Vermiculite In Attic

Vermiculite is a granule pebble like pour in loose fill product.

Vermiculite in attic. Photograph below shows coarse grade exfoliated vermiculite. In the meantime homeowners should avoid using vermiculite insulated attics as storage space. The zonolite attic insulation trust was established in 2014 to help homeowners with the cost of removing zonolite attic insulation from their homes. Vermiculite mostly found in attics.

Avoid disturbing the material. Leave the removal of vermiculite to professional asbestos contractors. The trust reimburses homeowners for 55 percent of their removal and reinsulation costs with a maximum payout per owner of 4 125. Unfortunately almost all vermiculite insulation contains asbestos and is unsafe when disturbed.

Vermiculite is just one of many insulation products used in attic insulation. Vermiculite is a natural insulation material but it s one that you definitely don t want to have in your attic. Do not store belongings in the attic. If the attic or walls of a house contain vermiculite insulation leave it alone.

Do not sweep it or vacuum it up. Any movement of the vermiculite may release asbestos fibers into the air and eventually into the lungs of the home s occupants. Concerns about asbestos contaminated vermiculite insulation. Swayze and his team examined 52 vermiculite samples from the five sites including those from attic insulation horticultural products and commercial packing materials.

As a result the occupants and workers are at risk especially if the insulation is disturbed for any reason. Vermiculite is a mineral mined from the earth composed of shiny flakes that look like mica. Asbestos was found in all of the nearly two dozen samples from libby but little or none was found in the vermiculite from the other four sites. Vermiculite was a common attic insulation product sold from the late 1920s to the early 1990s.

So if you have vermiculite insulation look into this. The presence of vermiculite is a health hazard and should never be disturbed. 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. Common reasons for disturbing attic vermiculite are.

Most vermiculite attic insulation is zonolite brand insulation and contains asbestos. It could be purchased locally and could be installed by contractor or homeowner. 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. Expanded vermiculite is lightweight.

Children should be kept away from the attic too.