Should I Buy a House with Vermiculite Insulation?

You’ve no doubt heard about the dangers of asbestos—a common insulation material prior to the 1980s that has since been discovered to be highly toxic. Though we’ve become more educated on the effects of asbestos, we’ve neglected to address other forms of the substance, such as vermiculite. Vermiculite doesn’t always contain asbestos, but there are still homes that have asbestos in their vermiculite. So this begs the question, “Should I buy a house with vermiculite insulation?” Let’s take a closer look to ensure your home stays safe.

The Risks of Vermiculite

One of the biggest problems with vermiculite is that it can be difficult to identify whether it contains asbestos or not. You often need to depend on a home inspector in order to even identify whether vermiculite insulation will be a hazard to your home.

Vermiculite containing asbestos presents dangers typical of asbestos poisoning, including asbestosis and mesothelioma. But the dangers specific to vermiculite are the mixed responses you’ll get, making it difficult to answer the question, “Should I buy a house with vermiculite insulation?” The EPA often cites vermiculite as a smaller threat because it contains less than one percent of asbestos to be safe for the same home. However, if you look toward independent research, you will likely find more evidence in support of vermiculite insulation removal.

The Fine “One Percent” Line

As we touched upon, the EPA agrees that vermiculite insulation containing less than one percent of asbestos is safe to be used within a home. This sort of insulation typically comes in the form of Zonolite, a common form of insulation that appears as a pebble-like substance. However, a lawsuit in 2008 dictated that perhaps one percent was not a strict enough standard, as the asbestos in Zonolite took on an amphibole form that was more dangerous than typical chrysotile asbestos.

Vermiculite Removal

Because vermiculite insulation is still risky despite containing only a mere one percent or less of asbestos, your safest option will always be to have it removed. This sort of process will require a professional service with the protective equipment and expertise to safely remove the vermiculite without exposing you to harmful toxins. For vermiculite insulation removal in Massachusetts , please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.