Ecological loor insulation

[Shanti-SKO]

Hi,

I am currently converting a short school bus. I am living in Eastern Canada and am planning on staying in it most of the time during winter.

Would love to find ecological options for my insulation. Here is what I came with so far :
Floor : 2 board thick of tentest (would give me an R-3) and cover it with cork floor floating boards. Would that be warm enough ? Anything else I could add to that ? Any other recommendations ?

For walls: 3,5'' hemp wool with Clima Control 80 as vapor barrier.

Celing, not sure yet between 2'' or 3,5'' hemp wool, but going towards 2'' since I don't want to loose too much head room.

Any idea if it's a good idea to finish the walls and celling with cork as well ?

Would take any advice

 

[Mountain Gnome]

I love hemp and am all for promoting it. however, I wouldn't use it as insulation due to it molding. A vapor barrier is not a completely sealed unit, and the hemp fiber will collect moisture. That is what nature intended it to do. Every hemp necklace that I've had given to me or made turned moldy. One was tied on my neck too tight to remove. It got moldy on my neck, before I realized it.



For a while all that cardboard people were recycling was shredded and used to insulate attics. lots of lawsuits when it all turned to black mold dust.


firberglass is just that: glass fibers. Non-toxic.


I HATE styrofoam, but I used the pink stuff for my walls. That is about the only acceptable use for it, IMO,if it is made without toxic gasses that make the bubbles inside (I forget the nasty chemisty behind that now-a-days). the pink stuff implies it is without

 

[Mountain Gnome]

If you wanted to go all natural, maybe use straw-hay. They say hay bail houses can last 100 years easy, and the straw never molds (I have a bail that is 40 years old, in a very moldy environment, and it is like new) and doesn't attract insects (like hemp very well might)

 

[Shanti-SKO]

Ok, thanks for the answer. And what do you think about my floor set up ?

 

[Mom2three]

I love hemp and am all for promoting it. however, I wouldn't use it as insulation due to it molding. A vapor barrier is not a completely sealed unit, and the hemp fiber will collect moisture. That is what nature intended it to do. Every hemp necklace that I've had given to me or made turned moldy. One was tied on my neck too tight to remove. It got moldy on my neck, before I realized it.



For a while all that cardboard people were recycling was shredded and used to insulate attics. lots of lawsuits when it all turned to black mold dust.


firberglass is just that: glass fibers. Non-toxic.


I HATE styrofoam, but I used the pink stuff for my walls. That is about the only acceptable use for it, IMO,if it is made without toxic gasses that make the bubbles inside (I forget the nasty chemisty behind that now-a-days). the pink stuff implies it is without

I have been doing some research and learned that hempwool does not mold, nor mildew. Am I missing something, or getting bad information? This came from a youtube channel where all they talk about is insulation, vapor barriers, etc.

 

[Mountain Gnome]

I have been doing some research and learned that hempwool does not mold, nor mildew. Am I missing something, or getting bad information? This came from a youtube channel where all they talk about is insulation, vapor barriers, etc.

If hempwool does not mold, then it must be treated with something. I would want to know what that something is. Hemp molds. Doesn't even need to get "wet". They make recreational dispensaries check for it.

 

[Mom2three]

If hempwool does not mold, then it must be treated with something. I would want to know what that something is. Hemp molds. Doesn't even need to get "wet". They make recreational dispensaries check for it.

I did some further research and can definitively say that hemp fiber does not mold. Insulation made from hemp uses hemp fibers.

Here is some text that I copied and pasted from an article I read from hempgazette.com in regards to hemp that is used industrially:

Overall, hemp is arguably superior to other natural fibres, both in terms of cultivation and application. Its many advantages include:

• Fewer inputs required to grow and less water needed than cotton.
• Industrial hemp is pest and disease resistant; partly due to the fact it grows so fast
• Low lignin levels enable environmentally friendly bleaching without the use of chlorine
• Far more fibre can be harvested from hemp than cotton or flax using the same amount of land
• It’s one of the strongest natural fibres
• Less stretch, so clothing retains its shape
• Its softness increases with use
• When dyed, it retains colour better than cotton
• A great insulator
• Anti-bacterial properties
• Excellent breathability
• High abrasion resistance
• Resistant to mold and mildew
• Superior UV blocking attributes
  
  This was not the only article or source that talked about hemp fibers being naturally mold and mildew resistant. Like I said in my previous comment, I watched videos by professionals in this field also say that hemp insulation is naturally mold and mildew resistant.

 

[Mountain Gnome]

I did some further research and can definitively say that hemp fiber does not mold. Insulation made from hemp uses hemp fibers.

Here is some text that I copied and pasted from an article I read from hempgazette.com in regards to hemp that is used industrially:

Overall, hemp is arguably superior to other natural fibres, both in terms of cultivation and application. Its many advantages include:

• Fewer inputs required to grow and less water needed than cotton.
• Industrial hemp is pest and disease resistant; partly due to the fact it grows so fast
• Low lignin levels enable environmentally friendly bleaching without the use of chlorine
• Far more fibre can be harvested from hemp than cotton or flax using the same amount of land
• It’s one of the strongest natural fibres
• Less stretch, so clothing retains its shape
• Its softness increases with use
• When dyed, it retains colour better than cotton
• A great insulator
• Anti-bacterial properties
• Excellent breathability
• High abrasion resistance
• Resistant to mold and mildew
• Superior UV blocking attributes
  
  This was not the only article or source that talked about hemp fibers being naturally mold and mildew resistant. Like I said in my previous comment, I watched videos by professionals in this field also say that hemp insulation is naturally mold and mildew resistant.

I agree with all that, except the mold part. resists mold does not mean mold proof. But if you think you should use it, do so! It's your bus.


Other benefits of hemp:
● adds nutrients back into the soil (whereas cotton depletes the soil)
● multiple crops per year


I have some hemp-fiber shorts that I wear when backpacking. Remarkably warm, and block the wind. Dries fast(er than cotton), surprisingly. They did not last as long as I would hope, and are falling apart faster than cotton shorts that are twice as old (15 yrs vs. 7 yrs). The seat got thin and tore from sitting on rock (I covered the hole with sheepskin shammy). The waistband is full of holes, and when that goes, so do the shorts.



My hemp Grateful Dead T-shirt never got soft.




Good Luck, and smoke a fatty for me!