Rock wool board, also known as mineral wool board, uses easy-to-install batts, similar to fiberglass. However, rock wool is not composed of fluffy glass fibers, but is made of rock, which seems impossible. Below is a brief introduction to the production process.
Natural rock is heated in a furnace to about 3,000 degrees until it melts into a liquid. The magma-like liquid is exposed to a high-pressure jet of air or steam, and then spun into long fiber bundles at ultra-high speed. (Think: a cotton candy machine filled with liquid rock.) The fiber bundles are captured and compressed into thick, dense mats, which are then cut into convenient-sized insulation batts. Rock wool board insulation materials provide thermal insulation and sound insulation effects, and can be used as fireproof materials between floors. The unique composition of rock wool produces high-performance insulation materials with the following characteristics: made of natural, sustainable materials, containing up to 75% recyclable components, which well plays the role of retaining heat, thereby slowing down heat transfer
Rock wool board fire resistance can reach about 1400 degrees, and it is highly waterproof, with excellent sound insulation performance, insulation value higher than fiberglass. For long-term performance, rock wool board does not degrade over time, and it itself has good hydrophobicity, so that water cannot exist on its surface for a long time, and its own silk screen is also relatively dense, made of pressed sturdy batts.
Rock wool insulation can be installed anywhere you install fiberglass or any other type of insulation, including walls, floors, ceilings, attics and crawl spaces. However, it is particularly suitable for rooms on the cold north side of the house and indoor rooms that need sound deadening, such as media rooms or music studios.
Due to its high fire resistance, rock wool is very suitable for use as a fireproof material between house floors. Rock wool is also easy to use, sturdy batts can be cut with a serrated knife or hacksaw to allow it to fit in place during construction. If it gets wet, water droplets will rise and roll off without soaking into the fibers. Rock wool fibers are tightly pressed together, the insulation will not shift or collapse, which would greatly reduce its insulation value.
Please note that rock wool insulation is only unfaced, meaning there is no kraft paper or foil barrier. Depending on the situation, you may need to install a separate permeable membrane as a vapor barrier. At this point, you may wonder why rock wool is not the only type of insulation installed. In most cases, you can make up for the additional cost through lower energy bills, because fiberglass insulation has an R-value of 19, while rock wool has an R-value of 23. The increased insulation capacity allows you to stay at home for long periods at a comfortable temperature without adjusting the thermostat, which means you will make up for the initial cost within a few years. In addition, due to the long-term durability of rock wool insulation, your house will remain well insulated and require almost no maintenance in the coming years.
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