Randy Rand may have won the first Won & Done sweepstakes, but we feel like the winners after welcoming him to ROCKWOOL’s R‑Class™. He’s a longtime user of ROCKWOOL Comfortbatt® and Safe'n'Sound® and a serious advocate for building sustainable, high-performance homes. Helping building science–minded pros like Randy meet their project goals and share their experiences is what the R‑Class is all about.
Randy started Tekton Responsible Living in Orono, Maine, after pivoting from his career as an architectural and engineering designer. Randy is a certified Passive House tradesperson; he advocates for building healthy homes that stand the test of time by engaging with other local building pros seeking ongoing learning. Joining the R‑Class was a no-brainer. The sweepstakes was a bonus.
Randy is using his winnings* to apply Passive House design principles to his latest project: his own family home. He knows stone wool insulation from ROCKWOOL is a smart choice for deep energy retrofits because of its superior thermal performance, durability, ability to repel moisture and noncombustibility. It’s also incredibly flexible — he’s using stone wool in multiple applications throughout the house, from the foundation to the roof and everything in between.
“A high-performance home is one that is extremely comfortable, durable and healthy for both the building and its occupants, and as a result, they are very energy efficient,” Randy says.
We’re following Randy’s project closely through the entire process and will share details, insights and tips from all the components of this retrofit in subsequent articles. Follow the build @renovate207, and keep an eye out for an upcoming video here on the R‑Class. This project is a great example of what can be done in so many regions around the US and Canada to renovate existing homes to modern standards for safe and sustainable living.
A high-performance home is one that is extremely comfortable, durable and healthy for both the building and its occupants, and as a result, they are very energy efficient.– Randy Rand
Randy has used ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation products in the past, but this is the first time he’s using ROCKWOOL Comfortboard 80 rigid continuous insulation. With support from the technical resources available to him as a member of the R‑Class, he designed not only an exterior wall application but also an over-roof and below grade.
Not sure how you’d engage the team on your own project? Learn from Randy — he’s planning to include a number of techniques for high performance on this retrofit and wants to get them exactly right. For example, he’s incorporating resilient channels with Safe'n'Sound into his design for superior acoustic attenuation and has tapped into ROCKWOOL’s technical experts for support.
The sweepstakes winnings created the perfect opportunity for Randy to use stone wool throughout the entire home, even in applications he’s not used before. This is what subsequent winners can expect: a home’s worth of ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation for your next build — the perfect opportunity to try a high-performing product that can help save money and energy. Enter the sweepstakes.
*Sweepstakes winners get an entire home’s worth of ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation for their next build.
The Build
- 1960s ranch retrofit
- Orono, Maine: climate zone 6
- Approx. 1,300 ft2
Products Used
- Safe'n'Sound 6" and 3"
- Comfortbatt (R-15, R-21 and R-30)
- Comfortboard 80 and 110