Vermiculite In Attic

So if you have vermiculite insulation look into this.

Vermiculite in attic.

The trust reimburses homeowners for 55 percent of their removal and reinsulation costs with a maximum payout per owner of 4 125. Vermiculite is a natural insulation material but it s one that you definitely don t want to have in your attic. Any movement of the vermiculite may release asbestos fibers into the air and eventually into the lungs of the home s occupants. In the meantime homeowners should avoid using vermiculite insulated attics as storage space.

Do not sweep it or vacuum it up. Expanded vermiculite is lightweight. It could be purchased locally and could be installed by contractor or homeowner. Concerns about asbestos contaminated vermiculite insulation.

Photograph below shows coarse grade exfoliated vermiculite. Most vermiculite attic insulation is zonolite brand insulation and contains asbestos. Vermiculite is a mineral mined from the earth composed of shiny flakes that look like mica. Unfortunately almost all vermiculite insulation contains asbestos and is unsafe when disturbed.

Do not store belongings in the attic. If the attic or walls of a house contain vermiculite insulation leave it alone. The zonolite attic insulation trust was established in 2014 to help homeowners with the cost of removing zonolite attic insulation from their homes. Vermiculite was a common attic insulation product sold from the late 1920s to the early 1990s.

The presence of vermiculite is a health hazard and should never be disturbed. It is not a fibrous mat or roll type product nor is it a rigid board type product. Vermiculite is a granule pebble like pour in loose fill product. Common reasons for disturbing attic vermiculite are.

Sizes of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large coarse pieces nearly an inch long. 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. Leave the removal of vermiculite to professional asbestos contractors. Swayze and his team examined 52 vermiculite samples from the five sites including those from attic insulation horticultural products and commercial packing materials.

When this mineral is put in an oven it expands like popcorn. 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. Children should be kept away from the attic too. As a result the occupants and workers are at risk especially if the insulation is disturbed for any reason.

Vermiculite mostly found in attics.