What kind of insulation is this?

18 years ago

I have a 1931 slate-roof colonial in Westchester County, NY. The attic is insulated with a loose cottony-looking material that is behind a rough wallboard. (It's a walk-up attic with hardwood floors and radiators.) The wallboard has fallen down in some places and the insulation has come down, too. I've cleaned it up where it's fallen, but I'm worried now about what it might be. The color ranges from white to gray; I think it was originally white and some of it has turned gray with age. The pieces range from 1/4 inch in length to about an inch. They're not round, but irregular and they look matted.

From searching on the internet, I gather that the possibilities include fiberglass, rock wool, and cellulose. I don't know when it was put in, but it looks old.

We're getting ready to renovate the attic and replace the insulation, possibly with a spray-on soy-based material if it can be done for a reasonable cost.

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Comments (10)

joed
18 years ago
Can you post a picture?
marisany
Original Author
18 years ago
I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it (if I can figure out how to do so!)

Thanks.
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What year was the house built? I used to own a house built in 1946 that had insulation that looks very similar to what you have. The stuff was between 2 layers of kraft type paper. It was made by Weyerhauser (name on the kraft paper), the paper company. I assumed it was leftover byproducts from making paper. I also assumed it had little insulation value and pulled it out when remodeling.
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kframe19
18 years ago
Given the age of the home, it's probably rock wool.
E
18 years ago
We just finished putting new novelty siding on a back exterior bay on our 1905 house here in Philly. We found exactly the same stuff as what you are describing and we treated it as fiberglass - which seemed logical when we started taking it out.

Finding a replacement for the insulation was a bit more challenging. Follow up with what you find about prices for the soy product becauese I'd love to hear more before we tackle a few more rooms in our house.

We're waiting for an article that a friend is sending that should help us with making decisions in the future.

I've been on a new construction project where we used blown in recycled paper. I don't know how it's withstood over the last 7 years though.
marisany
Original Author
18 years ago
I haven't had a chance yet to take a photo and figure out how to post it; will try to get to it soon.

Herschel, I don't have any quotes yet, but I will post as I get information. From what I've seen on the web, Biobase and HealthySeal are much more expensive than traditional insulation (fiberglass batts). But my cousin in MI used a product called SoyTherm, made in SD, and he said it was slightly less expensive than fiberglass. I've been in touch with the company and learned that they don't have a contractor in my area, so I would have to find someone who sprays insulation and would be willing to use their product.

Please let me know what you learn from the article.
bici
18 years ago
My house, built in 1920, has insulation that is shredded newspaper - a common product in that period. That sounds more like what yours is than rock wool.
marisany
Original Author
18 years ago
I don't think it's shredded newspaper - I think I'd be able to tell. I also don't know that it is original to the house. I will post a photo as soon as I have a chance - possibly next week.
whiterabbit177
18 years ago
It sounds like excelsior. My house was built in 1936 and it has the same kind. I am looking into a DIY foam insulation project. Any ideas on how to insulate and save money would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks!
E
18 years ago
Just an FYI - I still haven't gotten the article and am about to send a note to my friend asking for the source!
roxborotom
18 years ago
I work for a fireproofing and insulation company. www.northeastfireproofing.com Without a photo it is hard to know what you have. If it is rock wool you will definitely feel an itch just like fiberglass. Remember to always wear a respirator when working around anything like insulation of any sort. One that seals tight to the face, not a surgical mask. If it is Cellulose (newspaper) you can usually read the print on the pieces, small though it is. I would not replace it with Cellulose although it is readily available. It tends to pack down over time. If your walls are open to the studs, use batt insualtion. If you decide to use the spray on insulation, and it is soy based, make sure it has a rodent deterrent. Also check to see what other chemicals may be used in it. Get an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for any product you use to see if there are some compounds that may cause long term health effects. MSDS information is available for every construction material. We get asked for them almost every job. Once you tighten a house up with insulation and new windows, the house can't breathe like it did, and if the insulation has something you don't want, like formaldehyde, you end up inhaling it for the duration you are in the house. Hope this helped

What kind of insulation is this?

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What kind of insulation is this?

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