What is my weird loft insulation

[elpresidente]

Hello

My loft is boarded throughout. I recently discovered that underneath the boards is a very strange insulation material - basically it looks & feels something like what you'd put in a hamster's cage - i.e. loose material, quite scratchy and looks liek a cross between scrunched up polystyrene and tiny pieces of ripped up paper.

It looks horrible and I can't believe it is particularly effective insulation.

I could lay more insulation on top of the boards but this strange stuff is worrying me slightly. To remove it would be a massive & horrible job - rip up all the loft boards, put all this stuff into bags (would take dozens and dozens of bags) then re-insulate.

So my questions are:

a) any idea what this stuff is?
b) should I be worried?
c) Any reason I should remove it, or can I just insulate on top of the boards? (I don't need the loft for any sort of storage).


Many thanks for your help!

 

[ladylola]

Sounds like the insulation that is made from recycled material . Evidently works fine and you shouldn't be worried although if you are perhaps take a sample to a local firm in the trade. To be honest pretty much all insulation looks and feels horrible with the possible exception of lambs wool as it is always hidden away.
No need to remove , insulate over the top unless it's infested with something which is unlikely and it would be a lot of work to get back to where you started from.

 

[Agile]

It rather sounds like the recycled polyuthene that I have asked about on here and never had much comment.

Mine will burn slowly if a small piece is ignited with a match.

Tony

 

[footprints]

Sounds like it could be vermiculite.

This sort of stuff.

http://www.loft-conversion-uk.com/Vermiculite-Loft-Insulation.html

 

[elpresidente]

Thanks to all - on further investigation it seems to be the shredded cellulose stuff, and yes I will just put more insulation over the top.