Does anybody know what this is?
renegade7101
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I tried to attach a couple of pictures of an unknown insulation material I found in an older home, but can’t seem to get it to work. Whatever this material is, it is white, nonflamable, but it does conduct heat, very powdery and it has the consistency of laundry detergent. I’ve never seen anything like it, and so far neither has anyone I’ve talked to. Any ideas?
Replies
crystal meth?
vermiculite?
Thanks, but I know what vermiculite is and it definitely isn't this.
Pearlite(sp)Perlite
edited for spelling
Edited 5/15/2006 10:07 pm ET by MarkH
Possibly, but Perlite doesn't conduct heat, does it?
It's used for insulation, but it is a mineral rock. I don't know about conducting heat.
aka rockwool. Only when I've used that, it's in batts and not loose, like the OP describes.
Edited 5/15/2006 10:52 pm ET by CloudHidden
Borax.
The destination is not the point. The completion is not the point. Enjoy today. If you can't enjoy today, then what is the point ?
I know Borax is used as a component in better cellulose insulation but does anyone use it alone as an insulation?
How much is there and how is it placed in the walls?
Is the same thing in the ceilings?
half of good living is staying out of bad situations
Its not in the walls, only in the ceiling. There is about 3" spread fairly uniform across the entire ceiling. The HO is complaining that the stuff sifts down through the window frames and light fixtures every time they close the door.
That's diatomaceous earth. it's basically silica left over from the shells of diatoms, creatures that lived on the seabed.
At one point, it was used for a sort of insulation, mostly around chimneys/heat sources, and around knob and tube wiring (at least in my house). I don't know how common that was. My house is a 1915, if that's any help.
The stuff will contribute to silicosis, so try not to breathe too much in. It will also clog shop-vac filters like nobody's business, because it's so fine.
zak
"so it goes"
If it conducts heat it's not an insulating material now, is it?
DG/Builder
If it's not diatomaceous earth, it may be a gyproc based insulation. It seems that they took damaged or out-of-spec board and ground it finely, bagged it.... calling it insulation. Dated about 1945-55, from what I could tell. Found it fairly regularly in the area where I used to run an insulation company. In some houses, bags with the CGC (Canadian Gypsum Corporation) logo had been left in the attic.
Edited 5/16/2006 11:01 am ET by experienced
Another vote for loose fill rock wool.
Any chance you can post a pic? Try again maybe.
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
Finaly got it to upload, so here are a couple of pics.
I recognize that...I think someone broke open a beanbag chair up there.
Thanks for the pics.
Have to admit my guess was wrong. That ain't rock wool.
New one on me.
Certainly not vermiculite.
Too much fine dust to be styro.
May indeed be diatomaceous earth. Never heard of it used as insulation in a home before. Would kill any bugs up there though.
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
an absolute fortune in coke...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
>>"an absolute fortune in coke...
First you make the money; then you get the power, and when you get the power you get the women.
View Image
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
Looking at that poster as I type. My 18 year old son decorated our basement family room!!!
After seeing the perite site, I might think that's our stuff!
I remember a Popular Science article in the early to mid eighties claiming the shiny surfaces of the stuff reflects heat and high R (ever hear that before?). The article talked about the product being "little hard spheres". This article may have prompted someone to buy it in what ever form they could get- even powdered!
I found a few piles of stuff like that in my attic, but nowhere near that much. Maybe a gallon and a half total. Mine was light and fluffy. I dug it out with a dust pan, swept and vacuumed the rest, and tossed it all. Some of it was by the eaves under a valley, some near a vent in the parapet wall.
-- J.S.
Over 30 years in home remodeling, and I've never seen insulation like that.
You sure someone didn't build a sandbox in the attic?
No, ain't like any of the re-cycled gyroc I've seen. Too granular and no signs of any ground paper. Must be some local product. Was there borax or diatomaceous earth pits/mines in your area in the past?
Ah! hope someone comes up with the answer tonight! Haven't learned too much new today. Since about 1988, I've been saying in the home inspection business that if I don't see some new, odd, completely crazy or very unsafe or foolish different item every working week, I must have had my eyes closed!!
Edited 5/16/2006 8:34 pm ET by experienced
Here's a few pictures of diatomaceous earth from my attic. Your insulation looks less dusty- it's probably coke or sugar, LOL. How dense is it? diatomaceous earth is fluffy, but you wouldn't think it's light enough to be much of a insulator. I'm not sure if all DE is of uniform granularity, so it's possible that it's the same stuff, but I'm not so confident of that anymore.zak
"so it goes"
Its not fluffy at all. Its light weight but more granular in consistency, like laundry detergent. I don't think its the same stuff. It could be but it doesn't quite look the same.
Also FYI the posts by BAMBAM were by me, He logged on at lunch time with my 'puter and I didn't realize he was still logged in.
Edited 5/16/2006 10:45 pm by renegade7101
Sure, blame it all on me. renegade7101 is my brother (black sheep of the family) and I forgot to log off. guess that means no christmas this year.
based on the first picture you posted, and the other thread about the cost of wire, you must have "a fortune in 12/2 romex" in your attic.
Yeah, I used 3 or 4 250' rolls rewiring my house over the last few years. I'm not quite done with the attic, but I've got the wire to finish. I only use 12/2, because I like to make sure it's over done and I have maximum flexibility with circuits. I would be rethinking that philosophy if I were doing it at today's wire prices.zak
"so it goes"
http://www.perlite.net/
Sure looks like perlite to me.
Yep, solved.
Fine it is.
be of course unless the original owner was an asbestos miner
half of good living is staying out of bad situations
I've never seen anything of the sort and have done many renovations over the years.Not vermiculite, I almost thought it was the gypson based stuff by the way you were describing it until your posted pics.Anyways , cant help you out there maybe some alien life form will let you know of a positive identification, lol
Good luck
The Jamar Hammer
Why would anyone want an insulation material that conducts heat?
Maybe that stuff IS detergent?
BruceT
I believe this came up on the Old House Journal discussion boards. Can't post pictures over there so impossible to say for sure. But I suggest you try a search there and see what you find. As I recall, there was a definative answer, but I don't know what it was. I think I recall something about plaster though.
http://www.oldhousejournal.com/talk/index.shtml
Have you taken some and mixed it with water to see if it dissolves?
IIRC diatomaceous earth will float on water...sprinkle a little bit on the surface, and see if it floats...?