Different Types Of Old Attic Insulation

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

Different types of old attic insulation.

The type of insulation you need depends on which type is currently installed and the required r value. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. Because blown in insulation which is fiberglass generally can go on top of the existing insulation the negative thing about blown in insulation is that it makes the attic absolutely impassable when you re done and you need a lot more thickness of it because it has more air inside of it than you would if you used fiberglass bats.

Old attic insulation types. There are five main types of insulation that you may encounter. Signs of asbestos contamination. As we mentioned previously vermiculite can often come with some asbestos mixed into it.

It looks to be a white batt type insulation. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

R value ratings vary among different types and forms of home insulations and among products of the same type and form. It has a sparkle or shine in the sunlight. Due to the age it disintegrates into dust when i compress it between my fingers. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. The most common insulation materials are fiberglass cellulose and foam.

I suspect the insulation is original. 5he house was built in 1944 and is northern virginia. For loose fill insulation each manufacturer must determine the r value of its product at settled density and create coverage charts showing the minimum settled thickness minimum weight per square foot and coverage area per. First you should understand the different types of insulation.

Loose fill insulation consists of natural or man made fibers that are blown into the ceiling cavity. Insulation types include loose fill batts rolls foam board spray board and vapor barriers. And as we all know asbestos hardly needs an introduction anymore. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need.

One of the biggest problems with old attic insulation types is that some of them are contaminated with asbestos.