Should You Buy A House With Vermiculite Insulation

If you have to disturb the insulation wear a respirator.

Should you buy a house with vermiculite insulation. Contact us to ask a question provide feedback or report a problem. By patrick mccombe issue 268 july 2017 i m considering buying a house that has vermiculite insulation in the attic. According to health canada their advice is to leave it alone. Just be cautious and use common sense.

Removing it would probably cause the greatest health risk because it would disturb it and would cost up to 10k. Looking at buying a house and had an inspection done. The vermiculite is clearly visible. This level represents a health risk if the asbestos is inhaled with exposure to the fibers resulting in serious respiratory diseases.

We ve used the loft for years for storing toys christmas stuff and general tat. If you choose to have the vermiculite insulation removed the epa recommends that you use a trained and accredited asbestos contractor that is separate and independent from the company that performed the assessment of the vermiculite insulation to avoid any conflict of interest. Nearly 70 percent of the vermiculite insulation commonly used in houses in the u s. Limit disturbances to the insulation.

If you do not go into your attic handle or disturb the insulation it is likely that you will not be exposed to asbestos fibers from vermiculite insulation. It has vermiculite insulation and likely would ve been from before the 90s. The house itself was built in 1905 but was also added on along the way a few times. Buying a vermiculite insulated house asbestos exposure from vermiculite insulation can lead to asbestosis lung cancer and mesothelioma which can show up years or even decades after exposure.

Although you can disturb it safely if you wear a respirator and mist it with water. Over 300 000 homes in canada have zonolite brand vermiculite attic insulation. When in a sealed attic space it poses no health risks. We live in a 1930 s house and the insulation in the loft is very old vermiculite with fibreglass placed very badly and patchily on top.

The vermiculite insulation used in homes built during this period and sometimes marketed under the trade name zonolite typically contains 1 3 percent asbestos.