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Old 09-25-2012, 12:18 PM
 
22 posts, read 78,312 times
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Hi All
I have a quick question. We bought a home built in 2004 with an unfinished basement that we are using a lot. It's a large basement and all the insulation that is in the ceiling is not covered with any material, paper or plastic. It's white, thick, fluffy insualation and we want to know if it's safe that it's uncovered since we use the basement so much and we don't plan on finishing our basement. Also, is it typical that a builder would leave the insulation uncovered in this manner? We would love your opinions and if you think we need to get it covered up.

Thanks for your thoughts.
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Old 09-25-2012, 12:41 PM
 
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What year was the house built? If it is more than several decades old you may want to get it tested to see if it is asbestos before messing with it too much. Either way asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed / air-born.

Edit: Just saw "built in 2004" I read "bought in 2004" My mistake. Dont worry about asbestos.

Last edited by jsvh; 09-25-2012 at 01:12 PM..
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Old 09-25-2012, 12:47 PM
 
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It's theoretically safe.
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Old 09-25-2012, 12:49 PM
 
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Since it was built in 2004 you really shouldn't have much to worry about, being white it might not even be fiberglass insulation it may be one of the more "green" kinds they make these days. If you are worried about it you can be the faced insulation rolls which have paper on one side and put that under them or you could just buy some kind of plastic sheeting or netting and staple/nail it to the rafters for a cheaper option.
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Old 09-25-2012, 12:53 PM
 
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This may be a dumb question, but if nothing is coverg it, what is holding it up? Is it the batting type of insulation with paper on one side and it is stapled to the ceiling?
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Old 09-25-2012, 01:08 PM
 
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I don't know what is holding it in place. And I can't see underneath to know if there is paper on the other side and it's stapled in to the wall. The home was built in 2004. It's a very thick, white cotton type of insulation.
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Old 09-25-2012, 01:18 PM
 
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Okay, I just looked again and found a spot that shows the brown paper underneath. So, it must have the paper backing underneath and it was stapled in place in that manner. The name I found is johns manville.
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Old 09-25-2012, 01:36 PM
 
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Looks like it's this stuff: JM Building Insulation | Johns Manville

If that's right, it looks like it is fiberglass, but formaldehyde free.

I can't stand fiberglass. Like most people, I have it all over my attic. Whenever you touch it, you get tiny little glass splinters that itch for a day or two. And if you really disturb it, it will irritate the heck out of your lungs if you're not wearing a mask.

If you don't bother it, it's probably nothing to worry about. Still, I wouldn't like the idea of fiberglass floating around, so I'd personally probably have it covered up if you really do spend significant time down there. I don't think you need to go nuts sealing it, but I'd probably throw up a cheap drop ceiling just to give myself peace of mind.

I'm no expert on whether it is safe or not, I'm just saying what I would do personally. I'm probably more paranoid than most people about stuff like that.
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Old 09-25-2012, 03:18 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by happymama30 View Post
Okay, I just looked again and found a spot that shows the brown paper underneath. So, it must have the paper backing underneath and it was stapled in place in that manner. The name I found is johns manville.
Sounds like they installed it backwards. Doesn't matter for the insulation factor but it would be nicer for you if the paper side was facing you.
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Old 09-25-2012, 03:21 PM
 
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But then how would they get it to stick to the ceiling?
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