Hi Insulation Experts/Knowledgeables,
I was hoping someone could help me identify the type of insulation I have. Here are two pictures one from the attic and the other from a knee wall where some of the insulation has fallen from the attic onto the bottom plate.
I think the insulating was done around 1956 as I found a newspaper scrap from that period with it. I used a hepa 1/2 mask filter while examining the insulation. It appears to be bark, there is no white mineral content under it or within it. I took a sample out onto my backwalk and lit it on fire, the fire spread as I estimate it would had the material been made of wood. I did this test to determine if the material was wood or mineral wool – I don’t _think_ mineral wool should burn. Though if the wood had been treated I would also have expected the fire not to spread so as it did spread the test ended up being useful.
The pictures are pretty high resolution so hopefully you’ll be able to see but the texture of the material is hard to capture in pictures – maybe it is spun bark?
http://tp-txdp4281.content-type.com/-2081438084/images/attic.jpg
http://tp-txdp4281.content-type.com/-1463127742/images/kneewall.jpg
Thanks for all comments,
MG
Replies
those links don't come through as pictures. If you have the photos on your PC, you can add them as attachments here.
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Links work for me.. but I'll put the pictures up here as well.
Hard to tell from the pic but it looks like mulch. My guess is the previous owner threw it up there figuring it was better than nothing.
Get it out of there! It is a fire hazard and an invitation for termites.
I'd like to have it removed but I am not sure what the best method to do that is. The attic as you may or may not have been able to tell is quite narrow. Manually removing it with a large shop vac would probably takes weeks of time and working in the cramped dusty and hot conditions is very undesireable. Any good ideas on how to remove it?
It would take me half an hour on dial-up to download such large files.But that doesn't stop me from helping. Most companies that blow insulation in, also have a vac for sucking it out to dispose of or to bag it for re-use. They have small guys used to working in small hot locations that come with the equipment too. They do a better job when you show your appreciation for the nasty work they do.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks everyone for suggestions. I'll try to find an insulation contractor who can suck the stuff out for me.