Old Attic Insulation Asbestos

It is often used for gardening and as insulation in older homes.

Old attic insulation asbestos.

Geological survey vermiculite attic insulation is sometimes found in older homes and is often contaminated with asbestos because of the libby montana mine where it originated. In this austin texas home the vermiculite was hiding beneath blown cellulose insulation. Asbestos can be found in the insulation used in walls attics the materials around plumbing and pipes electrical wiring as well as on heating and air conditioning units. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles.

See this article on vermiculite and asbestos for more information. If you notice that you have insulation that is falling apart in your building have a professional inspect for asbestos. In older homes asbestos can be found in many things insulation included especially loose fill attic insulation. If your insulation is in batt form you shouldn t worry.

That is the loose granular insulation called vermiculite. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. But the vermiculite that was mined years ago was contaminated with an asbestos like material.

In its essence vermiculite is pellet like material that expands at high temperatures. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos.