FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In
News

Wood-Fiber Insulation Launch Planned for 2022—The First of its Kind in North America

Loose-fill, batt, and board insulation will compete with mainstream products now on the market.

By Scott Gibson
A former paper mill in Madison, Maine, will become the first North American producer of wood fiber insulation by this time next year. TimberHP is being developed by GO Lab. Photo courtesy TimberHP.

It will be the second quarter of 2022 before a production line in a repurposed Maine paper mill begins turning out wood-fiber insulation, but the startup behind the operation sees a ready market among mainstream builders and the potential for expansion well beyond the northeastern U.S.

Production facilities for TimberHP, an offshoot of GO Lab in Belfast, Maine, will occupy some 200,000 sq. ft. of space in the former Madison paper mill. The plant closed in 2016 as demand for paper declined, and the paper-making machines were later sold to a Chinese company and removed.

The company plans three separate production lines in what will be the first manufacturing operation of its kind in North America. Wood-fiber insulation is a $700-million business in Europe, says chief marketing officer Scott Dionne, and until the Maine plant is operational that’s where builders here will continue buying it.

European-made wood-fiber insulation, including the Steico and Gutex brands, is currently available in the U.S. through such retailers as Global Wholesale Supply and 475 High Performance Building Supply.

Ultimately the Maine plant will turn out loose-fill, batt, and board insulation, all of it made from chips of softwood timber with additives that increase its fire and moisture resistance. Two of the production lines will be new. The third—for producing board stock—was purchased from a German company and is currently sitting in 120 shipping containers in a Maine port waiting for renovations in Madison to be completed.

Dionne says loose-fill insulation will be first, with batt and board versions to follow in the fourth quarter of 2022. When up and running at full capacity, the plant will be able to produce some $100 million worth of insulation a year.

photo showing torch being used on wood fiber insulation
In an online presentation about wood-fiber insulation, Dionne takes a torch to a sample of batt insulation to demonstrate its Class A flame-spread rating.

Loose-fill wood-fiber insulation can be used in attics or as dense-packed insulation in wall and roof cavities. It has an R-value of 3.8 per in., Dionne says, and can be installed with the same equipment used for cellulose. The vapor-open batt insulation, at R-4 per in., is made from the same wood fibers, which are blended with polyester fiber and then baked in an oven. The friction-fit batts will be available in four thicknesses, intended as both acoustic and thermal insulation. The board line, purchased from the German producer Dieffenbacher, will turn out panels of insulation from 1 in. to 10 in. thick with an R-value of 3.5 to 3.8 per in., depending on density.

In a recent “B.S. + Beer Show” devoted to wood-fiber insulation streamed at GBA, Dionne emphasized the insulation’s low toxicity, vapor permeance, and low flame spread (ASTM E-84 Class A for loose and batt, Class B initially for board stock). It also sequesters carbon.

Wood-fiber insulation is not for use below grade.

A big market in the making

The success of wood-fiber insulation in a region where a quarter or less of buildings are wood-framed makes Dionne optimistic about the potential for growth in the U.S. There are currently 15 plants making the insulation in Europe now, with another four due to open in the next several years, he said, with a total in annual sales headed toward $1 billion.

“In the U.S. residential market, 90% is wood-frame,” he said in a telephone call. “We can produce wood-fiber insulation at a much lower cost than Europe because the wood fiber we have is about half to three times less and energy costs are half.”

Wood fiber in the U.S. is currently an expensive niche product, but with manufacturing spreading to North America, Dionne expects that to change. Loose fill will cost the same as cellulose, while batts will be priced between mineral wool and fiberglass, and board stock that can be used as continuous insulation on walls and roofs will be in line with rigid foam.

Photo showing wood fiber insulation
The Maine plant will produce wood-fiber insulation in three forms: loose-fill, batt, and board. Photo courtesy of TimberHP.

In time, Dionne says, GO Lab will be looking to expand into other parts of the country, not only because the insulation will be able to compete directly with mainstream insulation products now on the market but also because it makes use of an abundant resource.

“There’s not going to be just one production facility in North America for wood-fiber insulation,” Dionne said. “It wouldn’t make any sense. This market is just getting off the ground, and we’re looking for additional opportunities to build out as we move forward over the next 10 years.”

Maine has lost six paper mills in the last five years as demand for paper products dwindled, leaving lots of unused wood fiber available for other uses. In that sense, the state is not unique.

“There’s a need in Maine to take advantage of low-value fiber,” Dionne said. “These days you look at OSB and lumber prices and they’re skyrocketing through the roof but the fiber we’re using is just low value that’s typically gone to paper production, and we’re not alone when you start looking across the U.S.

“People are facing challenges in every state with the loss of the paper industry,” he continued, “but also trying to come up with new ways to add value to low-value fiber instead of just leaving it in the forest where it becomes tinder for forest fires.”

The privately held firm has raised $35 million from a variety of investors, including some from the forest and building materials industry, and is looking to close on $85 million in tax-exempt municipal bonds by July. The $120 million will cover the build-out of the entire product line. Dionne said the company would employ roughly 100 people at its Madison headquarters, but added that for every direct forest manufacturing job in Maine another 17 jobs are created indirectly.

“This production facility in Madison will be producing more than $100 million of insulation a year at full production,” Dionne said. “We have to penetrate the mainstream market. And having good paths to market and good relationships with distributors who have a firm handle on the mainstream market is absolutely crucial. We have those relationships in place.”


Scott Gibson is a contributing writer at Green Building Advisor and Fine Homebuilding magazine.

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

More News

View All
  • Wood-Fiber Insulation Launch Planned for 2022—The First of its Kind in North America
  • Come to Our Annual Party in Las Vegas and Support #KeepCraftAlive
  • NWFA is Making Sweeping Changes to Their Wood-Flooring Installation Guidelines
  • This Hat Provides Scholarships for Skilled Tradespeople
View All

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Flashing-Free Deck Ledger

Mike Guertin recommends either a freestanding deck or spacers for a tricky house clad in T1-11.

Featured Video

SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before

The 10-in. Jobsite Saw PRO has a wider table, a new dust-control port, and a more versatile fence, along with the same reliable safety mechanism included in all SawStop tablesaws.

Related Stories

  • Podcast 599: Trees Moving Buildings, Epic Thermal Bypasses, and Supplemental Dehumidification
  • Remodeling Done Right
  • Podcast 598: Stone Foundations, Failing Stucco, and Comfortable Garages
  • Insulating Foam for High-Performance Windows

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All Videos
  • Insulating Foam for High-Performance Windows
  • Podcast 573: Vibrating Washers, Rot Behind Deck Ledgers, and Tightening Vented Crawlspaces
  • Podcast 571: Pooling on Flat Roofs, Irrigation Timers, and Single-Pane Windows
  • Details of Using Stone Wool Insulation
View All

Insulation

View All Insulation Articles
  • What to Consider When Choosing Insulation
  • Protect Foundation Foam
  • The End of Deep Energy Retrofits
  • Get Up to Speed on the Latest Energy Code Changes
View All Insulation Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Complete 3rd Edition
    Buy Now
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 318 - October 2023
    • Make Mudsills Square and Level
    • Turn Up the Heat With Induction Cooktops
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: Lloyd Alter
  • Issue 317 - Aug/Sept 2023
    • Finishing Drywall With Seamless Results
    • A Flat Roof in a Cold Climate
    • Compact Cordless Shop Vacs
  • Issue 316 - July 2023
    • Timber-Framed Solar Canopies
    • Build a Transom Above a Stock Door
    • Understanding Toilet Design and Efficiency
  • Issue 315 - June 2023
    • How to Craft a Copper Roof
    • 5 Lessons from Building in a Cold Climate
    • The Advantages of Cellular PVC Siding
  • Issue 314 - April/May 2023
    • 7 Options for Countertops
    • Tool Test: Wood-Boring Bits
    • Critical Details for Ductless Heat Pumps

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in