It is hot, getting hotter, in the summer, cold and incredibly snowy at times in winter and torrential rain seems to feature in the news cycle now more than ever.
To avoid these extreme weather events, or any weather for that matter, what do we do as humans? We build a structure to protect ourselves. In lots of places we equip these structures with heating and cooling units and as the conversation evolves we at times search for the most efficient ways to achieve a comfortable living space.
What we don’t do is spend enough time considering the actual layer of protection – the wall structure and its components that are designed to protect us from those elements.
Sadly, the construction industry has chosen to completely overlook this incredibly important piece of the (built) equation.
‘Let’s get some sticks, cover them with plywood, and fill the gaps with a toxic underperforming substance as fast as possible so we can move inside and focus on the countertops and plumbing fixtures.’
As an insulation manufacturer, we have a clear bias; however, with the slightest bit of attention and minimal uplift in cost, it is easily possible to achieve a much better result. And we find awareness is as important as any piece of this puzzle. For example, insulation is typically 1.8% of construction costs. That is for a low-integrity (fiberglass or cellulose) product that is not likely to deliver much of a result……or dare we say protection from the elements. Nor will it address an increasing challenge of mold and mildew in newer, ‘tighter’ structures.
This blog is not about air-tight building, we have one of those here, but instead about simply considering the importance of the envelope in every structure that we build. If you want to contemplate Havelock Wool in any part of the structure please do, but first and foremost for your own well-being please don’t overlook the importance of adding as much integrity as you can to the walls that protect you from current and future weather patterns.
I love Havelock Wool and I love the informational emails y’all send. I have used Havelock wool in my 118 year old home and I could not be happier with it. I will be buying more as I restore more areas in my home. I have even made ways to incorporate y’alls wool into making my camper cooler this summer and the results are excellent. Thank you!