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Up to date: Oct 21, 2022
Residence insulation is available in many various varieties, with fiberglass and mineral wool being two of the most well-liked. Each of those supplies have professionals and cons and they’re each produced in distinctive methods.
They’re each frequent insulation selections for homebuilders, so that you is perhaps questioning what the most suitable choice is.
Let’s take a complete have a look at how these two supplies stack up towards one another and what a superior various is perhaps.
What’s Fiberglass?
To the typical individual, fiberglass is that gentle, itchy pink stuff contained in the partitions of properties. Professionals know, nonetheless, that fiberglass is definitely constituted of literal strands of glass which might be blown so skinny that they should be measured in microns.
Glass is superheated and pushed via tiny holes to create skinny wisps of glass strands which might be then layered over one another and compressed down into thick batts. The glass in fiberglass is definitely what makes it so itchy to the contact. There’s the likelihood it irritates your eyes, nostril, mouth, and respiratory system, if uncovered in massive sufficient portions.
Although fiberglass is among the many most cost-effective insulation choices, it has some downsides. First, fiberglass isn’t proof against moisture within the slightest. It can absorb water with ease and keep damp for a very long time.
In case your fiberglass insulation has a paper backing, it’s attainable it may mildew when the fiberglass batts get moist. It’s additionally much less proof against bugs than different insulations and generally requires a display to maintain them out. Fiberglass has a relatively low R-value in comparison with different varieties of insulation and this score goes down when it will get moist or compressed. Fiberglass, specifically, is liable to slumping and creating gaps in insulation.
Fiberglass is just not very eco-friendly, both. It’s normally solely comprised of about 20% or 30% recycled content material. It’s not thought of an excellent fireplace block, though it’s technically thought of one. Fiberglass can be subpar at stopping noise transmission. EcoBatt insulation from Knauf is without doubt one of the extra environmentally pleasant varieties of fiberglass, as it’s made partially from recycled glass.
One upside of fiberglass over mineral wool is that it’s light-weight and really simple to put in in consequence, however you want protecting gear as you don’t want your pores and skin touching these items. Usually, nonetheless, there’s a purpose why fiberglass is the most cost effective insulation materials.
What’s Mineral Wool?
Mineral wool is akin to fiberglass in some methods. It’s produced in a similar way, albeit with totally different supplies. Whereas fiberglass is constituted of blown glass strands, mineral wool is constituted of blown rock strands. Virgin basalt rock (volcanic rock) is combined with recycled slag and binders.
This materials is then crushed, melted on the temperature of a volcano which requires quite a lot of power from coal, coke, or pure fuel, after which blown into skinny strands similar to fiberglass. The strands are layered over one another, fortified with a chemical agent to enhance moisture resistance, and compressed into batts for straightforward set up. Mineral wool is just not essentially the most eco-friendly possibility as recycled variants are manufactured from the slag part, which comes from metallic and metal smelting as a waste product left over within the kilns. Slag-based mineral wool additionally doesn’t carry out effectively in comparison with the next basalt rock part.
Mineral wool has the next R-value/inch than fiberglass, is extra dense, and offers superior sound blockage. It additionally holds a extra agency form than fiberglass. This makes set up of mineral wool even simpler than fiberglass, particularly in overhead areas the place fiberglass would usually flop down as you had been making an attempt to safe it to the wall or ceiling.
Mineral wool is water resistant and won’t mildew or catch fireplace. Among the downsides of mineral wool embody the truth that it may be more durable to chop than fiberglass throughout set up, and it isn’t obtainable in very many various sizes. Moreover, mineral wool has a substantial carbon footprint that makes it much less engaging for builders and designers searching for sustainable insulation alternate options.
In case you’re questioning if mineral wool insulation is healthier than fiberglass, the reply is sure.
Hemp Insulation is a Higher Various to Mineral Wool and Fiberglass
Whereas fiberglass and mineral wool are a number of the most typical choices for insulation, they don’t seem to be the perfect from an environmental standpoint. If you would like sustainable insulation that’s vastly superior in nearly each class, HempWool® is your only option.
Hemp insulation like Hempitecture HempWool® is constituted of 90% plant fibers, making it infinitely extra eco-friendly than mineral wool or fiberglass. It’s largely compostable, and repulpable, and doesn’t have any carcinogenic chemical substances added to it. Hemp insulation has a comparable R-value in comparison with each mineral wool and fiberglass. It’s additionally proof against moisture, as it’s a vapor-permeable insulation.
Hemp is available in panels and batts like most different varieties of insulation, and cuts just like mineral wool. It’s additionally protected to the touch and won’t irritate you, that means you don’t must put on any particular gear whereas putting in it.
It has a excessive degree of section shift resistance (the time it takes for inner temperatures to achieve exterior wall temperatures). This makes it excellent for year-round safety from temperature extremes. Hempitecture HempWool® additionally offers extra noise safety than fiberglass. The STC rankings of HempWool® are at the moment being evaluated towards standard insulation merchandise.
Neither Fiberglass Nor Mineral Wool Can Evaluate to Hemp Insulation
Relating to all of the measurable classes that matter, Hempitecture HempWool® outperforms each fiberglass and mineral wool. It’s reasonably priced, simple to put in, naturally proof against moisture, is fireplace resistant, and proof against mildew. It is without doubt one of the most eco-friendly types of insulation in the marketplace. Moreover, it’s the solely USDA Biobased Licensed Insulation product in the marketplace.
If you wish to construct a house with insulation meant to final, get it proper the primary time and contact Hempitecture at the moment to attach with knowledgeable who can reply your questions.
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