Asbestos Insulation Old Home Attic

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.

Asbestos insulation old home attic.

I received an e mail from a homeowner concerned that his attic might have asbestos insulation. Several years ago asbestos was commonly used in everything from shingles to floor tiles and asbestos insulation was used in many homes that were built in the 1950s and 1960s. If you reside in a home that was built or remodeled prior to 1990 the possibility exists that you may have attic insulation that contains asbestos. Concerns about asbestos contaminated vermiculite insulation a mine near libby montana was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the united states from 1919 to 1990.

Attic insulation in older homes may contain asbestos that could fall through ceiling cracks. 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. Unfortunately it can also be found in a myriad of other household materials including. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos.

It s old dirty and fibrous and the inspector told him that it should be tested for asbestos fibers. With many homes from that era still standing it is no surprise to run into asbestos in some capacity. Asbestos insulation is a very common problem that many people have to deal with at some point. Look in your attic for loose fill asbestos.

There exist a good many misconceptions about attic insulation and asbestos. When disturbed tiny abrasive asbestos fibers are easily inhaled which damages lung tissue and can cause cancer. In order to protect the safety and health of your loved ones you need to familiarize yourself with. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles.

One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. While remodeling the attic of his 1960s home john found piles of brown pebble like insulation. In homes built prior to 1975 asbestos is most commonly found as thermal insulation on basement boilers and pipes. Check for asbestos insulation if your home has damage that needs repair.

The libby mine was closed down in 1990 meaning any homes that were built and or remodeled prior to their closing date could have attic insulation containing asbestos. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. Check the underside of your roof for a white or gray rough coating. Your home was constructed prior to 1990.

A home inspector pointed out that the insulation behind the upstairs knee walls is called something wool.