Old Attic Insulation Asbestos

There is one type of older insulation that has a significant possibility of being contaminated with asbestos.

Old attic insulation asbestos.

Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. In older homes asbestos can be found in many things insulation included especially loose fill attic insulation. See this article on vermiculite and asbestos for more information. But the vermiculite that was mined years ago was contaminated with an asbestos like material.

It is often used for gardening and as insulation in older homes. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. If your insulation is in batt form you shouldn t worry. 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.

That is the loose granular insulation called vermiculite. In this austin texas home the vermiculite was hiding beneath blown cellulose insulation. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. In its essence vermiculite is pellet like material that expands at high temperatures.

In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. There are many different kinds of wool like insulation that are man made and do not have asbestos but if your attic insulation looks like wool than it is best to be safe and have it tested by a professional.