Charlotte asbestos removal
Vermiculite is a mineral that expands into light, pebble-like granules when heated, and it was poured into attics and wall cavities as loose-fill insulation for decades. Much of the vermiculite sold in the United States came from a mine near Libby, Montana that was contaminated with asbestos. The EPA advises homeowners to assume vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos and to leave it undisturbed unless it is being removed by trained professionals.
Vermiculite itself is a natural mineral that puffs up into light granules when heated, which made it a cheap, pourable attic insulation. The problem is where much of it came from. A mine near Libby, Montana, operated from 1919 to 1990, and the EPA says it may have supplied more than 70 percent of the vermiculite sold in the United States. That vermiculite was contaminated with asbestos, and a great deal of it went into attics as loose-fill insulation, often sold under the Zonolite name.
The EPA's guidance is to assume vermiculite attic insulation may contain asbestos and to leave it alone. Do not store things in an attic with vermiculite, do not let children play up there, and do not try to remove it yourself. Lab testing of vermiculite is less straightforward than testing other materials, because the asbestos is unevenly mixed through the granules, so a negative sample does not always settle the question.
The attic is sealed off from the living space below, with every ceiling opening, light fixture and attic hatch covered, and the attic is put under negative air through a HEPA filter. The vermiculite is removed with a high-powered HEPA vacuum system into sealed bags or containers, then the joists and the top of the ceiling are cleaned. Fill that has drifted into wall cavities is the slow part.
Leaving it undisturbed is an option, but most attic work disturbs it: running new wiring, cutting in recessed lights or a bathroom fan, air-sealing, or adding new insulation on top. Vermiculite also sifts down through gaps around ceiling fixtures and top plates, so removal is often the only practical path when a renovation needs the attic.
With the attic clean and cleared, new insulation can go in.
How long does it take? Most attics take two to four days, depending on the floor area, how deep the fill is, how much is in the wall cavities, and how easy the attic is to get into.
These often turn up in the same house, or the same remodel:
Samples of each suspect material sent to a lab, with a written result for each one before any work is planned. Includes surveys ahead of a renovation or demolition.
Read more →Textured ceilings that test positive are wetted, scraped and bagged inside sealed containment, and the ceiling is left ready for finishing.
Read more →Asbestos-cement shingles and siding taken off whole, wetted and wrapped rather than broken up, before new siding or a re-roof.
Read more →Free to ask
Don't sand, scrape or drill it. A quick description is enough to start.
We will call to talk through what you have found. To talk sooner, call (704) 327-3475
Something went wrong sending your request. Please call (704) 327-3475 and we’ll take the details over the phone. Your answers are still filled in below if you’d rather try again.