The Pros and Cons of Sheep’s Wool Insulation
Sheep’s wool insulation has been used in Europe for centuries, but it’s still relatively new in America.
If you’re wondering whether sheep’s wool insulation is right for you or just curious how it compares to other insulation options, you should know how it performs on certain key criteria so you can understand what makes it a good option and what the drawbacks of using it might be.
The pros of sheep’s wool insulation are high efficiency, high fire resistance ability, long lifespan, and an eco-friendly profile. The cons of sheep’s wool insulation are the high price of the material, vulnerability to insect attacks, and long installation time.
The best insulation will make your rooms comfortable and save you money on utility bills. If you’re planning to upgrade your home’s insulation, it helps to weigh your options carefully.
Read on to learn about the pros and cons of sheep’s wool insulation and whether it’s right for you.
The Pros of Sheep’s Wool Insulation
As the name implies, sheep’s wool is obtained from shearing sheep and is often referred to as natural wool. Sheep’s wool boasts certain qualities that make it an excellent insulation material. These are some of the benefits of sheep’s wool insulation:
Sheep’s Wool Has High Insulation Efficiency
A material’s insulating properties are measured by its R-value, which describes how well it can reduce the transfer of heat – in the case of home insulation we’re concerned about the ability of a material to reduce heat transfer between indoor and outdoor environments. Materials with higher R-values offer greater insulation per unit thickness.
Sheep’s wool has an R-value of 3.5 to 3.8 per inch (2.5 cm), which exceeds the R-values of fiberglass, cellulose, and Rockwool insulation. That means sheep’s wool is a more efficient insulation material than most commonly used options.
Sheep’s Wool Insulation Has High Fire Resistance
Apart from thermal insulation, fire risk is another important factor to consider when selecting insulation products. Sheep’s wool has a high nitrogen and water content, offering it an inbuilt fire resistance.
The high nitrogen content in natural wool means that a high level of oxygen is required for the material to burn. As a result, sheep’s wool doesn’t burn easily. If it happens to catch fire, it doesn’t burst into flames but instead, smolders, which prevents the rapid spread of fire.
Sheep’s Wool Insulation Can Last a Lifetime
Most insulation products are designed to last decades. But exactly how long the product lasts depends on the environment it’s in. Most insulation materials can’t withstand moisture for a long period and need to be replaced when they become wet.
Sheep’s wool is among the most durable insulation materials because of its high moisture tolerance. This material can absorb up to a third of its weight in moisture and still retain its insulating properties. As a result, properly installed sheep’s wool insulation can last a lifetime.
Sheep’s Wool Insulation Is Eco-Friendly
Sheep’s wool occurs naturally on a sheep’s body. A sheep can be sheared many times throughout its life to obtain wool. Sheep’s wool is not only renewable, but its harvesting also doesn’t harm or kill sheep.
Moreover, the production of sheep’s wool insulation doesn’t require extensive industrial processes that consume natural resources and pollute the environment. Natural wool is also biodegradable, so it doesn’t leave a trail of problematic waste at the end of its life.
The Cons of Sheep’s Wool Insulation
Despite its many benefits, there are some downsides to natural wool insulation, which you should keep in mind, as follows.
Sheep’s Wool Insulation Is Expensive
If you want to keep costs down on the installation of your home’s insulation, think twice before you opt for sheep’s wool. Natural wool insulation is more expensive than other insulation options.
Although the upfront cost is high, wool insulation lasts longer and offers high efficiency. As a result, you won’t need to replace it as frequently as other insulation materials, which could save you money in the long term.
Sheep’s Wool Insulation Is Vulnerable to Insect Attacks
Natural wool provides an excellent environment for insects to thrive, making it susceptible to insect attacks. The wool must be treated with chemicals to stop insects and rodents from setting up a home in its curly fibers.
Although chemicals used in wool insulation treatments are usually non-toxic, many people would prefer to avoid their use in the home environment.
Importation of Sheep’s Wool Insulation Can Add Carbon to the Atmosphere
Although sheep’s wool is a naturally occurring renewable material, its availability is limited in the US and some other parts of the world. Natural wool insulation sold in the US is typically sourced from Europe, Asia, and other far-flung places.
Transporting wool from its source to market over long distances usually relies on fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and contributing to climate change.
Sheep’s Wool Insulation Takes a Long Time to Install
You don’t require special equipment to install sheep’s wool insulation – a staple gun may be the only tool you need – but natural wool still takes more time to install than other insulation materials. The most time-consuming part of this process is stapling the wool to the house to keep it in place.
Is Sheep’s Wool Insulation Better Than Rockwool?
Sheep’s wool can absorb up to a third of its weight in moisture without losing its thermal insulation properties. In contrast, Rockwool — also called mineral wool — can all but completely lose its insulation properties when it gets excessively wet.
Is Wool Insulation Better Than Cellulose?
Wool insulation is better than cellulose insulation because it’s more energy efficient.
Another major drawback of cellulose insulation is that its installation kicks up dust, which can irritate people with respiratory problems.
Installing cellulose requires special equipment, whereas you may only need a staple gun to install sheep’s wool insulation. For those on a budget, cellulose wins over wool because of its more affordable price.
Is Wool Insulation Better Than Fiberglass?
Natural wool insulation is better than fiberglass because of its higher R-value, which makes it more efficient in thermal control. The R-value of sheep’s wool is up to 0.6 higher than that of fiberglass.
Moreover, sheep’s wool offers greater sound insulation than fiberglass because it’s denser.
Fiberglass is among the most popular insulation materials thanks to its ease of installation in hard-to-reach spaces such as cavities and corners. Fiberglass is also cheaper and more readily available than sheep’s wool.
Is Wool Insulation Better Than Foam?
Sheep’s wool is a much safer insulation option than spray foam. Since sheep’s wool is a natural material, you can safely install it without wearing protective gear, whereas spray foam installation requires full respiratory protection.
Foam insulation can release harmful particles, especially when disturbed, but it’s cheaper and offers superior thermal efficiency compared with sheep’s wool.
Why Is Wool Not Used for Insulation?
Sheep’s wool is not commonly used for insulation because of its high cost. Wool insulation’s high upfront price tag causes people on a budget to look elsewhere.
Another problem with sheep’s wool insulation is its vulnerability to insect attacks in its natural state. The material must be treated to resist insect invasion.
Does Wool Stop Electricity?
Sheep’s wool is considered a poor conductor of electricity. Dry wool has large amounts of air trapped between its fibers, which offers strong resistance to the flow of electric current.
The level of wool’s electrical insulation properties depends on its moisture content. The higher the moisture content in wool, the lower its ability to stop the flow of electricity.
Final Thoughts on the Pros and Cons of Sheep’s Wool Insulation
Sheep’s wool offers high thermal insulation properties and strong fire resistance.
The material is eco-friendly since it’s naturally renewable and fully biodegradable.
However, sheep’s wool is an expensive insulation solution.
