Would removing vermiculite be considered asbestos remediation? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

bob_cntrctr · 07-14-2009, 08:43 PM

Gentlemen,

I'm looking at taking on a new rehabilitation project. An old Victorian - built ~1890 - big red brick thing. These things sometimes have vermiculite in the walls or roof as insulation. I know some vermiculite contains asbestos. So would opening the walls to get it out and re-insulate fall under asbestos remediation rules? That is, if I find vermicultite in there, does what I thought was going to be a straight forward open, re-do, close-up job suddenly turn into a full-blown asbestos remediation I have to call specialists in for?

Thanks.

WarnerConstInc. · 07-14-2009, 08:49 PM

Have a sample tested if you really want to know for sure.

silvertree · 07-14-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

Have a sample tested if you really want to know for sure.

That's the responsible thing to do. For you and the occupants. Maybe you'll be lucky, but better sure than get in a big can of worms.
Good Luck

**Ed the Roofer** · 07-14-2009, 09:03 PM

In many areas, asbestos regulations do not apply when it is a residential property.

Still, test and be prudently safe.

Ed

Bob Kovacs · 07-15-2009, 06:26 PM

If there's asbestos in the vermiculite (and you won't know unless you have it tested), I'd treat it as a remediation project even if the state doesn't require you to. What happens when the homeowner develops lung cancer a few years down the road and starts thinking "hmmm...Bob took all that asbestos-laden insulation out without proper containment and ventilation- he must have caused this!" It's not worth risking your business to save the owner some $$.

painterman · 07-15-2009, 07:37 PM

Well said Bob

bob_cntrctr · 07-15-2009, 09:07 PM

Ya, ok, message received everyone. Thanks. Very sensible.

When I was a kid on the farm we mixed bags of vermiculite into soil for potting - it just seems odd to imgine it as something dangerous.

72chevy4x4 · 07-16-2009, 05:07 PM

once you find asbestos in the walls, it is an abestos remediation project. what if you blow in insulation from the top of the stud bays-would it be possible to fully settle and not have any original material blow out during the initial installation?