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Identifying strange old insulation in house walls?

I had to cut a large access hole in an inside wall in my house, built in 1930 and heavily "remuddled" in the 50's and 60's. We needed to get into the enclosed attic headspace to evaluate the roof framing to install solar panels so I cut into the space above the stairs to the second floor. When I cut through the lathe and plaster I found insulation batting on the inside of the cavity. I have worked in construction for 35 years but never saw batt insulation like this. It has a "skin" that was sort of like a lightweight black tar paper and the insulation materiial itself is layers made up of thin crinkly brown paper-like material with tiny pleats in it. The best I can describe it is that it reminded me of baklava pastry. I don't see any asbestos or glass like fibers in it and it doesn't look like any cellulose material I've ever seen, but it did tend to crumble when I removed it from the wall and bagged it for disposal. I used gloves and a respirator while pulling it out and vacuumed up with a HEPA filter afterwards, but I'm just curious what the material might have been. Any remodellers or insulation pros on here that can tell me what this stuff is and what cautions I should take in removing it?

3 Answers

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  • Jeff D
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    It sounds like Kimsel insulation (made by Kimberley-Clark). It was manufactured in the 40s and 50s in asphalt-faced batts of soft, brown, accordion-pleated crepe paper that was impregnated with a fire-retardant. I'm afraid I don't know anything about how hazardous it might be.

  • Robt
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    U'll need to take it to independent building supply stores with OLD folks still working.

    Brown crinkley paper is actually cardboard with fire retardants imbedded into it.

    Used in USA - forty to sixties max.

    Fibre glass came readily available after.

    Respirator , hepatitis filters plus washing down will help.

    Biggest issues are roaches poop.

    As for roof, get structural engineer to inspect it with what rebuilding u'll need.

    Depends entirely on where you live as snow loads May be problems on roof / walls of 80 plus years old house.

    Don't believe the installers or their company.

    Check out local building codes agencies for upgrades u also NEED.

    Source(s): Builder landlord. Since 1960
  • 5 years ago

    It could just be plaster material or plaster with asbestos in it. The only way to know is to have a lab test it. The two types of materials look alike and only testing can tell you the difference.

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