vermiculite insulation
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my attic has 8" of vermiculite insulation that my dad installed around 1974. i helped him, we hauled it all home in his vw beetle a few bags at a time. he tried rock wool first but it made my mom sick. no one knew that vermiculite had asbestos in it then.
it's the zonolite brand....i found a bag in the attic today getting rid of stuff upstairs......the attic has not been cleaned out since the 70's.
should i hide it or remove it and insulate with fiberglass? there is 1/2" plywood on the floor all but 2' of the end on each side.
i'm not hiring an abatement team (more than a new coal boiler)
i have no plans on selling the house. i need to get at least 30 more years out of it.
how About 2" foam over the entire floor, then covered in plywood. the attic is just storage, no finished walls. that would give me a r29.... (r16 for the vermiculite, r13 for the 2" foam) and the vermiculite would not be blowing around......it is a fully vented attic, i think i really need that extra r value.
it's the zonolite brand....i found a bag in the attic today getting rid of stuff upstairs......the attic has not been cleaned out since the 70's.
should i hide it or remove it and insulate with fiberglass? there is 1/2" plywood on the floor all but 2' of the end on each side.
i'm not hiring an abatement team (more than a new coal boiler)
i have no plans on selling the house. i need to get at least 30 more years out of it.
how About 2" foam over the entire floor, then covered in plywood. the attic is just storage, no finished walls. that would give me a r29.... (r16 for the vermiculite, r13 for the 2" foam) and the vermiculite would not be blowing around......it is a fully vented attic, i think i really need that extra r value.
- Rob R.
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I would not mess with it. 8" of vermiculite is about R16. 2" of rigid foam with taped seams would nearly double the R value.
Does the top floor have any recessed lighting? Pull down set of attic stairs? Those are both typical sources of big air leaks into the attic. I put a "coffin" that sits in the attic over the set of pull down stairs, it has foam along the bottom so it makes a tight seal. Stopped all drafts.
Does the top floor have any recessed lighting? Pull down set of attic stairs? Those are both typical sources of big air leaks into the attic. I put a "coffin" that sits in the attic over the set of pull down stairs, it has foam along the bottom so it makes a tight seal. Stopped all drafts.
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the bathroom fan/light. is it, no can lighting. the two ceiling light boxes are sealed pretty well.Rob R. wrote: ↑Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:32 pmI would not mess with it. 8" of vermiculite is about R16. 2" of rigid foam with taped seams would nearly double the R value.
Does the top floor have any recessed lighting? Pull down set of attic stairs? Those are both typical sources of big air leaks into the attic. I put a "coffin" that sits in the attic over the set of pull down stairs, it has foam along the bottom so it makes a tight seal. Stopped all drafts.
the stairs are enclosed, dad had a old hollow core door over the stairwell opening at the top of the steps, there are two sets of stairs, the front set i could not get to until recently. the back set of steps goes to either my room or the attic door. we did that because the attic only has a 5' ceiling at the peak.
- McGiever
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By all means do play it safe with old vermiculite insulation.
But, it is still available to purchase even today. IDK, might they now use more discretion as to keep the asbestos out of it? Both are mined minerals BTW.
Good stuff for soil amendment and works good for insulating around terracotta flue liners while laying-up or building a new masonry chimney.
But, it is still available to purchase even today. IDK, might they now use more discretion as to keep the asbestos out of it? Both are mined minerals BTW.
Good stuff for soil amendment and works good for insulating around terracotta flue liners while laying-up or building a new masonry chimney.
- hotblast1357
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I used it in my new chimney I built this summer for the boiler building, bought it at the same place I bought my blocks and tiles.
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thanks guys!
i will leave it in place and put 2" foam with tapes seams down.
is it ok to screw the foam to the floor?
i think i am only going to put plywood just down the center. the stuff that's stored can sit on cardboard on the foam right?
i will leave it in place and put 2" foam with tapes seams down.
is it ok to screw the foam to the floor?
i think i am only going to put plywood just down the center. the stuff that's stored can sit on cardboard on the foam right?
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Tack it down with foam safe adhesive...
Tape the joints with foam tape...
Might want to bring it to 4"...
This should bring the condensing point to the interior of the foam...
where it can't condense...
Screw the center plywood down with long screws to the ply below...
I know money is a factor here...
the extra 2" of foam will pay back quickly and then save money forever...
Go with 3/8 ply for the storage area, 5/8 for the walk way...
Tape the joints with foam tape...
Might want to bring it to 4"...
This should bring the condensing point to the interior of the foam...
where it can't condense...
Screw the center plywood down with long screws to the ply below...
I know money is a factor here...
the extra 2" of foam will pay back quickly and then save money forever...
Go with 3/8 ply for the storage area, 5/8 for the walk way...
- windyhill4.2
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2" foil board is R12, double that would be great for the ceiling,can't get too much insulation for the top cap.
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i just got 12 sheets of 2" foam....it's not foil board but it's a lot less money......24 a sheet vs 34 a sheet. got it at the local roofing supply company.
- windyhill4.2
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It also has less R -rating than the foil on 2 sides has. No vapor barrier either ?lincolnmania wrote: ↑Tue. Jan. 02, 2018 2:49 pmi just got 12 sheets of 2" foam....it's not foil board but it's a lot less money......24 a sheet vs 34 a sheet. got it at the local roofing supply company.
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r12.......paper on both sides.windyhill4.2 wrote: ↑Tue. Jan. 02, 2018 2:52 pmIt also has less R -rating than the foil on 2 sides has. No vapor barrier either ?
- Sunny Boy
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The vapor barrier doesn't have to be attached to the insulation. You can used plastic drop cloth and overlap the edges a foot. or tape them. Then lay the insulation on top. As long as the plastic forms a vapor barrier between the heated space and the insulation, it works fine.
Paul
Paul
- windyhill4.2
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Paper ? or foil ?
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you can also paint the ceiling with vapor retarding paint...
but holes are more important to seal...
https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/54110/You-Don ... r-Probably
but holes are more important to seal...
https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/54110/You-Don ... r-Probably