommend.
Eco foam in my opinion is the only foam worth using. The quality and strength of the foam impresses me every time I work with it and use it. I will be using Eco foam for all of my projects. [excerpt]
Best foam on the market. Great service and fast delivery.
Solid product and support.
Pick your material, pick your delivery date
Order online or text your reorder. We schedule the drop and it lands on site when your crew needs it.