Debra Lynn Dadd

Choosing Between Natural Insulations

QUESTION:

I need to insulate my attic--drafty old home with zero insulation. Can only afford to do attic. Choosing between Ultratouch Cotton or Biobased Vegetable.

I am concerned about Ultratouch because someone told me that it has boric acid in it to make it flame retardant and that can be bothersome and I am concerned that Biobased because I read it is a two-part soybean based polyurethane. (Yikes that sounds smelly!)

Please advise if possible,

POSTED BY HEIDI :: CALIFORNIA USA :: 09/21/2006 5:32 AM

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't have personal experience with these products. Can someone answer who does?

Debra :-)

COMMENTS:

We are not experts, but have done our share of reading on this subject to find an insulation for our (still-a-dream) eco-friendly home. We are planning to go with UltraTouch. It's not perfect, but it seems the most benign product available. Boric acid will only hurt you if you ingest it. I would certainly recommend it over any kind of polyurethane, soy-based or not.

POSTED BY NOT AN EXPERT :: CALIFORNIA USA :: 09/23/2006 6:53 AM

We have a product up here in Canada called ROXUL, which is the choice of many green designers. Not sure about American availability, but here is their dealer search page: http://www.roxul.com/sw34444.asp

It is a batt product made from basalt rock and steel slag (high recycled content), is far less irritating than fibreglass, and best of all is fully moisture and fire proof. Up here is is comparable in price to fibreglass, with a better R-value (R 21.5 for a 6" batt). I have two perpendicular layers of it in my R 43 attic.

POSTED BY SAGEDADDY :: :: WWW.WHITINGDESIGN.CA :: ONTARIO CANADA :: 10/03/2006 4:26 PM

We used ICYNENE insulation in our attic. We are very pleased with it.

POSTED BY CG :: CALIFORNIA USA :: 01/14/2008 1:54 PM

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