Asbestos vs. Cellulose Insulation: What's the Difference?
Know what’s keeping your home warm
Asbestos is a hazardous material that was used in home insulation before the 1980s.
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper products and fire-retardant chemicals.
Unlike asbestos, cellulose is safe for human exposure and doesn't pose a cancer risk
To the untrained, naked eye, it can be difficult to tell the two apart
You know that insulation helps to keep winter's chill out of your home while keeping it cooler in the summer. But have you ever thought about what's in your insulation? Depending on when your home was built, there may be asbestos in your insulation. Sometimes, asbestos-based insulation can appear similar to cellulose material, which is not hazardous to your health. Learn the difference between asbestos and cellulose insulation and why it matters.
What Are the Differences Between Asbestos and Cellulose Insulation?
Asbestos and cellulose insulation will both keep a home warm, but the materials they are made from are considerably different. Another major difference between the two? Safety. The Environmental Protection Agency started banning products made from asbestos, including insulation, in the 1970s.
You can't officially identify asbestos without a microscope or lab testing, but there are signs that your home contains asbestos insulation based on the following.
| Type of Difference | Asbestos | Cellulose |
|---|---|---|
| General appearance | Fibrous, cotton-like | Shredded paper |
| Color | Silver-gold | Shades of gray |
| Home’s age | Pre-1980s | 1970s onward |
| Materials | Silicate mineral | Recycle paper |
| Safety | Carcinogen | Non-carcinogen |
Asbestos vs. Cellulose Insulation: Differences in Appearance
The only way to accurately identify asbestos insulation is by hiring a professional asbestos testing company near you to take a sample and examine it. However, you can spot slight differences in appearance between asbestos and cellulose insulation.
Texture
Asbestos insulation may look like cotton while cellulose tends to resemble shredded or fluffy paper. Another notable difference between the two is the presence of shiny fibers in asbestos insulation.
Color
Cellulose insulation tends to be shades of gray with a brownish tinge since it's often made from recycled newspaper or cardboard.
Asbestos insulation tends to be shiny and may look more like silver or gold than gray or brown.
Asbestos is odorless—so don't rely on your nose to tip you off about asbestos in your home. Asbestos fibers are too tiny for humans to detect their smell, so even large amounts of asbestos will lack a scent. The only way to know if your home has asbestos is to have a pro test for it.
Age of Home
Before people understood the dangers posed by asbestos, it was considered a wonder material, capable of preventing fires. The material was nearly ubiquitous throughout the mid-20th century and was frequently used in homes and other buildings.
After the EPA banned asbestos, its use was phased out. So, if your home was constructed after the mid-1970s, it's more likely to contain cellulose or another type of safe insulation.
Materials
Asbestos is the name of a group of naturally occurring mineral fibers. Amosite, or brown, asbestos, was the type most commonly used to make insulation. It has long, brittle, straight fibers.
Cellulose is actually a carbohydrate and the material that makes up the main cell wall of plants. Because it is stiff and strong, it's often used to make paper. In some cases, that paper ends up transformed into cellulose insulation.
Safety
When products containing asbestos, like insulation, are disturbed, they can release tiny fibers. Inhaling those fibers can put a person at an increased risk of developing lung and other types of cancer. That’s why qualified local asbestos abatement pros are the only people who should remove asbestos materials from your home.
While you may worry about the presence of asbestos insulation in your home, the best thing to do if you suspect it's there is to leave it alone. Left undisturbed, asbestos can't release its fibers. However, if you have any major renovation work planned, it's best to call someone to test the insulation and confirm the presence of asbestos.
On the other hand, you're unlikely to inhale particles or fibers from cellulose insulation if the material is disturbed. But, it's worth noting that boric acid, which is often added to cellulose insulation to reduce flammability, can cause irritation and other health concerns following skin contact or ingestion.
For that reason, it's a good idea to exercise caution around any type of insulation. When in doubt, call in a pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asbestos testing costs an average of $480, but your location and the type of test performed impact the price. If you'd like to have insulation tested, the professional conducting the analysis will likely perform a physical sample test, which involves taking a piece of the material and sending it to a lab. Physical sample testing costs range from $250 to $750.
There are a few ways to test for asbestos. One option is to order an at-home kit and send in the specimen to a lab. However, since collecting a sample yourself puts you at risk of exposure to the material's fibers, a better option is to work with a local professional asbestos testing company.
If the tests for asbestos come back positive, your next step is to figure out who to call for asbestos removal. Your best bet is to work with a professional asbestos abatement company, which will ensure that the material is removed safely. Asbestos removal is not a DIY project.
The presence of asbestos may affect your home value, but there are ways to mitigate its impact. One option is to remove or remediate the asbestos. With remediation, the material is often encapsulated, so its fibers cannot get into the air. In any case, if you're aware of the presence of asbestos insulation in your home, it's important to disclose that information before any sale.
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