Contractors are fansof the fanfold.
Lexar is 4x24 fanfold EPS. It covers 3x the area of a 4x8 sheet, cuts your end joints to a third, has the 6-mil vapor barrier built in, and comes with a 6-inch grid printed right on it.
Why Contractors
Love Lexar
It goes down about 46% faster than 4x8 sheets. That's the whole pitch, and here's why it's true.
4x4 Cubes to 4x24 Runs
It arrives folded as a 4x4 cube. Drop it on grade and unfold it out to 24 feet. One run covers 96 square feet, so a 48-foot building is two runs wall to wall.
Fewer Seams, Less Taping
With 4x8 sheets you hit an end joint every 8 feet. Fanfold runs 24 feet between end joints, so you tape a third as many. Fewer joints to tape means fewer places for the vapor barrier to fail.
No Chalk Lines
The 6-inch grid is printed right on the face. Lay PEX, rebar, or mesh straight and true, and cut along a line, without ever pulling a string.
6-Mil Vapor Barrier Built In
No need to roll out and tape a separate vapor barrier underneath, and no plastic blowing across the site on a windy day. Tape the seams and you're covered.
On The Pad
Four steps from compacted grade to ready for the truck.
- Step 1
Prep the grade
Bring it to grade, compact it, and knock down any sharp rock. It doesn't have to be perfect, just flat and firm.
- Step 2
Lay the runs
Unfold each 4x24 run across the pad. The folds every 4 feet let it settle flat to the grade instead of rocking.
- Step 3
Tape the seams
Tape the long seams and the end joints with a wide weather-barrier tape. Foam around plumbing and other penetrations.
- Step 4
Run the PEX
Staple PEX along the printed grid, pressure-test your loops, and call the truck.
Lexar vs. XPS (Pink and Blue Foam Board)
XPS gets its insulating value from blowing agents trapped in the foam, and those gases escape over the years. Lexar is virgin EPS. Its R-value comes from air trapped in the beads, so there's nothing to escape.
XPS (Pink and Blue)
- Insulating value depends on blowing agents trapped in the foam.
- Those gases escape over the years (off-gassing).
- In a 15-year below-grade test, XPS kept only 52% of its R-value.
- Absorbed 18.9% water by volume in the same test.
Lexar EPS
- Insulates with trapped air, not blowing agents.
- Nothing to off-gas.
- EPS kept 94% of its R-value in the same 15-year test, and absorbed 4.8% water.
- 3-mil film laminated to both faces stands up to boots and wheelbarrows.
Pick Your PSI
Lexar comes in four compressive strengths, from a house or garage slab to heavy commercial point loads.
15 PSI
Houses, garages, and most slabs over rebar or mesh. Standard residential and light commercial.
25 & 40 PSI
Shops with tractors and heavy equipment, commercial garage slabs, or an engineer's spec.
60 PSI
Extreme loads, cold storage facilities, or industrial applications.
Not sure? Tell us what's going in the building and we'll help you pick. On big or heavy-equipment jobs, check with your engineer.