Vermiculite In Attic

Expanded vermiculite is lightweight.

Vermiculite in attic.

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. The zonolite attic insulation trust was established in 2014 to help homeowners with the cost of removing zonolite attic insulation from their homes. In the meantime homeowners should avoid using vermiculite insulated attics as storage space. When this mineral is put in an oven it expands like popcorn.

Concerns about asbestos contaminated vermiculite insulation. Most vermiculite attic insulation is zonolite brand insulation and contains asbestos. Common reasons for disturbing attic vermiculite are. 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. If the attic or walls of a house contain vermiculite insulation leave it alone. 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. So if you have vermiculite insulation look into this.

Leave the removal of vermiculite to professional asbestos contractors. Children should be kept away from the attic too. Any movement of the vermiculite may release asbestos fibers into the air and eventually into the lungs of the home s occupants. Unfortunately almost all vermiculite insulation contains asbestos and is unsafe when disturbed.

Vermiculite is just one of many insulation products used in attic insulation. The presence of vermiculite is a health hazard and should never be disturbed. The trust reimburses homeowners for 55 percent of their removal and reinsulation costs with a maximum payout per owner of 4 125. It could be purchased locally and could be installed by contractor or homeowner.

It is not a fibrous mat or roll type product nor is it a rigid board type product. Photograph below shows coarse grade exfoliated vermiculite. Do not store belongings in the attic. Sizes of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large coarse pieces nearly an inch long.

Vermiculite was a common attic insulation product sold from the late 1920s to the early 1990s. Avoid disturbing the material. 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. Swayze and his team examined 52 vermiculite samples from the five sites including those from attic insulation horticultural products and commercial packing materials.

Do not sweep it or vacuum it up.