Get a whole year of cutting-edge eco-building news for just £24.00 pa.
Built upon 30 years of experience, this fabulous new medium will feature inspiring and in-depth articles on eco-building projects from across the spectrum and from all over the UK, most of which are written by the very people that designed or built them. Perfect for architects, builders, developers, self builders and anyone interested in keeping right up-to-date with green building trends and friends.
For subscription options:
please go here
|
|
|
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
28 Oct 2008, 1:05 PM
|
|
Q.
I am looking into using unwashed sheeps wool to insulate the loft of my new cob house. I have a source of clean wool treated with a pyrethriod dip which should stop insect attack.
Also the natural lanolin in the wool should keep it dry. It looks like a larger version of the Rockwool used for blowing and is very resilient. When crushed and released it springs back to its original size. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience.
|
|
A.
The only thing that worries me about your proposal is the sheep dip. Untreated wool, if you can get it, would be a better choice and if you are worried about insect attack in your roof then you could spray it with a solution of borax which you could make up yourself. Most of the companies advertising paints in Green building magazine sell boron salts which you can mix with water. This is similar to what CAT (www.cat.org) did for their new AtIEC building and the building reg officers were happy. I’ve just used (as sheared) sheeps wool on my renovation and I used it in conjunction with cellulose fibre. The sheeps wool was used in areas of concern such as gable ends and near water tanks where there is a slight risk of moisture from the stonework etc which could soak into the cellulose whereas the wool should resist it without harm. However, I have recently heard a rumour that lanolin can rot so that may need some looking into!
Keith H
|
|
| Positive review of this story |
mp  |
3 Dec 2009, 5:17 AM |
 |
Do not use untreated sheep wool. You will be sorry . it needs to be properly scoured and treated during the scouring process at high temperature to let the borax soak into it.
|
|
