Different Types Of Old Attic Insulation

It looks to be a white batt type insulation.

Different types of old attic insulation. Due to the age it disintegrates into dust when i compress it between my fingers. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. I am trying to identify the type of insulation in my attic. 5he house was built in 1944 and is northern virginia.

Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. As we mentioned previously vermiculite can often come with some asbestos mixed into it. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. Signs of asbestos contamination.

In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. First you should understand the different types of insulation. I suspect the insulation is original. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. Old attic insulation types. Batt or blanket insulation is made from glass or cotton fiber and comes in roll form usually in widths of 16 or 24. And as we all know asbestos hardly needs an introduction anymore.

Loose fill insulation consists of natural or man made fibers that are blown into the ceiling cavity. In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. The type of insulation you need depends on which type is currently installed and the required r value. It has a sparkle or shine in the sunlight.

Insulation types include loose fill batts rolls foam board spray board and vapor barriers. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. The most common insulation materials are fiberglass cellulose and foam. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation.

One of the biggest problems with old attic insulation types is that some of them are contaminated with asbestos. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. 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. R value ratings vary among different types and forms of home insulations and among products of the same type and form.

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.