Vermiculite Asbestos Attic Insulation

Vermiculite loose fill insulation is one of the most common household materials that contains asbestos.

Vermiculite asbestos attic insulation.

The expanded vermiculite is a light weight fire resistant and odorless material and has been used in numerous products including insulation for attics and walls. Consider this statement from research titled zonolite attic insulation exposure studies where even the suggested method for removal by the manufacturer grace created a very unsafe condition. The insulation which was known by the brand name zonolite is most often found in residential attics. However the vermiculite used in about 70 percent of the zonolite product came from the montana mine mentioned a moment ago.

Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne. That s good news because most zonolite a type of vermiculite insulation falls into that category. Not all vermiculite contains asbestos. Vermiculite insulation has a pebble like appearance and typically is a grayish brown or silvery gold color.

If your home was built before 1990 you might have vermiculite insulation in your walls or attic. As long as this kind of vermiculite based insulation remains undisturbed behind intact walls or in attic spaces and does not become airborne it should not be a concern. Vermiculite in and of itself is not dangerous. Vermiculite insulation removal costs.

However some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres which can cause problems if inhaled. Vermiculite attic insulation removal costs anywhere from 4 to 10 per square foot. What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits. Up to 85 percent of all vermiculite insulation in the u s.

When heated to a high temperature flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8 30 times their original size. One common brand was called zonolite. Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes. The epa says that vermiculite insulation which is the pebbly stuff found in attics of many older homes is only risky if it contains more than one percent asbestos.

It is made from a natural mineral material that is mined from the earth. The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos. The vermiculite from libby is part of the longest man made environmental disaster in american history. Vermiculite itself has not been shown to be a health problem.

Installing new insulation costs an average of 1 400. You can also check for markings on the material or its packaging. Most specialists encourage abatement. Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble like pour in product and is usually light brown gray or gold in color.

It may have shiny flakes and or small accordion like pieces see photos above.