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.

Vermiculite asbestos attic insulation.

Vermiculite itself has not been shown to be a health problem. Vermiculite insulation removal costs. 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. It was mined there for more than 50 years ending in 1990.

Most specialists encourage abatement. Vermiculite attic insulation removal costs anywhere from 4 to 10 per square foot. 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.

The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos. It may have shiny flakes and or small accordion like pieces see photos above. Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble like pour in product and is usually light brown gray or gold in color. Up to 85 percent of all vermiculite insulation in the u s.

Vermiculite loose fill insulation is one of the most common household materials that contains asbestos. The vermiculite from libby is part of the longest man made environmental disaster in american history. Came from a mine in libby montana sold under the name zonolite. Installing new insulation costs an average of 1 400.

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. However some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres which can cause problems if inhaled. Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne. Vermiculite insulation has a pebble like appearance and typically is a grayish brown or silvery gold color.

You can also check for markings on the material or its packaging. 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. What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits. However the vermiculite used in about 70 percent of the zonolite product came from the montana mine mentioned a moment ago.

If your home was built before 1990 you might have vermiculite insulation in your walls or attic. It is made from a natural mineral material that is mined from the earth. Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes. That s good news because most zonolite a type of vermiculite insulation falls into that category.

Not all vermiculite contains asbestos.