Asbestos containing thermal insulation can be grouped into four major categories.
Attic loose fill asbestos insulation.
Loose fill insulation is designed to be poured onto attic floors or blown into hollow spaces inside walls and other building structures.
However there are loose fill wall and attic insulation which can contain asbestos.
It s considered a very natural product and does not contain asbestos.
Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.
If you re insulation is the batt style insulation as the loose fill insulation has the higher risk as it s loosely poured into wall or joist cavities.
Look in your attic for loose fill asbestos.
Loose fill asbestos fiber can be a pale white color or it could be a darker dirty color depending on how old or how dirty it is.
It has a grey paper like appearance and is extremely harmful to your health.
The first step in loose fill attic insulation removal is determining what type of insulation you ll be working with.
Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.
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.
Older homes and buildings may have this type of insulation installed.
Loose fill wrap block and spray on.
There is one type of older insulation that has a significant possibility of being contaminated with asbestos.
If your attic or wall insulation is in batt or blanket form whether it s fiberglass cellulose or another material you generally don t have to be concerned about asbestos.
The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation.
For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.
Other insulation balsam wool is a shredded wood product treated with borax as a fire retardant.
Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.
You may also find thousands of loose particles within walls or under attic flooring.
That is the loose granular insulation called vermiculite.
Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.
Use a test kit to determine if the insulation is comprised of asbestos.
Call an asbestos professional immediately.
Zonolite is a type of loose fill insulation designed to be poured onto an attic floor.
Though it is no longer made its popularity in the past means it can still be found in millions of homes across the u s.
However asbestos can also be found in some forms of wall and loose fill attic insulation as well.