Hi, I am extremely sensitive to chemicals
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Hi, I am extremely sensitive to chemicals, and would like to insulate my attic roof.
I am considering cork, but the cost may be prohibitive. Does anyone know of a solution?
The materials have to be non-toxic. If not, does anyone know of an inexpensive solution?
My attic has low beams. So I’d like to put most of the insulation between them, then cover it all with a single layer of insulation. I can’t use glue for installation, as I’m sensitive to most glues.
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Replies
Judith,
As far as I know, all common insulation materials, when installed as directed by the manufacturer, are non-toxic.
If you have a special sensitivity to certain chemicals or odors, only you can determine which materials you are sensitive to. One well-known test is to put a bit of the material you are testing in a glass jar; screw on the lid; and leave the glass jar in the sun for a day or two. Then open the jar and smell. If you don't have any negative reactions to the smell, the insulation may work for you.
Or not. It's really hard to pin down the question of what materials work for people who are sensitive to chemicals.
The best way to insulate your roof is probably to install all of the insulation above the roof sheathing, followed by new roofing. You could use expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation -- a type of rigid foam -- for this. The EPS would be on the outside of your house, not between the rafters -- and that might work for someone with your sensitivity.
Or not. It's hard to say.
I agree with the suggestion to put the insulation outside the sheathing. There are potential moisture accumulation problems with having it on the inside of the roof, and you might be sensitive to small amounts of mold that might result too.
I can detect a slight smell from new EPS that goes away with time. If that's a problem for you even with out outside the building, one possibility would be to get reclaimed foam from one of several companies that specialize in re-selling foam taken out in demolition or renovation projects. Upside--anything that was going to come out did so many years ago. Downside: you can't know or control what glues, mold, etc. might be part of the mix.
The silver bullet would be "foamglas" insulation. It's just what it sounds like--glass foam. And it's about as thoroughly inert as anything. It's strong and waterproof, and would probably be the material of choice for a lot of places that foam board is used, except that it's expensive.
http://us.foamglas.com/en/building/products/foamglas_the_product/general_information/