What is the Compressive Strength of ROCKWOOL Insulation?

 

No, you shouldn’t drive over ROCKWOOL or any other insulation, but apparently people have done it…. 

 

In this video, Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. and Chris Laumer-Giddens of LG Squared, Inc. talk about compressive strength and also how #1920sMakeoverATL building materials are holding up after 6 months of weather exposure. 

 

For the project, the team used Comfort Board 80, and 110 below the slab.  Chris points out there’s also more rigid products like Top Rock and Multi Fix, products for special applications like low slope applications, where one more be expecting more traffic. Still, none of these products are intended for regular use, like patio.  It’s also worth noting that mineral wool is not  for load bearing conditions, like under a footer, at this time. 

 

The two easily agree that it’s not ideal to have a lot of people walking for extended periods of time on the insulation.  Compression isn’t the worry as much as show treads can start ripping up the surface, which can lower R value.  

 

Matt and Chris agree that ROCKWOOL is a very stable product, and bounces back well from compression. 

 

Chris makes reminds us that builder tests such as those that test for air sealing and water management, while a great idea, are not real life conditions and are the extreme.  As he likes to say, if you’re facing the extreme conditions, you’ve got bigger problems.”