Land+Living: UltraTouch Natural Fiber Insulation

UltraTouch Natural Fiber Insulation
Category: Materials
Posted by: Deborah on 9/29/2005 8:31:00 AM | Digg | Stumble It! | del.icio.us
Bonded Logic harnesses the warmth of denim

You might not think of denim as a suitable building material, but its rugged fibers have been the choice of labourers since the 16th century given that its durable, comfortable and warm. Bonded Logic recognized denim's primary benefits and used it to create a sustainable and effective insulation.

UltraTouch is a natural cotton-based fiber insulation made from 85% post-industrial recycled fibers that harnesses the warmth and woven density of denim. It does not emit VOCs and is resistant to fungi. It also meets the highest ASTM testing standards, and contains no chemical irritants. Furthermore, UltraTouch's unique manufacturing process creates a three dimensional infrastructure that traps, isolates and controls sound waves reducing sound from traffic, airplanes, radios, television, and conversation.

Link: UltraTouch

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Jeans for your house
Posted by Eavezdropper on 10/2/2005 12:38:00 AM

As an alternative to fiberglass and other irritable synthetic insulation, this one's a no-brainer. Just like settling in a comfortable pair of jeans now your house can do too. Heh.

A Superior Product -- ULTRATOUCH
Posted by Martha in California on 12/19/2005 9:40:00 AM

Just completed insulation on an 8500 sq. ft. home using ULTRATOUCH! IT IS THE BEST!!! EASY TO CUT with a band saw up the length; EASY TO TEAR by hand across the width. Even a child can help. A little dusty (maybe wear a mask) but NOT TOXIC. You will get your money returned for all of the SAVINGS in hear, air, and sound transmission. LITTLE OR NO WASTE because you can tuck small pieces into pockets or spaces where larger ones are not needed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to all.

Expensive, with no track record
Posted by Tom on 12/20/2005 2:48:00 PM

It's not quite a no-brainer, really. I bought a few pieces to put around our attic hatch. This will provide a soft landing and prevent fiberglass from spilling into the living space. But at about $1/ft, it is much more expensive than fiberglass batts. And it has not been around long enough to prove its real-world resistance to mold, infestation etc. in various environments over many years. I hope it will, and that the price comes down, because it really is a nice product.

pricing
Posted by sam on 1/1/2006 7:12:00 PM

Please provide a dealer in the Long Beach LA area in southern california and pricing for the UltraTouch Natural Fiber Insulation (R13).
I am will be using it for Aucostic purposes . Do you have it in a sheet type for outside wall mounting application

Sam

Contact Information
Posted by Deborah on 1/2/2006 6:41:00 AM

Sam,

Try contacting the company at http://www.bondedlogic.com/contactus.htm, they should be able to provide the information you are looking for.

Track Record
Posted by Joshua on 1/16/2006 1:16:00 PM

In response to Tom's post in december this product has actually been around since the late 80's and has proven itself many times. The product was originally manufactured as Insul-Cot in Western Texas and still is manufactured by Post Fiber Tech in Texas. I have used both Ultra-Touch and Insul-Cot and the Insul-Cot is alot easier to install it actually lofts back out to the full thickness and is easier to install as well as they offer more options like a blow in and a faced product and they have a dealer in missouri I have dealt with that distributes all over the US that gives really good prices like 71 cents for R-19 and 51 for R-13 so there are better more cost effective cotton products out there besides Ultra Touch and Insul-Cot has been around for a long time.

UltraTouch vs Insul-Cot
Posted by Sam on 1/30/2006 8:16:00 AM

I would be weary of Insul-Cot's product. Their fire retardency is very questionable and there is documented evidence of this. That dealer is Missouri is questionable as well, as I heard they used to distribute UltraTouch but switched to Insul-Cot because it was more available. There is probably a reason that it is not in demand......

response to sam
Posted by paul muncrief on 2/22/2006 11:48:00 AM

insulcot hass changed the way it fire retarts its product and also the thr flame retart product. The plant in post is in full production with a waiting list of customers.I know this because I developed and patented InsulCot and built the first plant in Post Tex in 1990.

RESPONSE TO PAUL
Posted by CHASE ETCHEVERRY on 2/27/2006 12:58:00 PM

PAUL, MY PARENTS USED TO WORK W/ YOU IN POST. I WAS JUST RESEARCHING SHIPPING NEEDS FOR VARIOUS COMPANIES. I AM A FREIGHT BROKER IN LUBBOCK. I JUST HAPPENED TO SEE YOUR POST!

cotton confusion
Posted by Mike S from Boulder on 4/3/2006 5:44:00 PM

Everybody knows UltraTouch in the insulation world. They work with Polo Ralph Lauren on denim drives, are in large national projects, and have good notariety. This Insul-cot is new to me. I visited the website and I'm left wondering where the product info is?? They don't have a dsitributor listing. How do they sell their products? How do you get info?

Distributor Info
Posted by Deborah on 4/5/2006 5:19:00 AM

Hi Mike,

If you go to the Bonded Logic Web site http://www.bondedlogic.com/ultratouch.htm and look under Distributor Information it will let you choose your product and search by zip code.

Post Fiber Tech
Posted by Robert on 4/7/2006 7:35:00 PM

Is it true that a new plant is opening in Utah, and another in the works for Lubbock?

cotton recycling
Posted by Pat Hinrichs on 5/31/2006 8:18:00 PM

I saw an article about the "denim drives" in Guideposts magazine. I'm looking for a place to donate 100% cottom fabrics (no rag collectors around). Any suggestions? If more companies used leftover, warnout, but usable materials we could fill fewer landfills.

natural fiber insulation
Posted by Joanne Leslie on 10/2/2006 2:17:00 PM

Already this site has been helpful. We are adding a master bedroom/bath to our small house in Santa Monica. We want to make it as "green" as feasible. Is denim insulation the way to go or are there other equally good/less expensive natural fiber, recycled insultation materials?

cotton recycling
Posted by Jim Keating on 12/1/2006 4:45:00 PM

I saw an ad from Pat Hinrichs dated on 5/31/06. and he islooking for someone to take his cotton fabric's. if you see this ad I would like you to call me so we can discuss this. I have a small trucking company and am looking for places who donate clothes and other cloth products. I will pick them up a truckload at a time no cost to you if you donate them to me. E-mail me at silenttrucker@hotmail.com thanks!

ultra vs nu-wool
Posted by paddy on 1/12/2007 6:59:00 PM

Anyone have an opinion between using ultratouch as opposed to nu-wool?

ultra touch compacting
Posted by Steve Clark on 3/18/2007 6:54:00 PM

I am building this spring. Walls are 10' high...wondering if Ultra Touch would compact under its own weight. Can anyone give us an estimate on the current price/foot. Our walls are going to be 2x6 studs...24" on center. Thanks.

UltraTouch - Response to Steve
Posted by Nick on 4/7/2007 11:58:00 AM

The product will not compact under it's own weight. It is installed by "pressure fit" between the studs. Also makes for saving time in no stapling.

Who will buy jeans for recyle?
Posted by Marie Walters on 6/14/2007 11:44:00 AM

I am a special education teacher in Riverside County, California. I am thinking about collecting jeans, and selling them using the monies for my special ed. students.

Who can help me find a buyer?

Marie

Response to Paddy
Posted by Nick on 12/22/2007 10:48:00 AM

I am unfamiliar with the nu-wool but wanted to refer you to www.ultratouch.net for information related to the UltraTouch product for your own decision making process. There are a number of attributes associated with the product. The non-toxic fire-retardent (borates) also act as an excellent pest inhibitor (no bugs in the framing cavities) and the soundproofing capabilities are almost double that of traditional product. Yes, I work with the product - not trying to plug, just elated at the interest and subsequent growth in the raving fan base. Fell free to take a look at the latest outreach video fucused on whats happening in California - www.ultratouch.net/video.html

Thank you all for your interest, Nick...

Response to Nick
Posted by Larry Wasson on 1/17/2008 9:46:00 AM

Our Victorian home has non-standard wall cavities in different widths. Some are 13", 13 1/4", 13 1/2", and 14". Would Ultra Touch fit or would each piece need to be trimmed? If so, by how much? Will a utility knife cut well, or could I use a skil saw with a masonary blade?

Response to Larry
Posted by Bewell on 2/19/2008 4:35:00 PM

Our house also has a lot of odd-shaped wall cavities. I just cut or tore the Ultratouch to be a little wider and longer than the measured space and tucked it in position. Some of the lengths will have a nearly-all-the-way-through slice at 3.5", allowing you to quickly cut the 16' into two pieces, 12.5" and 3.5 wide. So, yes, you have to cut each piece to size. I sometimes used a bread knife (don't know why this worked well for me) and I have an odd little hand saw with a long thin blade that also did fine.

Cutting Ultratouch
Posted by Larry Wasson on 3/28/2008 12:07:00 PM

So far have installed about 10 bales of Ultratouch. Price keeps going up, but getting a PG&E rebate and tax deduction helps. Have tried just about everything that cuts on the Ultratouch, and have found that poultry shearers work best. Still don't understand why the insulation is 16 to 16.5 inches wide when standard fiberglass insulation is only 15". All you need is an additional 1/2 inch in width for the friction fit.

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