Unpopular opinion: Packed wool insulation in cold countries is asking for trouble

I was in Norway a while back and saw how they stuff wool into log cabin walls with no real seal. The locals said it breathes well and handles their dry winters. But I spotted moisture stains and a musty smell in a cabin we visited. In my concrete work, I see how water damage creeps in, and insulation is no different. I think skipping a proper vapor barrier is a huge mistake, even in dry climates. One wet spring and you've got a mold farm inside your walls. We should share tips, but not copy methods that ignore basic moisture control. Always tailor your install to the actual weather, not just tradition.

3 comments

3 Comments

davidlee3d ago

My buddy tried the wool-in-logs thing up in Canada. His place smelled like a wet dog after one rainy spring, had to strip the whole wall.

the_sarah3d ago

Tbh, wool insulation done properly doesn't trap moisture like that. My cousin has it in her Montana cabin with a solid vapor barrier, zero smell issues after heavy snow melt. If the wool gets wet during install or the logs can't dry out, that's when problems start. Sounds like a bad seal or no rain screen.

jesseh172d ago

What type of vapor barrier did your cousin use, because that seems like the key difference? A lot of folks skip the right barrier for the climate and then the wall can't dry inward or outward. That might explain why some setups fail while others last.