Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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inishindie
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Is sheeps wool a good insulator?I think so!
There are many benefits in using natural sheep’s wool insulation, the most significant points being that:
- Wool can absorb moisture and still retain its superior insulation properties
- Wool has a naturally long lifespan and will extinguish itself in event of fire
-Wool is perfectly safe to both the end user and the environment.
The only other products in wool insulation are borax and natural rubber. Borax is a naturally occurring salt and acts as a pest-repellent by stopping the development of beetles, moths, ants and cockroaches. Borax also enhances the fire rating of construction materials as well as preserving the materials over time. The natural rubber forms a porous coating that helps retain the memory of the wool.
Wool insulation has a very low conductivity which means it is very difficult for heat to pass from one side to the other, this factor makes if far more energy efficient than other products on the market. It is good to know that sheep’s wool is now being used for all types of house insulation. You can use it for loft insulation, under timber floors, in the internal and external walls as well as in the attic.
Has anyone had it put into their houses?
Is it any good?
Cheers
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MarkS
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I've looked into it.
however its expensive.
Im not sure I would agree about the thermal conductivity. from memory the various wool products (thermafleece etc) come in with figures not disimilar to rockwool etc ie around 0.035 - 0.04 whereas the kingspan/celotex stuff comes in around 0.02.
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Rob R
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| MarkS wrote: | I've looked into it.
however its expensive.
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Which is ironic 
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MarkS
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I know.
I have trouble believing that soaking it in borax and turning it into batts really costs that much. Given how little the farmers get for the fleece.
I think CAT did some work on using rawish wool, but I dont know the outcome.
I've read experiences of people using raw or washed in weak borax and hey say they get lots of moths.
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mochyn
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I'd like to use fleece: as yousay, I could give farmers a good few times more than they get from the marketing board and still pay less than buuying thermafleece. And no delivery costs wither: just pick it uo from the neighbour. Can't get a grant for roof insulation as the bedrooms are in the roof so don't count, apparently. Need to put up a system of t&g mounted on battens to keep the fleece against the ceiling. Can't afford to pay much!
Wonder if I could use raw fleece with a water-permeable membrane between fleece and boards to allow for evaporation but hopefully keep moth at bay?
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lowri
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My bathroom is on the south east corner of the house. The bath, a cast iron one, is placed along the south wall, it is a stone house. I had trouble with the bathwater cooling quickly, and after making quite sure there were no holes in the walls or round the pipe entries that vermin could get in, I stuffed several old onion nets with unwanted fleeces, gave them a light spray with lavender oil (and also inserted a few politically incorrect moth balls), and shoved them under and around the bath, then put the hardboard sides back on. It definitely keeps the water hotter! I also put balloons over the overflow pipes outlets (with the ends cut off). Stops the howling draughts coming up!! 
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