Old Blown In Attic Insulation

Old attic insulation types.

Old blown in attic insulation.

There are test kits available to test for asbestos. I m looking at a 1930s house that the inspection report listed as having loose fill fiberglass insulation in the attic however the photo of the insulation in the attic doesn t look like fiberglass to me. Insulating the attic and roof. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.

In most cases homeowners will add new insulation over old insulation. On 2020 05 08 by mod. Loose fill insulation consists of natural or man made fibers that are blown into the ceiling cavity. Mineral wool was the most common thermal insulation for residential use until the 1960 s when fiberglass insulation become the standard.

But that might be a bad idea. Some common insulation methods can actually cause long term damage. If you re shivering in an old house you may be tempted to hire someone to blow insulation in. The raw materials are melted in furnaces and blown with air or steam over spinning drums or a centrifuge to create the fibers picture making cotton candy.

You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. Adding new insulation over old insulation. How old is the insulation in your attic. 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.

Before you take that step learn how to insulate an old house effectively. One of the biggest problems with old attic insulation types is that some of them are contaminated with asbestos. The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic.

Always use unfaced batts both when laying product for the first time and to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between new and old layers of insulation. Blow in the fill between and over the joists rather than across them. It is also possible to remove specific sections of the insulation that have been affected rather than getting rid of all the old insulation however it depends on the situation. Rigid insulation is extruded into board form and is often made of plastic.

Signs of asbestos contamination. And as we all know asbestos hardly needs an introduction anymore. Blown in insulation is popular in spaces where it would be difficult to install insulation using other methods. Batt or blanket insulation is made from glass or cotton fiber and comes in roll form usually in widths of 16 or 24 inches.

If your structure is older it may contain asbestos insulation.