Thread: Pink or Blue Foam for Props - Any rhyme or reason why some areas have so little?

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Hi all,

Been thinking about doing a couple of tombstones this year. Been to both the big blu and orange stores. Lowes only has 1/2' width, and Hd only has 3/4 as a max. I seen GREAT tombstones on HF with folks using 1.5" doubled up for a nice 3 inch thickness. I would have to use like 4 to 6 sheets to get that thickness. I live in Austin TX, and wonder why the stores here do not carry the thicker stuff. I think perhaps climate may play into who has what, but I have seen posts with others in CA and other warm areas using the 1.5" stuff.. or even thicker. Any thoughts as to why, or how to get the thicker foam in my area?

Thanks for advice and suggestions!

Climate. The thicker foam is shipped up north where it gets much colder in the winter.

I live just about 4 hours north of Austin and we have 1 inch and 3/4 inch only. I actually never thought about needing thicker board for tombstones. I like the look of the thinner stones found in 18th and early 19th century cemeteries so it works perfectly for me. If you want thicker stones, just cut two of each shape and glue them together.

Hmm, I'm from California and had no problem buying the 1.5" white foam, but I know that due to weird building codes, the blue and pink stuff isn't available, at least not through the big Blue or Orange stores. Depending on where you live, there might be similar restrictions. Did you check with the store to make sure they just weren't out of the 1.5" width? I know my store runs out all the time, or there will be one one dented sheet left and then I put in my request for new ones.

Originally Posted by Halloween Scream

Hmm, I'm from California and had no problem buying the 1.5" white foam, but I know that due to weird building codes, the blue and pink stuff isn't available, at least not through the big Blue or Orange stores. Depending on where you live, there might be similar restrictions. Did you check with the store to make sure they just weren't out of the 1.5" width? I know my store runs out all the time, or there will be one one dented sheet left and then I put in my request for new ones.

HS-I work at an Orange Box and dug a little for you. The Store at 5920 Fairmount Ave San Diego has at least 85 of the pink(or purple) 1/2" Corning 4x8 sheets in stock. Store SKU 409-923. These can be glued together (or to white styrofoam if you want to save some cash) to increase thickness. Try the Buy Online Pickup In Store feature to make sure they are in-stock when you need it. I'm not sure where in San Diego you are, but the store in Lemon Grove also carries large quantities of the stuff.

It's due to climate. I live about 1+ hour from the Houston area and the only sizes we have available are 1/2" and 3/4". I sandwich several of them together to get the thickness I want. We did talk to one of the big box stores this last year and they were willing to order some thicker stuff but you have to buy the entire pallet of it from them to make it worth it for them.

One caveat on using blue. Gray drylock look very close to the blue foam so you have to be sure you don't miss spots.

I live in the exurbs of DC, my Home Depot does not even carry it and my Lowes only has the stuff with fiber glass on it or 2 inch tick stuff that costs and arm and a leg.

Smiter- I think everywhere south of Dallas has nothing thicker than 1/2" typically. It's been problmatic for me too!

I personally like using the 3/4 inch stuff. I usually make the flat tomestones but then use the foam stuff spray to glue them together. I like the 3/4 because when I place the 1/2 pvc in the center all I have to do is cut out a center piece to fit around the pvc then glue a back piece a center piece and a front piece, then I have almost a 3 inch tomestone. To me it's easier than trying to cut out the grove to fit the pvc.