FAQS

What’s the difference between Terra Lana and Pink Batts?

The thermal performance of equal R rated products is the same. Eg R2.6 Terra Lana has the same thermal resistance as R2.6 Pink Batts. Terra Lana is typically around 20% more expensive than Pink Batts however it has three main advantages:

1. Environmentally Sustainable
Most of the wool in Terra Lana natural wool insulation is recycled waste wool from local textile and carpet manufacturers. Sheep wool is completely biodegradable and can be composted without causing harm to the environment.

2. Longer Lasting
The wool is combined with a small amount of melt bond polyester fibre and passed through an oven. The heat melts the polyester which diffuses through out the batting. As the insulation comes out of the oven the melt bond fibre cools, setting the height of the insulation. The natural crimp of the wool fibre plus the resilience of the polyester mean the insulation will maintain it’s height for a long time (BRANZ appraised for 50 years) and therefore its ability to entrap air. By contrast, the glass fibres in fibreglass insulation break down over time when subject to movement or vibrations, causing the insulation to slump, reducing its effectiveness.

3. Naturally Healthy
Wool is a protein fibre similar in structure to human hair so even if wool fibres are ingested or inhaled they readily break down into their base proteins and cause no harm. Fibreglass is literally that, fibres made up of fine filaments of glass. If ingested these can aggravate the respiratory system.
Terra Lana wool insulation is non-irritating to the skin and no special procedures or protective clothing are required for regular handling and installation. Fibreglass insulation however can be irritating to the skin and eyes and installers are advised to wear protective clothing and masks.

How is wool insulation better than polyester insulation?
Wool “breathes” as it absorbs and desorbs the moisture within the home. It helps remove the damp chill in older homes and reduces condensation and mould in damp environments (kitchens, bathrooms). The amazing thing is the water molecules are held inside the fibre, leaving the insulation dry to touch. Inert mineral and synthetic fibres do not have this property and therefore do not handle rapid changes in temperature and moisture nearly as well.

Won’t Rats and mice want to nest in it?
Rats and mice will nest in anything: Wool, polyester, fibreglass, cellulose. However vermin will not eat Terra Lana because their teeth cannot cut the wool fibres, which then get stuck in their throat. Vermin can, and do, chew fibreglass down to a powder and swallow it.

What about moths and insects?
Terra Lana uses recycled wool treated for insect resistance. Bioassay tests undertaken by AgResearch gave satisfactory insect resistance to common clothes moths.

Why use Terra Lana in low roofs?
Terra Lana’s 2 x R1.9 double layer works better than fibreglass and polyester in ceilings with a low roof angles because a 25mm gap is required between the roof and the insulation. The bottom layer can be pushed right out almost to the wall join with the second layer finishing further back. A single layer of fibreglass or polyester must finish before it touches the roof, leaving an uninsulated area around the outer ceiling.

Why is the majority of Terra Lana’s product sold as rolls (as opposed to cuts)
Terra Lana’s rolls can generally be installed faster than cuts (batts). The wool batting can be easily ripped cross ways by hand, negating the need for cutting. Gaps can be quickly filled by ripping batting from the end of the roll.

Why are two thinner layers better than one thick one?
If you have existing fibreglass insulation that has slumped (sunk below the top level of your joists), you are best to top it up (between the joists) then lay a second layer perpendicular across the joists. This eliminates any gaps (preventing air movement and heat loss) and prevents thermal bridging (heat loss through the joists, which only have an R value of 0.8). Use Terra Lana’s R3.8 double blanket product (2 x R1.9).

Can’t I just put one blanket over the top of the joists to prevent thermal bridging?
If the existing insulation is level with the top of the joists then one blanket over the top of the joists and existing insulation will be fine to prevent thermal bridging. However if the existing insulation has sunk below the top of the joists, a blanket straight over the top will create a tent effect at the joists. The resulting gap will allow air movement and therefore heat loss.

What sort of wool is used in Terra Lana insulation?
Most of the wool is recycled waste (off cuts, pit waste) from local carpet and textile manufacturers. Occasionally this is supplemented by low grade virgin wool (bellies, pieces). Wool has the same insulation properties regardless where it has come from.

Why is Terra Lana’s Underfloor Insulation better?
1. The large wool component makes it more environmentally friendly than other underfloor products.
2. Terra Lana’s underfloor bales are smaller than any of it’s competitors. Small bales are easier to get down through man hole covers and move around underfloor. The insulation need not be unpacked so it’s faster to get to the point of install and the product is protected right up to the time of installation. The stiffer polyester layer protects the integrity of the insulation if it is snagged on the ground or piles.
3. Terra Lana’s wool/ polyester laminate easily accommodates varying joist widths and does not require exact cutting for friction fit (eg Expol).
4. Terra Lana’s underfloor rolls are stapled to the joists meaning you will never have to worry about them coming loose and falling out.
5. The denser layer of polyester minimizes sagging underneath the floor which can be a problem with single density polyester products.

What are Terra Lana’s Advantages Over Other Wool Manufacturers
1. All Terra Lana’s core products are BRANZ appraised. BRANZ is a leading NZ authority on building product quality. Not all our competitors have BRANZ appraisals (or an equivalent certification).
2. Terra Lana uses melt bond polyester as the bonding agent. This was the preferred method of bonding developed by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand in the 1990s. A competitor uses industrial resin, the other method WRONZ developed but disgarded because it is less environmentally friendly, has the potential to break down over time and has inferior structural integrity.
3. Terra Lana has at least twice the manufacturing capacity of any other wool insulation manufacturer in New Zealand, meaning you are most likely to be able to get product when you want it.
4. Terra Lana has superior pricing due to economies of scale and the ownership of our own blending and manufacturing facilities.

Does wool insulation sweat?
Terra Lana natural wool insulation does not “sweat”. Wool can absorb moisture up to a quarter of its own weight as a vapor (not as a liquid), hold it within the fibres then release it as the relative humidity decreases. Synthetics and fibreglass do not have this ability and any entrapped moisture is likely to be present as a liquid or “sweat”.

Does Terra Lana natural wool insulation affect Laser Frame?
Terra Lana natural wool insulation absorbs and desorbs moisture so contact with Laser Frame is not a problem. In fact it is an advantage as the wool’s sorbancy ensures any moisture present is not available to be taken up by the Laser Frame. It is IMPORTANT however to follow the TERRA LANA installation instructions and ensure that the batting is dry before installation.

What happens to Terra Lana natural wool insulation on a cold day?
On a cold day it is normal for the relative humidity to increase. The moisture content of Terra Lana natural wool insulation will increase at the same time to stay in equilibrium. This process releases energy (heat) which has the effect of delaying temperature change longer than would be expected from its thermal or insulation properties alone. This is the “woolly jersey” effect.

What about the “inflation” effect of Terra Lana natural wool insulation?
Terra Lana natural wool insulation does not “inflate” or “deflate”. After removal from its bale the batting recovers to its nominal (manufactured) thickness. This is a natural process which may take up to 3 months. It can be sped up by giving it a shake hence our strong recommendation is that all rolls and slabs are shaken as they are installed.

Why is Terra Lana natural wool insulation harder to tear/ cut in one direction?
Terra Lana natural wool insulation is manufactured by laying fine layers of wool together in the same direction and bonding them at elevated temperatures. This makes it easier to tear or cut the batting in a crosswise direction.

Is thicker better?
Generally speaking the thicker the batting, the higher the R value. However the insulation’s R value will decrease if it is squashed (decreases the amount of trapped air) so it is particularly important in wall cavities that the nominal thickness of the batting does not exceed the height of the studs.

Do gaps between the framing and the batting matter?
YES! Gaps between the timber and the insulation can make a big difference to the R value. BRANZ testing reveals R2.8 insulation with a gap of 16mm reduces to R1.4. That’s half the nominal R value! Therefore it is very important to ensure the batting fits snugly amongst the timber framing.