Vermiculite insulation removal is handled differently from every other attic job, because the material may contain asbestos. Once we spot it, work stops, a sample goes off for testing, and a trained asbestos abatement contractor is brought in only if the lab says so. No hose goes near it before then.
We carry full insurance for the work we do on these jobs, which is the testing arrangement, the coordination and the new insulation once the attic is clear. The quote for our part is written and free.
Vermiculite looks like tiny, light pebbles in shades of grey-brown or gold, and the pieces often glitter a little. Builders and homeowners poured it between attic joists for many years, and older farmhouses around Culloden, Brownsville and Otterville are among the places it can still turn up. A large share of what was sold in this country came from one mine where asbestos was mixed into the ore. It is often hidden under a later layer of fibreglass or cellulose, so a top-up years ago can cover it completely. If you see grains of it between the joists or around the hatch, assume the whole attic has it.
Some vermiculite contains asbestos and some does not, and there is no way to tell by eye. Health Canada advises homeowners to assume it may contain asbestos, leave it undisturbed, and use professionals if it must come out. Do not vacuum it, sweep it, move boxes across it or store things on top of it.
Ontario Regulation 278/05 puts any disturbance past roughly 10 square feet of this material into the Type 3 asbestos category. Advance notice must go to the provincial labour ministry, the workers need abatement training, and the attic is closed off and air tested. It is not a job for an ordinary attic crew, and it is not a weekend project. The rules also cover how the waste is bagged, labelled and hauled away.
A proper lab checks the sample, and the test usually runs $300 to $800. A positive result means a trained asbestos abatement contractor takes over the removal, and we set that up for you. In this market abatement tends to cost $8,000 to $25,000, with big swings from one house to the next. A test is also worth doing before you sell, renovate or cut holes in the ceiling for pot lights, because each of those can disturb the material from below.
Once the abatement is done and the air clearance is complete, we can air seal and re-insulate the empty attic. The attic insulation replacement page covers that step.
The county landfill near Salford charges $368 per tonne for asbestos waste in 2026, against $96 per tonne for construction waste. Asbestos loads also need a call ahead and special drop-off arrangements. Those rules are one more reason vermiculite should never be bagged at home and taken to the dump.
Call +1 (226) 400-3327 if you think you have vermiculite in the attic. We will look, arrange the test and explain each step in writing. A clean result is talked through with you before anything is disturbed, because asbestos can sit unevenly through loose fill. You will find our other services linked from the home page.
Most attics need more than one of these, and a single visit can quote them together.
Attic insulation removal strips tired batts and loose-fill off the ceiling joists until only wood is left. The suction unit waits outdoors, full bags never pass through the house, and the price sheet lists area and depth. One working day covers most houses.
View Attic Insulation Removal
Blown-in insulation removal lifts out loose cellulose and fibreglass that has sunk, matted or been spoiled by mice and other animals. A powerful vacuum draws the fill through a hose from the attic to bags waiting outside, so the rooms below stay clean and the old material is gone in one day.
View Blown-In Insulation Removal
Attic cleaning and decontamination clears out insulation fouled by mice, squirrels, raccoons or bats. The soiled material leaves through a sealed hose, nesting and debris are picked out by hand, and the bare wood is sanitized and deodorized so the smell leaves with it.
View Attic Cleaning and Decontamination
Damaged insulation removal clears attic insulation that has been soaked by a roof leak, stained by ice dams, grown mould near a bathroom fan or taken on smoke after a fire. Wet or smoky fill cannot be dried out and trusted again, so it comes out and the wood underneath gets checked.
View Wet, Mouldy and Smoke-Damaged Insulation Removal
Attic insulation replacement puts new blown-in insulation into an attic as soon as the old layer is out, bringing it up to R-50 or R-60 in one visit. The bare floor is air sealed first, baffles keep the soffit vents clear, and the new layer goes in level from eave to eave.
View Attic Insulation Replacement
Pre-sale attic work answers an inspection report that flags droppings, wet patches, settled fill or possible vermiculite in the attic. Buyers, sellers, realtors and home inspectors receive a prompt quote on paper, and the finished attic is documented in photos from start to finish for everyone in the deal.
View Pre-Sale and Home Inspection Insulation RemovalWe visit, measure and send the price on paper. Nothing is charged for the visit, and nothing obliges you to go ahead.
Share what you know about the attic, even if it is only a guess. Your name and phone number are enough to send the form. If you would rather talk, call us at +1 (226) 400-3327.
