Thread: "Not your typical attic insulation"

Hey everyone,

I performed an inspection this morning and found a very unusual attic insulation application. I've only seen this material used in industrial applications for blast furnace piping and hot process piping. It is the porous lava rock type of substance that emits a foul (rotten egg/sulpher) oder as it is broken up. Has anyone seen this used for attic insulation before and does anyone know the proper name of this substance? See the attached photo.

Thanks.

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I would call it "unconventional material" whose R value cannot be determined and refer it to an insulation specialist for a further evaluation. It may need to be removed and replaced, which could affect his valuation of the property.

Thanks Joe for your reply,

I thought for sure I would get a myriad of opinions on this finding. I suppose everyone else is just as stupmed as was. I am however leaning toward the same wording for my report as you suggest. I was just curious if anyone knew the actual name of this product.

It looks like you have found pumice blocks. I can't imagine that they will have much of an R factor.

Originally Posted by Scott Patterson

It looks like you have found pumice blocks. I can't imagine that they will have much of an R factor.

Yeah, but they work wonders on callouses.

Originally Posted by Joe Funderburk

It may need to be removed and replaced, which could affect his valuation of the property.

I'm not sure how attic insulation would affect the value of a house.

Originally Posted by neal lewis

I'm not sure how attic insulation would affect the value of a house.

To remove and replace if necessary would cost quite a bit. Any finding affects the value of a home.

If you find animal waste all over the attic it needs to be removed and the odor neutralized at the least or sprayed to neutralize any ill affects. Of course you have to replace all the insulation. Quite a cost factor.

Perhaps a (chinese) knock-off version ("Foam Glass") of FOAMGLAS(R) block insulation.

That's it exactly Watson!

I knew that it had a proprietary name, I just couldn't remember what it was.

Thanks for the info.

You're welcome.

That stuff does smell like rotten eggs when you crush it

Awwww, nothing like the smell of rotten eggs in the morning as you work in your attic........I too was stumped. I have never seen anything like that.

Originally Posted by Ted Menelly

That stuff does smell like rotten eggs when you crush it

FYI, the smell is most likely hydrogen sulfide, and as we all know this is also in the famed drywall that China introduced to us!

The sulfur compounds may actually vary. It depends on the source materials and the preparation/level of impurities remaining. For example, the carbon source - blast furnace process converting coal to coke for the carbon source (such as the process used for pig iron to steel) - the sulfur compounds/content remaining from the source coal can vary molecularly and can include other than "Hydrogen SulfIDE" yet still be "smelly".The trademarked FoamGlas gets its "green" as utilizes recycled products as a part of its source material.

The crushing or breaking of "cells" releasing the odor indicates damage. It should not be crushed or broken as dramatic loss of insulative and thermal break isolation factor/properties.

We use that to clean the griddle at the Fire Hall. Works great.

I have seen it used quite often as insulation on the exterior of a commercial flat roof - between the steel sheathing and the rubber membrane. The Foamglas blocks are tarred down and the rubber membrane laid down and flame welded on top. Seems to work well there. I can't imagine anyone using it in an attic - too expensive and difficult to work with.

We never know where things like this come from. I once did an Inspection on a 70's house that was plumped with all stainless steel incoming water lines and all copper waste lines. Turned out the original owner worked for a Stainless Steel manufacturer company. I guess he did not want to worry about his plumbing! I told the new buyer not to tell anyone about this as metal thieves would love to "visit" while they were away.