Common Applications for Havelock Wool

You asked, we listened. Here are detailed architectural drawings for some common applications for Havelock Wool insulation in your home. To produce these drawings, we worked closely with our good friends at HAABITT (a full-service design firm based out of Portsmouth, NH focused on healthy building solutions for all types of projects). The goal is to show you how Havelock Wool fits into the proper assembly of a few common applications – unvented roof (cathedral ceiling), masonry walls with and without rigid insulation, and vented and unvented basement/crawlspace. These drawings depict the ideal (aka the best) assembly for each application. In the real world, we know that sometimes the best is not achievable and simply better will do just fine. 

(Please note that minimum requirements for thermal insulation (r-value), air permeability, and vapor control vary by climate zone and are governed by local building and/or energy code(s). We always recommended consulting your local ordinances to make sure you meet all minimum requirements before beginning any project. )

UNVENTED and VENTED

CRAWL SPACE / BASEMENT

Ideally, a crawl space is encapsulated which means bringing it into the conditioned space of your home via air sealing, insulating, and conditioning the air (installing a vapor barrier is also a crucial step). This best practice will reduce the risk of moisture intrusion. The below drawings show how the crucial components of this assembly will work together. 

UNVENTED ROOF ASSEMBLY:

CATHEDRAL CEILINGS

Unvented assemblies are now commonplace in North American building. The core premise is to remove ventilation openings while moving the thermal, moisture, and air control boundaries to the roof deck plane, or put another way, the assembly is sealed on all sides and filled with insulation. One key advantage to an unvented system is that your attic and living space is conditioned the same so air can move freely without wasting energy (unlike a poorly sealed attic space).

Masonry Walls WITH and

WITHOUT Continous Rigid Insulation

Although the thermal mass and inherent R-value of masonry may be enough to meet energy code requirements (particularly in warmer climates), masonry walls often require additional insulation. Our drawings here show the application of insulation to the inside of the masonry wall which is typical of a renovation or standard home improvement project. Often times rigid insulation is already in place and adding an extra layer of Havelock Wool not only improves R-Value but provides added sound absorption and air quality improvement. Without rigid insulation, Havelock Wool can be placed using standard framing or furring. 

Hopefully, these drawings can provide helpful guidance on where to install Havelock Wool and how to incorporate other crucial components of a wall assembly. As ever, we welcome questions and suggestions for our next round.