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.

Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne. Not all vermiculite contains asbestos. Vermiculite attic insulation removal costs anywhere from 4 to 10 per square foot. Vermiculite loose fill insulation is one of the most common household materials that contains asbestos.

What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits. Installing new insulation costs an average of 1 400. Vermiculite insulation has a pebble like appearance and typically is a grayish brown or silvery gold color. 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.

The insulation which was known by the brand name zonolite is most often found in residential attics. That s good news because most zonolite a type of vermiculite insulation falls into that category. However some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres which can cause problems if inhaled. Most specialists encourage abatement.

However the vermiculite used in about 70 percent of the zonolite product came from the montana mine mentioned a moment ago. Vermiculite insulation removal costs. The vermiculite from libby is part of the longest man made environmental disaster in american history. When heated to a high temperature flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8 30 times their original size.

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. It is made from a natural mineral material that is mined from the earth. Up to 85 percent of all vermiculite insulation in the u s. Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble like pour in product and is usually light brown gray or gold in color.

Vermiculite is a mineral that was used for insulation. You can also check for markings on the material or its packaging. It was mined there for more than 50 years ending in 1990. One common brand was called zonolite.

Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes. The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos. Came from a mine in libby montana sold under the name zonolite. It may have shiny flakes and or small accordion like pieces see photos above.

Vermiculite in and of itself is not dangerous.