Exterior coating of Dow Polystyrene Insulation

[rwalter]

Hello Everyone,

First off I installed  2" R10 Square Edge along the outside of my block foundation walls. Well now I need to find away to protect or cover the exposed insulation. Dow recommends only one manufacturers products for this application.  

http://www.dow.com/styrofoam/na/pro-us/answercenter.htm
http://www.styro.net/

The problem is no distributers or retail stores in my area carry the product locally and its all special order and hard to come by. Well I want to know what other options I have. I looked into Quikrete's, products and they make a foam coat, and an one coat fiber reinforced stucco wall coat that may work but I am not sure about the installation process and its almost just as impossible to locate.  That and when I called their technical service phone number they said the following instructios below on their web site were wrong and that I would have to put mesh and furring strips for the stucco products, (except the foam coat which isn't even listed on their web site)

http://www.quikrete.com/diy/InsulatingFoundationWalls.html


I also been looking for informaiton on a product called Prepcoat 2000 from Arrx. www.arxx.net   It's is used as a coating for their ICF foundation system.

So any suggestion on the best way to coat polystyrene insulation so it can with stand the impact of weed wackers and normal wear on a exterior wall of a foundation? Sorry if I rambled on there its late.

[glenn-k]

I used some foam on my greenhouse - fastened landscape netting to it and sprayed it with sand and cement from a texture gun.  Never did finish it but it is hard then will hold normal stucco.  I used staples to the surrounding wood frame to hold the fabric.

This is not approved by anyone --just something I tried that worked OK.

[jraabe]

Three other materials you might consider:
• PT plywood - 1/4" or 3/8" probably plenty. Attach with concrete nails and big washers.
• Anodized aluminum sheeting. Nail to the sill and backfill will hold it in place. Get this in a coil from the gutter guy.
• Cement mill board panels

Odd ball fourth idea:
• Metal printing plates shingled (probably free from local printer)

Remember, you only have to protect the 12-18" into the backfill that will be subject to physical damage from shovels, etc.

[bil2054]

Maybe aluminum skirting like they put around manufactured homes?  Or even soffit material.