We get this question a lot. The immediate answer is “You can!” We’ve gone to great lengths to make our insulation DIY friendly, especially our blown-in product. We’ve got a full how-to video and we’ll provide an easy-to-use blower as well as insulation mesh.
But there are still folks out there that are uncomfortable doing the work themselves…. or they just don’t have the time. So the next option is to ask a professional insulation installer. Unfortunately, this is often a dead-end. There are some insulation professionals willing to learn about new products but many can’t be bothered. Typical responses to a Havelock project include “Why don’t you just spray foam?” “That’s gonna take forever” “My crew has no clue how to install that stuff…”
The main motivation behind all these responses is economic return. Insulation installers make money in two ways… charging for their expected labor and marking up the cost of insulation material. So when a homeowner buys their insulation directly from us and the installer is unsure how long it will take to install, they want no part of it. This is understandable but for the homeowner that won’t settle for an inferior product, it’s an all too common and frustrating experience.
Case in point from a recent customer :
“Although my Contractor & his insulation Installer fought me on using Havelock Wool, I totally notice the difference, especially around my windows. Before there were severe drafts. Now there aren’t any drafts! Plus I ended up installing the batten myself, in my 96 year old walls and it was extremely simple. The company even responded directly when I reached out with concerns when dealing with an inexperienced installer. I would highly recommend this product! I wish more Contractors were more familiar with the product and would use it.”
What to do?
Luckily our community has found great success over the years with the local handyperson or the general contractor of their project. There is no reason why a generalist shouldn’t be willing and able to install wool insulation. As our DIY community has shown over the years, anyone can do it. There is no special PPE required and no expensive equipment, and with our library of resources, self-education proper installation is easily achievable. Further, the experience of installing wool insulation is completely different. The product is all-natural, safe, and non-toxic so no one needs to worry about getting sick.
A common conclusion from using a handy person :
“My handyman had gotten the common pink insulation for my bathroom remodel with frozen pipes afterward. I looked up other options and fortunately found Havelock Wool. It’s keeping everything warm and my handyman said he would install this insulation anytime after working with it. Ten stars!”
And some experiences with using a GC…
“We have yet to move into our renovated 1930s cabin, but after considering every single option on the market, we were really excited to work with this product for all of the reasons they tout – a solid R-value, mold resistance, biodegradable material, etc., etc. Our contractor really enjoyed the easy installation process and that it didn’t irritate their skin and eyes like most other options.”
And…
“Having a home office built in my backyard and wanted it to be eco and cosy. My contractor was skeptical about wool insulation but once he started installing it he was converted. He’s just now putting up the interior walls (birch plywood) and already we’ve noticed not just the insulating property of the wool but the sound dampening too. He’s been talking it up to his other contractor buddies for weeks now.”
And finally…
“I am so happy to have found a clean insulation for our building project. We used this in my child’s bedroom and plan to use only Havelock for any future projects. Our contractor loved using this product over traditional batting. Customer service was extremely helpful and I would highly recommend.”
So if you need some professional help getting wool into your walls, please know there are multiple options out there for you. As always, reach out to us to get the conversation going.
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