Older types of insulation include loose fill or batt fiberglass which can be pink yellow or white.
Danger of white loose fill insulation in attic.
It isn t itchy like loose fill fiberglass but appears to be a bit lighter weight and easier to move around.
You may also find thousands upon thousands of loose particles beneath the floorboards of your attic and inside walls.
The most common type that homeowners will encounter is called loose fill cellulose insulation.
If your loose fill insulation fits the visual cues for vermiculite the first thing to do is to avoid disturbing it.
Homeowners can also come across fiberglass insulation during repairing or clearing out the attic.
Asbestos fibers are most dangerous when they are airborne and can be breathed in.
This is how i did my entire attic without a helper or blow in machine.
If the insulation is in batt form there is nothing to worry about it is loose fill insulation poured loosely into wall stud cavities or joists that are problematical.
If the insulation is not properly sealed off it can get into air vents and circulate through the building.
This is slightly different from another type of cellulose insulation which is designed to be blown onto open walls much like spray foam.
Wet insulation no longer performs its primary function of inhibiting heat transfer.
The paperwork didn t go into specifics about what type of insulation it.
While this type is often still used older insulation may be discolored or torn and is therefore less effective.
What to do with suspicious insulation.
There are three types of blown in insulation.
The two most common types of insulation fiberglass batts and blown in cellulose loose fill are vulnerable to attic water damage in two specific ways.
The three most common types of blown in insulation are loose fill fiberglass cellulose and rock wool each with its own pros and cons.
Leaving insulation undisturbed greatly reduces the risk of exposure.
I asked the seller about it since it was installed 2 years back and the paperwork he had just said r 30 loose fill and it was 10 thick appearing to be r 3 per inch.
People have the greatest risk of developing an illness such as asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma when they are exposed to asbestos dust on a regular basis over many years and any activity that disturbs zonolite can potentially release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air.
Loss of insulating value.
If it is white however it may be a newer product.
Saturated insulation typically loses at least 40 of its insulating r value.
Fiberglass insulation is not generally considered to be dangerous but it can irritate the skin and respiratory system.