Why Builders Choose Denim Insulation Over Fiberglass

Henry UltraTouch™ Recycled Denim Delivers Safe and Sustainable Insulation

UltraTouch Denim Insulation: A Smarter Choice

Few products have proven as reliable and versatile as blue jeans. That’s why millions of workers trust denim jeans for the comfort, flexibility, and protection they need on the job site. And millions more trust denim to take them anywhere and everywhere, dressing them up with jackets and sweaters for professional and social outings and down with T-shirts and sweatshirts for everyday use.

Now, denim can make work life easier and more efficient for construction crews. Instead of turning to fiberglass as the go-to insulation, consider how recycled denim insulation can make your work easier.

UltraTouch™ R-13 Recycled Denim Insulation, also known as natural cotton fiber insulation, wraps new construction projects in cotton denim manufactured from recycled denim jeans, skirts, and jackets. Each bundle comprises 15 to 17 pairs of jeans, making it light, soft, and easy to manipulate. You can use denim to insulate homes and promote eco-friendly, sustainable practices. Best of all, you can insulate building projects faster with less hassle.

Experience No Itch, No PPE, No Hassle Denim Insulation

You no longer need to protect against the threat of skin, eye, and lung injury that fiberglass insulation poses. Instead, you can install soft denim insulation with your bare hands. 

Fiberglass insulation can shed glass fibers, which are known to irritate the skin and make breathing difficult. Therefore, workers strive to protect themselves by donning protective clothing and masks before handling fiberglass insulation and remaining vigilant to limit direct exposure to fiberglass insulation during the installation process. Many installers wear tight-fitting, half-face respirators, while others accept more risk for less hassle and opt for an N95 mask along with protective clothing.

The Denim Insulation Experience

However, denim insulation is as soft and easy to manage as its source material, blue jeans. You do not need to suit up with long sleeves, gloves, and long pants. In fact, you can handle denim insulation with your bare hands without risking your health or wellness. Since there are no harmful fibers or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in denim insulation, you can breathe easily while installing it and work faster.

With UltraTouch, you simply lay out the soft, absorbent denim insulation between roof rafters, ceiling joists, and wall studs wearing a simple dust mask. You can fit UltraTouch denim insulation snugly between studs and joists without having to staple it to the framing in walls, ceilings, attics, and crawl spaces. Check out these installation instructions for details.

UltraTouch Easy-Tear Perforations Streamline Installation

Thanks to its built-in perforations, you can easily tear UltraTouch insulation with your hands and quickly adjust the insulation to tightly fit into even the most irregular cavities. There’s no need to stop and get specialized tools to measure, cut, and refit the denim insulation like you do with fiberglass batts. As a result, this hassle-free and comfortable process boosts productivity while reducing labor costs and risks.

Think about how much time you’ll save dealing with personal protection equipment (PPE) and refitting insulation, not to mention the ease of mind you and your team will experience working with the denim insulation. Try it and see how insulating building projects in denim proves safer and more efficient—and helps keep projects on schedule.

UltraTouch’s Inherent Sustainability Drives Compliance and Performance

You face mounting pressure to adopt sustainable building practices and materials to comply with evolving building codes and regulations. For example, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) required a 40% increase in energy efficiency compared to 2006 standards. Using insulation that provides strong thermal performance is essential.

“Worldwide, the need for thermal insulation materials used to increase the energy performance of buildings and ensure indoor thermal comfort is constantly growing,” the National Institute of Health (NIH) stated in their 2023 report, Research on Thermal Insulation Performance and Impact on Indoor Air Quality of Cellulose-Based Thermal Insulation Materials.

Wrapping homes in high-performance denim insulation represents one of the most effective and cost-efficient solutions for supporting intensifying code requirements and protecting homes against climate challenges.

UltraTouch denim insulation maximizes thermal performance with R-values comparable to fiberglass and cellulose insulation, making it an effective alternative to traditional materials as well as a key component in energy-efficient home construction. In addition, UltraTouch R-13 serves as an ideal insulation for two-by-four stud wall assemblies. 

“As residential construction continues to advance toward building zero-energy homes, builders are increasingly challenged to make their homes more energy efficient. The building envelope in particular is receiving a lot of attention, as it represents the front line of improving efficiency.”  Four Reasons Builders Use Continuous Insulation for Energy Efficiency, Probuilder, 2024.

Denim Insulation Offers a Healthier Alternative

Eco-friendly building materials play a pivotal role in supporting sustainability trends. Wrapping a home in denim insulation delivers a toxin-free alternative that customers will embrace. Unlike fiberglass, denim insulation is made from natural elements without added chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). You can assure customers UltraTouch recycled denim insulation will not release harmful chemicals during or after the installation.

Superior Acoustic Performance

Your customers also value innovation as well as peace and quiet. UltraTouch insulation combines exceptional acoustic performance with innovative, high-performance recycled denim. Denim’s dense cotton fiber insulation consistently achieves higher acoustic ratings than fiberglass, so you can deliver better soundproofing between walls, floors, and ceilings.

Mold Resistant

Henry UltraTouch insulation combats mold and mildew, making it a durable long-term option. The insulation includes an EPA-registered fungal inhibitor that protects against mold, mildew, and pests.

Fire Resistant

You can also help your customers reduce the risk of fire damage when you install Henry UltraTouch denim insulation. The denim insulation is treated with an EPA-approved borate solution that provides a Class A fire-resistance rating. The Class A rating means the product is not considered readily flammable, does not contribute to the spread of fire, and is effective against severe exposure to external fires.

Zero-Waste Manufacturing Fuels UltraTouch Production

Sustainability doesn’t stop at the recycled denim material. The entire construction industry is under increasing pressure to implement sustainable manufacturing and distribution processes. UltraTouch Denim Insulation comprises 80% recycled denim and follows a nearly zero-waste manufacturing process. UltraTouch manufacturing repurposes every part of collected denim, including zippers and buttons, which are recycled separately. This process recycles 750,000 pairs of jeans and five tons of zippers every month. Overall, UltraTouch has helped divert 20 million pounds of denim from landfills.