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The EPA strongly recommends that “you should never attempt to remove the insulation yourself. Hire professionals trained and certified to safety remove the material.” Although they don’t recommend it, generally states allow homeowners to remove vermiculite from their own homes.
How do you dispose of vermiculite insulation?
Disposing of Vermiculite Once it’s all been removed, you’ll need to transport it to a sanctioned landfill. Many landfills require you to transport it inside a covered trailer with heavy plastic bags properly labeled and sealed.
Should you remove vermiculite insulation?
What should I do if I have vermiculite attic insulation? Leave it alone. If vermiculite insulation is disturbed, it may release asbestos fibers into the air. At this point the safest and easiest option for intact insulation is to leave it alone.
What can I do about vermiculite in my attic?
We recommend that you: Leave vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your attic or in your walls. Do not store boxes or other items in your attic if it contains vermiculite insulation. Do not allow children to play in an attic with vermiculite insulation. Do not attempt to remove the insulation yourself.
How can you tell if vermiculite 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.
Can I throw away vermiculite?
Wet the vermiculite or insulation lightly with a spray of water. This helps keep loose fibers and particles from flying off into the air. Gently pack the moist insulation or vermiculite into sealable, waterproof bags. Take the bags of material to be disposed of to the appropriate dump.
Can a homeowner remove vermiculite?
The EPA strongly recommends that “you should never attempt to remove the insulation yourself. Hire professionals trained and certified to safety remove the material.” Although they don’t recommend it, generally states allow homeowners to remove vermiculite from their own homes.
Is it safe to buy a house with vermiculite insulation?
As we touched upon, the EPA agrees that vermiculite insulation containing less than one percent of asbestos is safe to be used within a home. This sort of vermiculite insulation typically comes in the form of Zonolite, a common form of insulation that appears as pebble-like substances.
Can you sell a house with vermiculite?
Vermiculite is often a sales negotiating point. Potential buyers of properties that contain Vermiculite expect a selling price discount associated with the potential expense associated with removing asbestos containing Vermiculite.
How toxic is vermiculite?
Vermiculite itself is safe to use; there is no evidence that any acute or chronic toxicity or carcinogenicity exists from long-term exposure to vermiculite. When the vermiculite was mined, some asbestos minerals contaminated the vermiculite.
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 cover vermiculite insulation?
It is generally recommended that the vermiculite insulation be appropriately covered and left in place undisturbed. Removal is generally unnecessary unless required for renovation or demolition.
Is there asbestos in vermiculite ceilings?
Pure vermiculite is perfectly harmless, but this mineral is often mined from areas where it picked up asbestos. Textured vermiculite ceilings are highly friable and easily damaged, so they’re more likely to release any asbestos they might contain than, for example, asbestos floor tiles.
Was vermiculite insulation used in walls?
What is vermiculite? Vermiculite is a mineral that was used for insulation. If your home was built before 1990, you might have vermiculite insulation in your walls or attic. Up to 85 percent of all vermiculite insulation in the U.S. came from a mine in Libby, Montana, sold under the name Zonolite.
What do you do if you have asbestos insulation?
Therefore, if you discover insulation in your home that you believe may contain toxic material, you should not try to remove it or inspect it closely by yourself. Instead, if you suspect an area may be contaminated with asbestos, especially if the material is damaged in any way, you should call a professional.
How long does it take to remove vermiculite insulation?
This takes approximately 4-6 months after the job has been completed. There are four primary reasons for moving ahead with removal. The presence of vermiculite greatly reduces the value of your home.
What is the R value of vermiculite?
Expanded vermiculite is lightweight, fire-resistant, and odorless; since it has an R-value of about R-2 per inch, it was used for decades as an insulation material.
Does vermiculite in Canada contain asbestos?
However Health Canada has found some brands of vermiculite insulation may contain tremolite asbestos and could present a health hazard. These products can cause health risks if disturbed during maintenance, renovation or demolition.
Where was Zonolite sold?
For decades, Zonolite was widely marketed in northern regions. Hardware stores sold the low-cost insulation to homeowners who bought up bags of it to spread in their attics. Montgomery Ward and Sears also sold Zonolite under their own store brands.
Do you have to disclose vermiculite?
What about vermiculite? Federal law does not require the seller to disclose to a buyer that their home contains asbestos or vermiculite.
When was vermiculite insulation banned?
Vermiculite Mostly Found in Attics 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. What made the Libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits.
Can you get a mortgage on a house with asbestos?
Will a bank finance a house with asbestos? The short answer: It depends. It may become an issue for government-backed loans with strict minimum property standards. In particular, if the asbestos could pose a health hazard to the homeowner.
