Can I lay insulation over vermiculite?

Chip D'Angelo, president of WCD Consultants, an asbestos remediation company in Pennington, N.J., said fiberglass insulation batts can be installed directly over the existing vermiculite if its surface is sprayed with a mist of water to avoid creating dust, and if a protective breathing mask is worn.

Can you put insulation over vermiculite insulation?

This is bad advice because it is not possible to properly air seal and/or insulate an attic without disturbing the vermiculite. In fact, blowing cellulose or fiberglass over the top of existing vermiculite insulation simply disturbs the vermiculite and causes the smallest fibers (asbestos) to become airborne.

Can you seal vermiculite?

It is possible that vermiculite attic insulation can sift through cracks in the ceiling, around light fixtures, or around ceiling fans. You can prevent this by sealing the cracks and holes that insulation could pass through.

Does vermiculite have to be removed?

The best way to minimize asbestos exposure from vermiculite is to NOT remove or disturb the insulation. Moving the vermiculite will cause fibres to become airborne. It is not always necessary to remove the asbestos from the workplace or home.

Can you encapsulate vermiculite?

Enclosing the vermiculite, he said, could be accomplished by simply installing boards or plywood over the floor joists in the attic. The process of enclosure itself, however, is likely to result in some level of disturbance of the vermiculite. The other possibility, however, is to coat it with an encapsulant.

Vermiculite Insulation

What can I do about vermiculite in my attic?

Do not attempt to remove the insulation yourself. Hire a professional asbestos contractor if you plan to remodel or conduct renovations that would disturb the vermiculite in your attic or walls to make sure the material is safely handled and/or removed.

What are the dangers of vermiculite?

By not disturbing the vermiculite, you are reducing your chances for exposure to asbestos. If vermiculite is disturbed, it could cause tiny, needle-like asbestos fibers to become airborne. Asbestos in the air can be inhaled and cause lung damage. If asbestos is not in the air, it is not dangerous to your lungs.

How can you tell if vermiculite insulation has asbestos?

How can I tell if my vermiculite insulation contains asbestos? The majority of all vermiculite insulation pro- duced before 1990 used contaminated vermicu- lite from Libby. Asbestos fibers in vermiculite are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Only a trained technician using a microscope can see asbestos fibers.

How do you test vermiculite insulation for asbestos?

In order to detect the presence of asbestos, please dig through the insulation layer and scoop loose insulation from the attic floor. You need to collect about a cup of vermiculite and place it in a sandwich size Ziploc bag. Label the bag with a permanent marker like: “Attic insulation above kitchen”.

What percent of vermiculite has asbestos?

The vast majority of tests come back having less than 1 percent asbestos. That means no asbestos abatement contractors get involved, and removal of the vermiculite insulation is done with essentially a giant vacuum.

What happens when vermiculite insulation gets wet?

Vermiculite insluation itself does not burn: it is non-combustible, though contaminants and debris, if mixed with any insulating material at enough volume, might burn. When wet, vermiculite can hold a lot of water, as much as 220-325% by weight, and as much as 20-50% by volume.

Does my vermiculite contain asbestos?

An EPA study showed some vermiculite products contain low levels of asbestos. Asbestos is found primarily in the unmixed vermiculite product although some was found in pre-mixed potting soils. For consumers using vermiculite on an infrequent basis the health risk is low.

Can I put new insulation on top of old?

Yes! You can absolutely new insulation over old insulation… as long as it isn't wet. Energy Star advises as follows: “If it… appears that the insulation [is wet or] has previously been wet, you should look for the cause and repair the problem to prevent a reoccurrence.

What happens if you breathe in asbestos once?

It is possible to develop an illness such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, pleural effusions or lung cancer after a one-time exposure to asbestos if the exposure was significant enough to lead to asbestos particles lodging in the body's tissues. The 9/11 attack is a common example.

When was vermiculite insulation banned?

The vermiculite from Libby is part of the longest man-made environmental disaster in American history. It was mined there for more than 50 years, ending in 1990. The insulation, which was known by the brand name Zonolite, is most often found in residential attics.

Is vermiculite carcinogenic?

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. In addition, mineral substances (e.g. talc or vermiculite) that contain asbestos should also be regarded as carcinogenic to humans.

Is vermiculite safe in UK?

Today, most vermiculite is safe. However, that is not to say it cannot contain asbestos. Vermiculite which is accompanied by a great deal of dust likely has residual asbestos in its contents and should be used with caution. Current regulations ban products which contain 1% or more asbestos.

What type of insulation was used in 1960?

While fiberglass and cellulose rose to popularity some years apart from each other, they were the mainstay of insulation during the 1960s and onward (thanks to the fall of asbestos).

How long do you need to be exposed to asbestos?

How long after exposure to asbestos do symptoms appear? Asbestos-related diseases usually take at least 20 years to develop after exposure.

How do you remove vermiculite insulation yourself?

Just think, if you tried to sweep up dust it flies into the air. But mopping it up ensures it stays put and is easy to remove. A large shop vacuum works best in attics. Line the shop vac with heavy-gauge plastic bags and start sucking up the vermiculite.

Does vermiculite break down in soil?

Vermiculite is odorless, can be purchased in horticultural-grade bags with directions on working it into the garden soil. It's a permanent soil conditioner and won't break down in your soil like compost does.

Is vermiculite toxic to dogs?

Dog Curiosity

Chewing volcanic perlite, a form of volcanic glass, could damage teeth. Vermiculite remains swollen and might cause health problems but would feel mushy when eaten.

How do you replace vermiculite?

Vermiculite Alternatives

Finely ground pine bark, also called “pine fines,” is a principal ingredient of most potting mixes. As an alternative to vermiculite, pine fines also offer water-retentive qualities, especially with smaller particle sizes. Cotton gin waste includes gin leavings, such as stems, leaves and hulls.