Attics, vermiculite, rodents

Photo: Contributed

Chances are, if your attic was insulated or refurbished before the mid-1980s there is a slight chance that that you may have loose fill vermiculite insulation. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the federal government offered a grant to people who installed loose fill vermiculite products in their attics, because when loose fill vermiculite is heated, the material expands like popcorn, and creates pockets of air, making it a great attic insulation. Builders and homeowners sought to use this material due to its lightweight and fire-resistant features. 

Vermiculite on its own, left undisturbed does not cause concern to many of us. However, if the material is disturbed, the asbestos has the potential to be a health risk when the fibres are present in the air and inhaled (what we call ‘friable’). Asbestos is widely known to cause many harsh health risks, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural effusion. Caution is necessary, and there are WorkSafeBC regulations for this, when vermiculite is voluntarily removed to reduce the possibility of friable exposure. 

If you are buying or selling a house, you need to be aware that some vermiculite contained asbestos, because home inspectors in B.C. are required to look for, and report, on the presence of loose fill vermiculite insulation. When it is found to be present, it is, in most cases, sent off for laboratory testing to determine the presence of asbestos. I’ve been keeping a running tab for years, and the results are pretty much 50/50 that the vermiculite does not contain asbestos.

Once the presence of asbestos is determined, professional vermiculite remediators such as Steve Ball, of BugMaster Pest Control, take over. 

Now, I know that vermiculite isn’t a pest, but what is the connection? 

Well, Steve and his team are in attics, regularly seeking out and removing pests. 

“Rodent infestations in attics cannot be properly dealt with, in homes containing vermiculite, without the vermiculite being removed to deal with the rodents. Without removing the vermiculite, doing the job properly is pretty much out of the question,” advises Steve, who adds, “In the past two years, the scale of rodent population has largely increased, and will continue to do so unless the local authorities in the Okanagan valley treat the issue with greater severity than they have been.”

Photo: Hugh Cairns

“Rodent infestations in attics cannot be properly dealt with in homes containing vermiculite, without the vermiculite being removed,” Steve Ball

I agree with Steve. Local home inspectors see the results of the rat boom every day, in and around homes.

“The ongoing rodent problem has grown so much over the past year that BugMaster technicians have recently completed training in high-risk asbestos work in order to tackle this issue at the same time. With technicians having certification to safely remove this dangerous asbestos-containing material, they are essentially able to kill two birds with one stone, in hopes of creating an easier experience for homeowners along the way.” 

Because BugMaster already has the necessary skill set and experience to take care of rodent infestation and vermiculite remediation, which can be found independently or in combination, in attics across the Okanagan, Steve’s team is able to keep these important services under one umbrella.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.