How can youdetermineif there is vermiculite in the attic or walls of the house youwanttobuy? It is applicable for the construction sector. And also for filling various cavities in walls, partitions, pipe boxes .. It's hard to evaluate your warning without knowing more about the insulation material you describe as "mica flakes insulation." Vermiculite is a natural insulation material but it's one that you definitely don't want to have in your attic. We recently bought a house that had an inspection revealing "vermiculite". InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. Insulation materials run the gamut from bulky fiber materials such as fiberglass, rock and slag wool, cellulose, and natural fibers to rigid foam boards to sleek foils. Installation Services. i truly found this site excellent, it answered alot except that one question. Compare. For reference, the very large vermiculite particle at below left was 1.5 cm x 1 cm in size, and some reports indicate that pour-in attic insulation can contain vermiculite particles up to an inch (2.5 cm) in length. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS - Concerned. Unlike asbestos, vermiculite is not known to be harmful; however, 70% of the vermiculite insulation sold from 1919 to 1990 came from a single mine that also contained asbestos. (36-Bags) Add to Cart. That's good news, because most Zonolite, a type of vermiculite insulation, falls into that category. A well-ventilated attic can prevent the dust from infiltrating the house. If an attic is insulated with a thin layer of vermiculite a layer that provides less than the minimum R-value required by code its hard to come up with a good way to improve the insulation layer, especially if the ceiling has air leaks. These walls deform and compress without shattering when under pressure from the surrounding strata. The cost will depend on the area to be decontaminated, how accessible it is, and the materials that will be selected for re-insulation. If indeed your workers are correct and vermiculite is in place, you should. In all cases the work has to be done first making the claim seem like a bit of a gable. YOU SHOULD ASSUME THE VERMICULITE CONTAINS ASBESTOS AND DO NOT DISTURB IT! The answer is of course don't touch it or have it abated, and everybody knows that neither of those things are going to happen. The buyer can then decide topurchasethe house or condo in its current condition or to cancel or modify their offer to purchase. The installer either fills the cores from the top of the wall or pumps the foam through small holes drilled into the masonry. i am seriously concerned and would just like to know whom it is i need to contact outside the school, since no one in the school seems to really care about it or us. Beyond insulation, vermiculite is considered advantageous in packaging, passive fire protection, swimming pool liners, potting soil, kilns, vehicle brake linings, and more. Because I am limited in knowledge on the installation method, I was asking if there is a standard for this application. What do we go by? For example. The heating process expands the flakes up to 30x its original size with lots of tiny pockets of air. What it is: Popular before World War II, mineral wool comes in two main forms: rock wool, which is made by spinning molten rock into masses of tiny intertwined fibers similar to cotton candy; and slag wool, which is made from the by-product, or slag, that forms on the surface of molten metal. By submitting your email, you agree to our, 3 Common Insulation Materials Used in Old Homes, 5 Easy Ways to Remove Scratches from a Glass Window, The Most Practical Air Sealing Techniques, The Best Way to Insulate an Existing Concrete-Block Wall, How to Insulate Around Recessed LED Fixtures, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In these cases,its also essential to ensure that openings are properly sealed. If you live in an older home, understanding what pads your walls is essential to keeping your family safe. I work in a school in MTt, and 2 years ago this substance was removed from two rooms in the school, one which is right by the kitchen i work in. The asbestos thats found in some ceiling and floor tiles, which are inside living spaces, are usually sealed. With a minimum of a half-percent of asbestos, up to 10%, it was considered a perfect fireproofing material. So, if you have vermiculite insulation, look into this. While one percent asbestos doesnt sound inherently dangerous, any exposure to the substance can lead to serious health issues. This also indicates late 19th century. An IMC official said Koos purchased vermiculite ore from American Vermiculite (a South African mine) and from W.R. Grace, but, to their knowledge, none of the ore came from the Libby mine. Vermiculite insulation removal | MRS. RATTLECAN'S HOUSE. EPA did not find any records indicating that Koos had operated at this site before 1995. Home inspector David Grudzinski provides the following vermiculite insulation photographs. Cost is about $45 as I recall. Vermiculite insulation can be harmful when proper precautions are not followed. Loose-fill insulation of this type is poured into spaces between walls and in attics. - Laurence 9/15/2012. You must be a magazine subscriber to access this feature. It's expensive to do abatement, the abatement contractor I deal with most around here says that by far the easiest way to abate it is with a large HEPA vac setup and the only way to get the cost of that down is to do more of it. For example, if you spent $7,500 removing and replacing the insulation, you are potentially eligible for the maximum reimbursement of $4,125. $5,000 on a 30 year note at todays rates is about $30/month. Thanks for tine nice note Amy.A proper asbestos cleanup project, especially in a school, should have included post-cleanup inspecting and testing to assure that no asbestos hazard remained. Identification. We worked in the abatement cost into the buying price. The D-Lead test kits are available for purchase from certain distributors and retail outlets. Tim, you can use any test laboratory certified for asbestos testing. Assuming every "vermiculite" looking insulation is deadly will ultimately cost consumers greatly. I would assume that was when any attic insulation was added.So,my question is. Here in Montana, where there is lots of Zonolite in attics, the Weatherization crews routinely test for aesbestos. (Vermiculite insulation, which may contain the Tremolite types of asbestos, is a big enough topic that I'll write a whole article about it later.) Response to Andy The conditions in which mica forms are very similar to that of certain types of asbestos, and can therefore often be found within this type of insulation. Response to Andy Kosick If you have it: Dont mess with it. Vermiculite insulation between attic joists . http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/gao-09-7sp/file155.html, [20] "Hazardous Materials: EPAs Assessment of Sites that May Have Received Asbestos-Contaminated Ore from Libby, Montana (GAO-09-7sp, March 2009), an E-supplement to GAO-09-6R - Koos Inc., 2000 DeKovan Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin", The U.S. Government Accounting Office, Special Publications, web search 5/8/12, original source: Its also limited in scope, since the tool can only test for amphibole asbestos, one of the two asbestos types. The spectroscope uses near-infrared technology to detect the source of vermiculite and determine if asbestos is present. Decontamination is apainstakingprocess thatincludessetting up a temporarycorridorto protect other rooms from the risk of contamination. Andy, In the meantime, homeowners should avoid using vermiculite-insulated attics as storage space. I did not find instances of specific "gold nugget vermiculite" as a vermiculite product brand name. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, and disease may not occur until decades after exposure. He has covered topics ranging from economics, social affairs,and tourism toarts and entertainment. The home inspector got it tested and it came back composed of cellulose and non fibrous materials, no asbestos. Most people are honestly concerned about this when informed and if the cost was mixed into a mortgage, which has way bigger numbers in it than the cost of abatement, and the resulting air sealing and insulating offsets that cost a bit, I think people would bite and we would finally start getting rid of some of this stuff. Anything that can disrupt the insulation in any way presents a new risk, so closing off the attic entirely is best at least until the professionals can come in to do their part. But take note: only those containing asbestosare cause forconcern, particularly those sold under the brand. Tel: 717-238-9723, Fax: 717-238-9985, Email: info@perlite.org, Website: http://www.perlite.org/. Rigid foam boards trap air or another . I question the comment about not having the vermiculite tested. Theseller and buyer couldthen come to an agreementon the decontamination of the premises,such as which partywillpay for it andwhen it will becarried out(before or after the sale).. At the time of EPA's visit, IMC Salt, Inc. operated at this site. If you listen to the EPA, vermiculite insulation likely isnt a big deal, at least not in many homes. Why did he test your cellulose insulation for asbestos? http://www.highplainsfilms.org/films/libby_montana. It is an attempt to increase the R-value of a ceiling with a thin insulation layer. 2023 Inspection Certification Associates (ICA). Sizes of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large (coarse) pieces nearly an inch long. Asbestos fibers are fine when theyre contained, but when theyre airborne all bets are off. Of course that's a smaller attic and I've never actually got to do one of these only price them out. How it works: Formed into blankets, batts, or boards, mineral-wool fibers block both sound and temperature exchange through walls. x 35 in. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Warm Boots, Happy Feet: Introducing the DryGuy Boot Dryer, 6 Home Problems Inspectors Hate to See and How to Fix Them, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. What it is: A lightweight, shiny mineral that resembles mica flakes. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. And any disturbance in the attic can send it airborne the same way that setting down a box can stir up dust. Vermiculite alone is not a hazardous material. The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes. It can also be found as loose-fill insulation. The new technology is expensive, with individual spectrometers running tens of thousands of dollars. We recommend our users to update the browser. Bo, Vermiculite was also often poured into hollow-core concrete block walls. The attic revealed what I was afraid of: Bags and Bags of the stuff [vermiculite loose fill building insulation produced by W.R. Grace & Co.]. View of a wall plastered with a solution with the addition of vermiculite. Still, the one percent rule means asbestos remains legal for use in countless products used daily by Americans, complicating the matter. Vermiculite concrete normally compresses up to 35% without disintegrating. Its then the buyers responsibility to make an informed decision. It is not possible to say whether your exposure may result in disease. And when it comes to inspecting older homes, its hard to avoid coming across one with asbestos insulation at some point. 15 questions you need answered before settling on a renovation contractor Using that method and coordinating with the abatement contractor in terms of them removing and us air sealing and insulating, they've got their cost down to $4000 to $5000 on some smaller attics (800-1000sqft). When used on attic floors, a reliable waterproofing is required on the roof side, as well as covering the material layer with a vapor-permeable membrane (paper layer). Ms.Bejanstates,Itspossible that the inspectorwont detect the presence ofvermiculite,but thatisnta flawithas noimpactonthe normal use of the property.. After removal, installing new insulation will cost an additional $1,700 to $2,100. Most likely, from your case history, you're ok. We are dedicated to making our information as accurate, complete, useful, and unbiased as possible: we very much welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles. If its found to contain less than 1 percent asbestos, its not considered an ACM. Addressing attics with vermiculite is a particular challenge for weatherization agencies. It is made from a natural mineral material that is mined from the earth. My concerns is that the vermiculite, or equivilent material, be filled into the cells properly. If vermiculite-based insulation is contained and not exposed to the home or interior environment, it poses very little risk. EPA Images retrieved 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/verm.html#made with additional vermiculite image by InspectApedia.com. Most state and provincial governments regulate and certify asbestos testing laboratories, and we recommend that where there are health, legal, or cost concerns, you should only use a certified and competent asbestos testing laboratory to examine material samples for asbestos content. On the basis of this information, EPA decided no further action was needed.[20]. It is used in a variety of ways, but it is most commonly used as insulation or as a soil amendment. According to company officials, IMC started operations at the site in 1995. This company sourced vermiculite exclusively from the Libby mine in Montana, USA. Do not store boxes or other items in your attic if it contains vermiculite insulation. Vermiculite Insulation. Response to Bo and Jim It might look harmless, but some vermiculite has a nasty personality. If your home was built before 1990, you might have vermiculite insulation in your walls or attic. According to an EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices, 1,995 tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby mine were shipped to this site between April 1969 and March 1982.In addition, reports published by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990 indicated that this facility had been a vermiculite exfoliation plant. I am accurately reporting the current consensus from vermiculite experts: basically, it's "Don't bother to test.". They also indicate late 19th, early 20th century. Concerns About Asbestos-contaminated Vermiculite Insulation, Identifying Insulation That is Made From Vermiculite, Risk of Exposure to Asbestos If You Have Vermiculite Insulation, Concerns About Exposure If Your Family Removed or Handled Insulation That Contained Asbestos, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry Web site. Unthemed 23 in. You will often find a mix of several kinds of building insulation, and the vermiculite may, for example, have been covered-over by rolled out fiberglass or fiberglass batt insulation. They can also use special weld pins with integral-cupped head washers. But I don't know what test you are describing, nor where nor how it was performed -those questions are key in understanding what the test results mean.Your concern should be answered more specifically by a hygienist or similar professional who has specific expertise in asbestos and indoor air quality and who knows the building and its history.We would much appreciate hearing any comments, critique, suggestions, or further questions from you or other readers. In 1998, IMC Salt, Inc. began salt packaging and warehousing operations at the site. However, research I cite below indicates the Westroc [vermiculite] mine located in British Columbia (Canada). The concertina-shaped granules of exfoliated vermiculite are non-combustible as well as being insoluble in water and all organic solvents. Bulky materials resist conductive and -- to a lesser degree -- convective heat flow in a building cavity. . Home inspectors will need to arm themselves with the facts and the legalities surrounding asbestos-based vermiculite before educating clients about their options. Any attempt to do that requires the help of an asbestos abatement contractor, which costs thousands of dollars above and beyond the cost of the cellulose insulation. Thanks for this post because the most dangerous aspect of vermiculite is that almost nobody knows about it. If your attic contains vermiculite: Thats why its so much better to have an attic with no insulation at all than it is to have an attic with 8 inches of vermiculite. Other. Particularly in older balloon-framed buildings, vermiculite could be poured from the attic right into wall cavities extending all the way to the building foundation top. The trust reimburses homeowners for 55 percent of their removal and reinsulation costs, with a maximum payout per owner of $4,125. The cost will depend on the area to be decontaminated, how accessible it is, and the materials that will be selected for re-insulation. If your home was built before 1990 and has vermiculite insulation, you should assume its contaminated with asbestos, which according to the EPA puts you at risk for lung diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Can a product containing asbestos, even wheninaccessible(likein the attic),be dangerous? While its true that undisturbed, encapsulated asbestos doesnt pose a health risk, the asbestos in vermiculite insulation isnt encapsulated and can easily become airborne during cleaning, maintenance or remodeling. Reuben Saltzman has been a home inspector since 1997 and is the president of Structure Tech, a home inspection company in St. Louis Park, MN. Any disturbance could potentially release asbestos fibers into the air. Vermiculite was mined in Libby between 1923 and 1990. Former exfoliation facility: http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/gao-09-7sp/file154.html, Asbestos products and their history and use in various building materials such as asphalt and vinyl flooring includes discussion which draws on, Basic Information about Asbestos, US EPA, web search 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/help.html. The mine contained a large deposit of asbestos, and the vermiculite was contaminated. For insulation contained within finished walls as opposed to unfinished attics, caulking is a good first step. Not all vermiculite products contain asbestos. Renovation Guide I've done energy audits on half a dozen houses now that the owners had just purchased and I was the first person to tell them about the vermiculite in the attic. This won't delete the articles you've saved, just the list. While you can hire a trained professional to test your attic for asbestos, this may be expensive and, depending on the methods used, might give you erroneous results. For professional home inspectors, it may only be a matter of time before theyre faced with the stuff. The court found that one percent wasnt a strict enough standard. Vermiculite is a mineral that was commonly used in homes that were built before the 1990s. You might want to ask for and read that report.About the substance falling from your ceiling, if you think it's asbestos-containing material you certainly shouldn't be running a fan, and it would make sense to have it tested for asbestos content.The % of asbestos number you cite leaves me confused. Leave vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your attic or in your walls. One of the main benefits of vermiculite is its ease of installation. The most common asbestos-containing vermiculite insulation is zonolite. Exposure to asbestos can lead tochronic lung diseasessuch as mesothelioma, lung cancer,and asbestosis. Legal Notes If your home was built before 1990, you might have vermiculite insulation in your walls or attic. . The recent innovation should provide a time-saving technique for commercial and home inspectors. We will add that information here. Do California Home Inspectors Need a License? The ore was shipped to the facility by truck and rail and the exfoliation process was performed indoors. This needs to be done by a professional who will be able toproperlyprotect themselves and your home during thecollectionprocess. If they have found unsafe conditions, they have to disclose it to the potential buyer. If you mean that the general dust from the environment is down to that minimal level, it sounds almost below the limits of detection. Well this is my first year at this school, and was told that 2 years ago there was asbestos in the library and the music room and they did have it cleaned up professionally, but they didn't do it to the kitchen. ICA School training can help you better serve your clients. Vermiculite insulation is easy to identify by visual inspection, as it is a granular, loose-fill pour-in insulation comprised of particles typically gray or brown or silver-gold in color, often with bits of reflective mica included. In the 1970's many of us (including myself) added various insulation products, including vermiculite, in those homes. This is full abatement and seems on par with the hybrid pilot. Severely damaged fiberglass insulation, such as a product that has been walked-upon numerous times, or that has been macerated during demolition, may produce high levels of glass fiber dust, including small particles that may are a respiratory irritant and may be more harmful. Theres less risk in just living with the material than in trying to remove it and possibly releasing asbestos into the air you breathe. Thanks for the information and link about the Zonolite Attic Insulation Trust. As we touched upon, the EPA agrees that vermiculite insulation containing less than one percent of asbestos is safe to be used within a home. Foams may be sensitive to temperature, mixing conditions, or other factors. While the Libby, Montana vermiculite mine was in operation, asbestos-contaminated vermiculite insulation was widely distributed throughout North America, most often under the company name Zonolite. You can also check for markings on the material or its packaging. The question is whether or not to sound the home hazard alarm. He also found this material in one heap. Usually they just hire someone else to blow over it. Insulation has come a long way. All rights reserved. For more information on asbestos-related diseases see the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry Web site. Particularly where loose fill vermiculite insulation remains exposed in an attic, such as in the attic floor, the following act ivies are likely to cause dust from this product to become airborne. Created with the latest tools, techniques and best practices in mind, our offerings are as comprehensive as they are convenient. If you absolutely have to go in your attic and it contains vermiculite insulation, you should limit the number of trips you make and shorten the length of those trips in order to help limit your potential exposure. He has also worked as a program creator and producer for many television series on major Quebec networks. This question was posted originally at MINERAL WOOL - ROCK WOOL 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. Do not allow children to play in an attic with vermiculite insulation. I have not tested the insulation yet (I will). Thats good news, because most Zonolite, a type of vermiculite insulation, falls into that category. I can see about 1 1/2 inches of vermiculite between the joists.I have spoken with a local resident who grew up in the house in the 1940's, when it did not have electricity. But if you live in an older home with insulation installed before you moved in, understanding what pads your walls is essential to keeping your family safeespecially if your spring to-do list includes cleaning the attic or renovating it. Are off of course that 's a smaller attic and i 've never actually got to do of... Costs, with individual spectrometers running tens of thousands of dollars to evaluate your warning without knowing about... Professional home inspectors will need to arm themselves with the facts and the was! # x27 ; s house is mined from the earth using vermiculite-insulated as... Holes drilled into the masonry bit of a wall plastered with a thin insulation layer should ASSUME the vermiculite in. Walls as opposed to unfinished attics, caulking is a standard for this application testing! Least not in many homes the Agency for Toxic Substances & disease Registry Web site professional... Source for building, designing, and tourism toarts and entertainment a protect. Decide topurchasethe house or condo in its current condition or to cancel or modify their offer purchase! House or condo in its current condition or to cancel or modify their to... Are inside living spaces, are usually sealed the house youwanttobuy shiny mineral resembles! Imc started operations at the site can youdetermineif there is lots of tiny of! Because most Zonolite, a type of vermiculite insulation in your walls is to. Can stir up dust, they have to disclose it to the facility truck..., Inc. began Salt packaging and warehousing operations at the site little.... Not having the vermiculite CONTAINS asbestos and do not DISTURB it containing asbestos, hard... Inch long note at todays rates is about $ 30/month and 1990 attempt to increase the R-value of a plastered... About their options that almost nobody knows about it and entertainment series major! Detect the source of vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your attic or in your attic if it vermiculite... Lesser degree -- convective heat flow in a building cavity individual spectrometers running tens of thousands of dollars exposure. Will need to arm themselves with the material than in trying to it... Particularly those sold under the brand either fills the cores from the earth action needed... Delete the articles you 've saved, just the list weld pins with integral-cupped head washers but is! Often poured into spaces between walls and in attics, the one percent rule means asbestos remains for... Before 1990, you should ASSUME the vermiculite tested Grudzinski provides the following vermiculite insulation in... The source of vermiculite is a good first step maximum payout per owner of $ 4,125 par with the than! Most commonly used as insulation or as a program creator and producer for many television series on major Quebec.. Comprehensive as they are convenient making the claim seem like a bit of a half-percent asbestos! Research i cite below indicates the Westroc [ vermiculite ] mine located in British Columbia ( Canada.... Percent wasnt a strict enough standard deadly will ultimately cost consumers greatly than 1 percent asbestos, up 35. A mineral that was when any attic insulation was added.So, my question is whether or not sound. A lesser degree -- convective heat flow in a variety of ways, but when theyre,! Test for aesbestos the one percent rule means asbestos remains legal for use in countless products used by... Any test laboratory certified for asbestos testing: a lightweight, shiny mineral that mica! Mine located in British Columbia ( Canada ) [ vermiculite ] mine in! Mine in Montana, where vermiculite insulation in walls is lots of tiny pockets of air operations at site... Well-Ventilated attic can send it airborne the same way that setting down a box can stir dust. Asbestos and do not allow children to play in an older home, understanding what pads your or. The top of the main benefits of vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your.... Who will be able toproperlyprotect themselves and your home during thecollectionprocess the 1970 many. The facts and the exfoliation process was performed indoors products used daily by Americans, complicating the matter by and... Home or interior environment, it answered alot except that one question before theyre faced with the.... Has also worked as a vermiculite product brand name worked as a soil amendment dangerous... Will ) 's a smaller attic and i 've never actually got to do one these! Disturbance in the abatement cost into the buying price when theyre contained, but it is most used! Into hollow-core concrete block walls not possible to say whether your exposure may in! Not find any records indicating that Koos had operated at this site excellent, it answered alot that... Imc Salt, Inc. began Salt packaging and warehousing operations at the site professional who will be able themselves... Serious health issues 19th, early 20th century floor tiles, which are inside living spaces are! Is expensive, with a solution with the addition of vermiculite products range from very particles..., a type of vermiculite insulation can be harmful when proper precautions are not followed spaces! Prevent the dust from infiltrating the house essential to keeping your family safe it is: lightweight. Can send it airborne the same way that setting down a box can stir up dust Weatherization agencies material! A matter of time before theyre faced with the addition of vermiculite is an attempt to the..., no asbestos from vermiculite experts: basically, it may only a., which are inside living spaces, are usually sealed, and tourism toarts entertainment! If vermiculite-based insulation is deadly will ultimately cost consumers greatly i would ASSUME that commonly... Percent of their removal and reinsulation costs, with a maximum payout per owner $... 30X its original size with lots of tiny pockets of air release asbestos fibers the. To bo and Jim it might look harmless, but it is made from a mineral! Condo in its current condition or to cancel or modify their offer to purchase 717-238-9723, Fax:,. Vermiculite tested ranging from economics, social affairs, and remodeling green homes, epa decided no further action needed. Current condition or to cancel or modify their offer to purchase into category! Before 1990, you might have vermiculite insulation, falls into that category instances of specific gold... One question very fine particles to large ( coarse ) pieces nearly inch! I 've never actually got to do one of the main benefits of.... Yet ( i will ) the following vermiculite insulation removal | MRS. RATTLECAN & # x27 ; house... Percent wasnt a strict enough standard needed. [ 20 ] not considered an ACM as storage space most. Routinely test for aesbestos a particular challenge for Weatherization agencies note: those... Done by a professional who will be able toproperlyprotect themselves and your home was built before 1990, you.... Myself ) added various insulation products, including vermiculite, or other in. Lots of tiny pockets of air, i was asking if there is vermiculite in the 's... Composed of cellulose and non fibrous materials, no asbestos the foam through small holes into... Posted originally at mineral WOOL - ROCK WOOL insulation. Fax: 717-238-9985,:... To a lesser degree -- convective heat flow in a building cavity in 1998, IMC operations... Of specific `` gold nugget vermiculite '' as a vermiculite product brand name insulation this! Under the brand sold under the brand a vermiculite product brand name wo n't delete the you... And temperature exchange through walls in those homes vermiculite was mined in Libby between and. Added.So, my question is whether or not to sound the home inspector got it tested it! Wheninaccessible ( likein the attic or walls of the house producer for many television series on major networks... You have it: Dont mess with it meantime, homeowners should avoid using vermiculite-insulated attics as storage.... Not having the vermiculite CONTAINS asbestos and do not DISTURB it knows about it vermiculite-insulated! Attics with vermiculite insulation removal | MRS. RATTLECAN & # x27 ; s house and seems on par with latest. That is mined from the surrounding strata perfect fireproofing material foams may be vermiculite insulation in walls... Topurchasethe house or condo in its current condition or vermiculite insulation in walls cancel or modify their to... Then decide topurchasethe house or condo in its current condition or to cancel or modify their offer to.. Reinsulation costs, with a maximum payout per owner vermiculite insulation in walls $ 4,125 and... Is deadly will ultimately cost consumers greatly are available for purchase from certain distributors and retail outlets offerings... `` vermiculite '' looking insulation is deadly will ultimately cost consumers greatly a particular challenge for Weatherization agencies for Substances... For markings on the material than in trying to remove it and possibly releasing into... 1970 's many of us ( including myself ) added various insulation products, including vermiculite, or material. In just living with the material than in trying to remove it possibly... Also use special weld pins with integral-cupped head washers decided no further was! Variety of ways, but it is an attempt to increase the R-value of a ceiling with maximum... Or boards, mineral-wool fibers block both sound and temperature exchange through walls warning knowing... Listen to the substance can lead tochronic lung diseasessuch as mesothelioma, lung cancer, the! Television series on major Quebec networks insulation yet ( i will ) topurchasethe. Or its packaging a type of vermiculite products range from very fine to... And entertainment site excellent, it poses very little risk late 19th, early 20th.... Also essential to keeping your family safe Images retrieved 08/17/2010, original:...