You Can Buy from all the Large Lumber and Hardware stores

I no longer live in L.A. but can tell you that All the large building supply stores in the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley including Burbank sell and carry both types of Foam and sell it in single sheets or by the pallet.

Find a phone book and look up Building centers like - Builders Discount, Ole's, Lowes, Builders Emporium - Find one of these large warehouse type building centers near where you live and call them. Ask them if they carry blue or pink insulation foam in 1 to 3 inch thick 4' X 8' sheets. They all carry it! Most Lumber Yards that are Just Lumber Yards Don't carry Foam insulation as they are just Lumber distributors.

You need to go to one of the large Box Lumber & Hardware Home Building centers and the best way to find one near you is by using your area Phone Book Directory or use the internet and find one of the Building centers I named above in your part of the city.

I hope this helps you find what your looking for.

Burbank Home Depot

The Burbank store lists 1/2", 3/4", 1", 2" pink on their web site. The store availability button says out of stock but I have found the availability button to be wildly inaccurate with my local store. At the very least HD could order it in for you which usually happens pretty fast from my experience.

Burbank store foam sheathing page

Try this

Byron has this on his website that could help

http://layoutvision.com/id44.html

Steve

Not for me!

The color is irrelevant!

Foam is the Devil's Scenery Material! Give me good ol' cardboard strips, masking tape and plaster gauze any day of the week!

I'm just sayin'...

George

Foam

If you can't find blue or pink foam, white (brand name Insulfoam) works fine.  It is the only type that I've been able to find in northern California (Marin and Sonoma counties).

It is carried by both Lowes and Home Depot in all the widths you are seeking.

It is easy to cut with a hot knife (outdoors for ventilation) or steak knife.  After cutting, I pull off the skin on each side, then glue or paint or plaster.  Sometimes the big stores have half sheets.  Try it out.

Don

long shot source

Jim

This is kind of a long shot, but if you can't find pink or blue foam at building supply centers, try roofing contractors who put rubber (EPDM) roofs on flat (industrial/commercial) buildings.  They may have some left over from jobs.  Just don't get the isocyanurate (ISO) board - it will crumble bad and is an eye/lung irritant.  I used to work for a roofing contractor and we always had insulation left over, but a lot of times we just saved it to put on the next job.  But also some times, odd pieces were just in the way and would eventually get thrown away.   Anyway, just an idea and like I said a long shot at that.

Good Luck

Not in Calif.

I tried to find blue or pink foam and was told California does not let them sell it anymore. I even tried to find some when I was in Las Vegas Nv. At Lowes they said they no longer carry it there. Just another thing in a long list of things California has outlawed because the politicians are stupid.

Doug Odom

Guys, Guys, Guys........

Byron put in the hard work to put together a good read for us on foam in CA. 

The link again for those that want it http://layoutvision.com/id44.html

It is not illegal in CA.  CA has great weather and heavy insulation really just doesn't sell in CA. Stores just won't carry something that doesn't sell and they won't order without a minimum order - HD by me is 100 sheets

As  of the morning of 8/5/11 Pacific Supply in Oakland as 25 pieces of 2" Dow in stock and ready to create your empire 510-832-5734.  They are great to deal with.  This is where I got mine from  thanks to Byron.   Pacific Supply has many locations out west and you can check your state/ location to see if you can get it from them closer than Oakland   http://pacificsupply.paccoast.com/locations.html     Warning, foam in CA is expensive.

My current layout is all foam on ply. I started this before I got Joe's videos. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't go foam as the primary base material, but that's just me and this is my 3rd foam layout.  The next one, god willing the last, will be back to the cardboard method enhanced with tape covering as per Joe's method.

Steve

Foam _is_ found in California

< sigh> This topic always creates posts with lots of bad information.

Not correct now, if it ever was. In mild winter areas such as most of Southern California, the pink or blue extruded foam is not in stock at the typical big box building supply stores -- even if their website says that it is.

Totally false. People buy it in California every day, but you must know where to look to buy pink and blue foam.

From that web page, the source where folks have regular success in So Cal is:

Foam Sales and Marketing
1005 West Isabel Street
Burbank, California 91506
(818) 558-5717

OK these palaces have the foam board...

The places that have been suggested DO have the foam board. Problem is that they are so far away. It is not like it is over a the local Lowes or home depot. This place is going to take a couple to three hours to get what I need. So, I will have to consider whether it is better to go with more traditional approaches to scenery and flat parts on my layout.

But thanks you for the leads guys. As always a great source of information.

Jim Lowery

If Lowes sells any Product anywhere in the state

If Lowes sells any product in California you can go to your local store any where in the state and pick it up after you  order it on line at on line price. You just order and have it sent to your local Lowes branch. They Ship to every store every day and you Don't need to buy more then one 4 X 8 sheet if that is all you need. It Does not matter if your local store does or does not carry a product if you can find it on line on the Lowes web site you can buy it and pick it up at any Lowes location you want to have it shipped to.

HD same as Lowes

In a post I made a long time ago I mentioned that the wife of a friend of mine is the regional manager for Home Depot in our area. She says HD is just like Dan states about Lowes. Any product that has a SKU in their system can be shipped to any store in any quantity providing it is legal for sale in the receiving state. She said a single sheet of insulation foam will be challenging because of potential transit damage so the local store manager my decline to order it for you but the official company policy is make the customer happy every time. Even if that means shipping a single sheet of foam to Los Angeles. 

And if local store doesn't cooperate contact Corporate!

I had some issues a couple times at Lowes and Home Depot with local management's decisions (though NOT the Store Manager) on how particular situations were handled that I was not satisfied with and thought was poor customer service on their part.  I proceeded to contact the Corporate office to share my displeasure with the service I received.  WIthin HOURS of me sending that email, I receive an email that the Store Manager would be contacting me with 24 hours and the situation would be resolved to my satisfaction, and the Store Manager did and it was resolved.  So if Company Policy is as stated, and Local Management gives you a hard time about it, contact the Corporate HQ and chances are there will no longer be an issue!

Ken L.

Jim, there is an alternative to pink and blue foam.

I first heard about it in one of Bragdon's presentations about his geodesic foam at a train show.  He uses a tan foam that comes with an aluminum foil glued to each side.  The foil peels off easily and should be peeled off.  If memory serves, the foam is 1 inch thick, and he cuts it with a serrated steak knife.  It stacks, glues, and shapes just like the pink or blue foam and for some reason has been more readily available at local big box stores.  I know that Southern Cal is a mild weather area except for the mountains, but here in Lakewood, I discovered in our last remodeling project that the city has very strict standards for insulation of walls, floors (on raised foundation construction) and ceilings, so the stores must carry suitable products for contractors.  At the camp I volunteer at the most recent building was constructed with a foam that was like the pink or blue except that it was green and also had a paper or foil ( don't remember for sure) lining on one or both sides.  I think that was a moisture barrier, for scenery use, peel it off and use just the bare foam.  On any foam that has a metal foil on the sides, peel it off to avoid problems with wireless dcc controls.

Russ Bellinis

Local sources

Jim,

You indicated "Burbank" in your original post.  Try building supply companies in Sun Valley, N. Hollywood, or over as far as Chatsworth or Canoga Park.  It is true that, generally, Lowes and Home Dept. do not stock the pink or blue foam, but only "R-Tec" by Insulfoam Co., which is an EPS stryrofoam.  Basically, bead board.  It's not the small, closed cell foam board you're looking for.  The reasons relate to fire-protection provisions for storing the product.  Think "cost for handling", the always-present economic realities.

But, the San Fernando Valley has a wealth of building supply locations.  Just because the economy is down (and thus, construction activity) doesn't mean they all closed up.  Perhaps call White Cap or Orco.

Don, the problem is that Jim lives in Orange County.

Getting to Burbank or the San Fernando Valley is somewhat easier than driving to San Francisco during "working hours" of most contractor supply stores.  He needs a source in Orange County or Southeast L.A. County.

Oops

Oops, I missed the "Orange Co." fact. sorry.

Well. White Cap is in Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim, and Capistrano, so I'd try calling them (they list blue styrofoam for sure).  Or they may be able to suggest other sources.

Also, I have had good luck asking building contractors about sources of materials.  i.e. have a neighbor doing a remodel?  Ask his contractor!     (( I'm just tossing out ideas; some or all may work.  ))

I'll ask our building inspectors at work tomorrow.  Some have worked in the L.A. construction industry.

Not your fault, Don.

Jim and I are members of the same Orange County Module Railroaders Club.  I don't know that he has ever mentioned where he lives on this board.

Oh

Russ,

Oh, OK.  (Good thing I didn't suggest contacting your local model railroad club for ideas). 

While I can't help about getting pink or blue foam in CA...

I understand there are certain environmental problems with styrofoam that have to be considered. When cutting those sheets you really need to be outside because they tend to release certain dangerous gasses. I've also heard that one has to wear a mask with a good filter while doing it even if you are outside.

I use styrofoam for my layout but what I use is provided by Woodland Scenics and it doesn't release any dagnerous gasses when you cut it.

Yeah it may be more expensive than the pink or blue stuff you can get at the big box stores but I'd much rather be safe than sorry and if it costs a bit more to do that I think its well worth it. After all, materials can be easily replaced but your health isn't.

Irv

Irv, probably true if you cut the foam with a table saw.

I think most of the various foams can be easily cut with an old steak knife, and I doubt that you get all of the dust problems particularly air bound dust problems as you would with power saws and foam.

I actually live north of the

I actually live north of the OC. I live in Glendora next to Azusa. I was thinking about using the 1/2 to 3/4 board over my wood top and use my cork roadbed over that. I was planning on using the 4" for scenery as Pelle Soeberg has done. I am very impressed with his work in mountainous desert regions. I understand that Arnies trains can get the foam board. I don't know what the prices are, but they have had it in the past. I am just a little worried as I had a plan in my head, and when it came time to look for the materials I need, well, a wrench got thrown in the mix. Not the first time or the last.

Well I will have time soon to find the locations of all I need. I will have to put off much of my hobby for a while as I am going to go back to school this month and do a Masters. But in a year and a half it will be done, and then it will be back full force.

I will try all of the places as I can.

Thanks for all of the leads again.

Jim Lowery

I don't have a table saw.

I use a special knife designed to cut styrofoam. It is sold by Woodland Scenics and it works very well. You can go through blades as cutting this stuff has a tendency to dull the blades but this knife gives you more conctrol than you'd ever have with a steak knife.

I also use both a hot knife and one of those wire that allow you cut shapes with great control. The hot knife is only good for straight lines and you've got to do it quickly. The heated wire gives you even more control but agin you need to move some what more slowly and the wire needs to be taught.

Irv

Jim, how far is the Burbank location?

I just presumed that because you belonged to the club, you lived in the O.C.  It seems most of the guys live down there.  There are just a few of us living in L.A. County.

If  remember correctly from when I was working out of the City of Industry, taking the 605 north to the 210 to the 134 was not a bad run to Burbank except during the morning or afternoon rush hour.  I would think Burbank would be quicker for you than Arnies, and the price at a foam supply specialist would probably be less than Arnies would charge.

Byron listed the following Burbank location:

Foam Sales & Marketing

1005 West Isabel St.

Burbank, Ca 91506

818-558-5717