What is fluffy, white insulation?

[Sid Fiber]

Hi--

The attic of my house is filled with a loose, blow-in insulation. It's
fluffy and speckled white in color. Does this sound like cellulose
insulation? Or could it be asbestos? I've heard that a form of loose
blow-in asbestos was infrequently used in houses, especially during the 30's
and 50's.

Let me add that the house is eighty-six years old. I don't have any
information about it's remodeling history.

Thank you very much. I'd really appreciate your advice.

--Sid

[Ed]

Take some to a home center or insulation contractor and ask them.

[danh...@millcomm.com]

Sounds a little like vermiculite, or maybe cellulose if it was retrofit
since about 1960. What does the material look like up close? Is it
flakes or fibers? How big are the pieces? Does it break up or turn to
poweder if you rub it between your fingers?

Vermiculite looks/acts a little like dirty styrofoam beads (like the beads
put in "bean bag" chairs before they were outlawed). But if you look up
close the grains are made of thin layers of a mica-like substance. It's
overall grey in color, though with a lot of variation from grain to grain.

Cellulose is very finely ground newspaper, treated with chemicals to
resist fire, rot, and insects. It's quite fluffy and, unlike vermiculite,
will clump together like a snowball if you squeeze some of it together in
your hand. The color varies, but is generally light grey with maybe a
blue cast, depending on the treatment chemicals.

Rockwool is a bit like fiberglass, only a funkier color (can't quite
describe it) and quite a bit coarser than fiberglass.

Have never seen loose asbestos fill, but it would probably come in short
white fibers. I suspect it will clump a little when squeezed, but not as
much as cellulose, and it will tend to turn to powder if handled much. It
would be pretty much pure white, except where contaminated.

In <6lfsia$j...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>, "Sid Fiber" <asi...@hotmail.com> writes:
>Hi--
>
>The attic of my house is filled with a loose, blow-in insulation. It's
>fluffy and speckled white in color. Does this sound like cellulose
>insulation? Or could it be asbestos? I've heard that a form of loose
>blow-in asbestos was infrequently used in houses, especially during the 30's
>and 50's.
>
>Let me add that the house is eighty-six years old. I don't have any
>information about it's remodeling history.
>
>Thank you very much. I'd really appreciate your advice.

Dan Hicks
Hey!! My advice is free -- take it for what it's worth!
http://www.millcomm.com/~danhicks