Identification Help

[sierrareef]

Hi. I'm going to lay some 19/32" plywood flooring in my attic, but I have some type of loose fill insulation that has the attic flooded. I don't know what kind of loose fill it is and I can find any links that might show some pictures so I can ID what I have. The loose-fill is easily an inch or two over the ceiling joists so I need to scrape it out of the way to get a good fit between the plywood floor and the ceiling joists. I'm concerned about a health risk working up there, as well as what to do with the huge amount of loose-fill I'll need to relocate or trash. Can anyone offer some direction - a little guidance?

It's a brownish color and it seems to have some shredded paper. Should I wear a mask working with it? Is it okay to move it around so the plywood adheres to the joists better. Any help is appreciated.

[CThomp]

Could be rock wool. If it is rock wool it's harmless. Most loose fill is harmless from what I understand.

Rock wool is generally a blueish coler though so I could be wrong.

[Don_P]

I'd mask, the bat, rat, snake, lion tiger and bear poop is what'll get you :)

Have you checked to see that the ceiling joists will take the new load(s)?

[Vector]

I'd mask, the bat, rat, snake, lion tiger and bear poop is what'll get you :)

Have you checked to see that the ceiling joists will take the new load(s)?

Dead on in both respects.

Old insulation, regardless of what it's made of is nasty and full of dust and stuff you don't want to breathe.

Ceiling joists are typically sized to A) hold up the ceiling drywall, and B) keep the rafters from spreading. They are not designed to support any significant weight, unless the attic was originally designed as an additional usable space. If the joists are 2x4s or even 2x6s, forget about it.

[sierrareef]

I planned on using the space for storage. My wife and I live in a small home and have storage issues I thought I could tackle by utilizing the aboce ceiling/attic spaces in the house and garage. Will this seriously compromise the integrity of my home's support structure?