Vermiculite Insulation Removal Services

Vermiculite is a naturally-occurring mineral that resembles tiny rocks or granular material, and due to its fire-resistant ability to insulate against heat and cold and   the ability to absorb moisture, it was commonly used in attic insulation in the 1950s and 1960s.

A mine in Libby, Montana produced more than 70% of vermiculite sold in the United States between 1919 and 1990, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It was later discovered, however, that the mine contained the toxic mineral asbestos, which meant the vermiculite, which was often sold under the name Zonolite, was contaminated and potentially hazardous.

There was no method for tracking the vermiculture produced and distributed from the mine, which means it’s still being found in homes today, sometimes still in the original bags.

An important note for homeowners: If you have vermiculite insulation, you may be eligible for a partial removal reimbursement cost. The Zonolite Attic Insulation Trust was established to educate the public and provide 55% reimbursement for insulation removal for those who qualify.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have banned several asbestos products, but the substance is still found in many homes built prior to the 1980s.

Vermiculite looks like tiny pebbles and is typically light brown, gray, or gold. It also contains shiny flakes, similar to mica, but it’s important to know that vermiculite breaks down over time and ultimately resembles sand.

Typically vermiculite is poured in the structural channels of your attic. Over time the material breaks down and dust settles at the bottom. This is especially dangerous for homeowners who are doing renovations that may require portions of the ceiling in their livings spaces to be opened.  When the ceilings are opened the fine dust, which contains asbestos can fall on the homeowner and because of the breakdown of the material there is a high risk of the material becoming air borne. At this point, the asbestos inside the vermiculate is so small, it may not even register as such when analyzed in a lab, but it should still be treated as if it were asbestos.

But it’s important to know you don’t have to remove vermiculate insulation. In fact, the EPA recommends that you leave the vermiculate insulation alone. If you do have renovation or remodeling plans that would disturb the vermiculite insulation, you should give us a call and never remove it yourself. Our asbestos experts have the training and experience to identify and safely remove this hazardous material.