Asbestos insulation. What does it look like?

[BILLVO]

I need to do a remodel project in my house. It is an older home and I need to tear out some roofing and was wondering what Asbestos Blow in insulation looks like? I have done a lot of searching but can't find anything that shows what it looks like. What I have looks like ground up newspaper greyish in color and is very itchy and makes me cough by just stirring it just a bit the couple times I have been up in the attic.



Dumb due to not having a face mask. I need to know if this would be a good time to have it removed and replaced with a safer insulation.

 

[The patriot]

I can tell you what it looks like in a steam plant.

It's white and looks sort of like a cast that might be on your arm or leg. That texture.

And if you broke it opened, it's dusty as all hell. VERY fine particles!

Not sure about blown in the attic types though... .

 

[rbattelle]

Are you sure there's a such thing as blown-in asbestos insulation? I was under the impression that the blow-in insulation craze began with cellulose.

This site might help.

Ryan

 

[nickleinonen]

Are you sure there's a such thing as blown-in asbestos insulation?

i was thinking the same too... i too have only seen the hard cast coated stuff on piping. 99% of that stuff has been removed at my work and replaced with fiberglass.

 

[daytripper63]

I do Heating and A/c and had to take some Asbestos test and I have never heard of blown in asbestos insulation.

 

[obert]

... . What I have looks like ground up newspaper greyish in color and is very itchy and makes me cough by just stirring it just a bit the couple times I have been up in the attic.....

Asbestos takes many forms, but to me it sounds like you have that microcellulose fiber stuff. Oddly enough, that's pretty much what ground up newspaper would be... .

 

[CJ Johansson]

I can't tell you what every type of asbestos containing loose fil house insulation looks like, but I know what the kind I have in my house looks like. It's kind of grainy chunks about 1/8 inch in size, it's basically expanded vermiculite.

The stuff I've got is called Zonolite, here's a site with some pictures:

Asbestos Danger: Do You Have Zonolite In Your Attic? - Money News Story - WMAQ | Chicago

Doesn't really sound like it's what you've got.

-cj

 

[BILLVO]

There are several houses in this area that were built in the 70-80's that have blown in asbestos.



I was on several sites that had lists of where it was used and it is in blow in insulation and pretty much every thing you would use to build a house with. Plaster, dry wall, drywall tape, paint,brick,tile, linoleum,ceiling tiles,window caulk.



I found that it is not identifyable with the naked eye. It has to be sent to a lab and tested.



There is a guy from that already contacted me who is an asbestos inspector and an environmental scientist. Tomorrow we will have a discussion about what to do to find out.