Vermiculite Types Of Attic Insulation

That s why it s so much better to have an attic with no insulation at all than it is to have an attic with 8 inches of vermiculite.

Vermiculite types of attic insulation.

Do not sweep it or vacuum it up. The following photographs show typical vermiculite insulation. The issue is not just replacing the vermiculite with a better type of insulation such as cellulose. It is made from a natural mineral material that is mined from the earth.

However some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres which can cause problems if inhaled. If an attic is insulated with a thin layer of vermiculite a layer that provides less than the minimum r value required by code it s hard to come up with a good way to improve the insulation layer. 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. The zonolite attic insulation trust was established in 2014 to help homeowners with the cost of removing zonolite attic insulation from their homes.

If work is planned that involves these areas for example installing potlights in a room below the attic send a sample of the vermiculite to a private lab. Do not store belongings in the attic. If the attic or walls of a house contain vermiculite insulation leave it alone. Identifying insulation that is made from vermiculite.

Equally important is the need to air seal the attic plane. This is because any attic with vermiculite insulation is an inefficient attic that will cost the owner several hundred dollars more per year than the same attic after being updated. Though it is no longer made its popularity in the past means it can still be found in millions of homes across the u s. Vermiculite from the libby mine in montana usa is known to contain high levels of amphibolic asbestos.

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. Extracted from the mine between 1920 and 1990 this vermiculite insulation was sold in large bags mainly but not exclusively under the trademark zonolite attic insulation. Vermiculite itself has not been shown to be a health problem. That s good news because most zonolite a type of vermiculite insulation falls into that category.

Zonolite is made out of vermiculite a naturally occurring mineral with a silver gold or light brown color. Vermiculite insulation has a pebble like appearance and typically is a grayish brown or silvery gold color. Look at the photos on this website and then look at the insulation without disturbing it. The mine was closed in 1990.

The trust reimburses homeowners for 55 percent of their removal and reinsulation costs with a maximum payout per owner of 4 125. Avoid disturbing the material. Vermiculite insulation is a pebble like pour in product and is usually gray brown or silver gold in color.