Duluth, Minnesota
Phil Mannon of Credence Construction, LLC is the first winner of our 2024 Won & Done Sweepstakes! But this isn't his first time using ROCKWOOL stone wool. When we reached out to congratulate him on winning our first draw in this year's sweepstakes, we found out he not only planned to use ROCKWOOL insulation for his current renovation project, but he had already purchased some. He was thrilled to find out he won the rest of the insulation package he needed through this R‑Class Builder Program exclusive offer.
A Vision of Sustainablity and Style
The owners of the 1,800 sq ft home in Duluth, Minnesota, approached Phil with a dream of blending minimalist Scandinavian aesthetics with serene Japanese architecture in an ambitious, whole home renovation. But aesthetics wasn't the only goal, they also wanted an energy-efficient, sustainably built home that would withstand the Minnesota winters.
The unique benefits of stone wool as a thermal insulation drive his choice of Comfortbatt and Comfortboard, but he's also relying on Safe'n'Sound for the interior walls, floors and ceiling to ensure a quiet, peaceful living experience.
"We always follow the code of high-performance building which is why I use ROCKWOOL products,” Phil explains.
“Building science and the control layers are important. You can't just haphazardly put these together for your builds.” Phil continues, “It's been fun to be in this business for more than two decades and use these products in my builds for maximum performance and giving my clients a forgiving, robust wall assembly.”
“Building science and the control layers are important. You can't just haphazardly put these together for your builds.”– - Phil Mannon, Credence Construction LLC
Overcoming Climate Zone Challenges
The project is located in Duluth, a large port city in the Northern part of Minnesota, on Lake Superior, in IECC Climate zone 7. Builders here face a unique combination of weather conditions both while their projects are under construction, and for the lifetime of the build. Phil relies on stone wool's inherent resilience in this challenging environment.
"With the weather, it's usually arctic, tropic and heavy wind-driven moisture in one climate zone. ROCKWOOL [stone wool] withstands it all," he said.
A Strategic Transformation
Phil and his team are focused on three key strategies to turn this outdated home into a high-performance dwelling:
- Maximizing energy efficiency using both Comfortbatt and Comfortboard in exterior wall assemblies.
- Creating a peaceful quiet, interior environment with Safe'n'Sound between rooms and floors.
- Leveraging ROCKWOOL insulation's superior moisture and fire resistance.
The result? A retreat that not only meets the clients' aesthetic vision but also provides superior comfort, energy efficiency, and sustainability.
The Benefits of Experience
Like many R‑Class members, Phil learned pretty quickly that the benefits of working with ROCKWOOL far outweigh any initial learning curve. "The process gets more refined with each project," he notes, “the more I use it, the faster it (installation) goes."
Keep an eye out for more details as we follow along with Phil's project, and don't forget to enter our current prize period in the 2024 Won & Done Sweepstakes for your chance to win a home's worth of ROCKWOOL insulation for your next build!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. For official rules, visit https://rclass.rockwool.com/won-and-done/rules. Open to legal residents of Canada, 49 United States and the District of Columbia (excluding Hawaii). Sweepstakes ends 12/31/24