Finding Pink and Blue Foam

Extruded foam (the pink or blue foam board) is a popular material for building model railroad layouts. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find in mild-winter areas (such as most of California* and the Southwest). Still, the manufacturers of the material have provided dealer finders to make this process easier.

When using either of these dealer finder methods, be aware that many dealers they list do not actually stock the material, so you must phone first! In particular, they will list many Home Depot or Lowes stores which do not have the stuff in stock. Phone first, then drive.

Dow (maker of the blue foam) has a phone number for locating large dealers:

(866) 583-2583

In my experience, they often will not have a large dealer to whom they sell directly in mild-winter areas, so they refer you to nationwide distributors, who in turn will refer you to a dealer. Call the dealer names they give you first, before driving.

By the way, Dow has a dizzying variety of blue foam products. The standard stuff that most people use for model railroading applications is called "Styrofoam Square Edge". Be sure to ask for that specifically.

Owens Corning makes the pink foam, which they call Foamular. Their dealer finder is online here.

Did I mention to call first, then drive? Again, the dealer-finders will list many big-box home supply stores, but in mild-winter areas, most of these do not have the foam in stock. You know, it might just be a good idea to phone first ...

A number of layouts I've been involved with here in the bay area are built with foam, so it's possible to buy it with a little effort. Pacific Supply in South San Francisco and the East Bay is one source.

Pacific Supply

1675 Mission Rd

S San Francisco, CA 94080

(415) 285-1010

Pacific Supply

1735 24th St.

Oakland

(510) 832-5724

They don't stock the foam in S. SF, but as of September 2008 they will order any amount of the Dow (blue) foam with no minimum.

In Southern California, friends and clients have found the foam at:

Foam Sales and Marketing

1005 West Isabel Street

Burbank, California 91506

(818) 558-5717

The above suppliers have stocked foam board in the past. Things change -- call first. I can't guarantee that these are the cheapest and there certainly may be other suppliers to consider -- caveat emptor. (which might be Latin for call first ...)

* By the way, yayhoos on forums will often spout off that the extruded foam is illegal in CA due to cancer concerns (Prop. 65). This is completely untrue – there just are a lot of folks out there who are jealous of California, I guess.

I have been told that the foam board is often used in conjunction with radiant heating in floors … this construction method is uncommon in the milder winter areas of California and may be one reason the foam board is harder to find.