Building insulation question.

[toggleswitch]

I got some motivation in me and needed to excersize my macho- butch-rugged side. {Yes, I have one! ] So I proceed to install a lighting fixture outside a new door leading to the deck. (formerly a window).

The job will include the outside light, a sconce near the top of the door (inside) to provide light when entering from the yard (garden => UK), and a deck outlet, currently existing, will be switched to run a bug-zapper. These will be controlled by three switches.

Now the relevant question:

There was some kind of substance in there that I believe is an attmept at insulation. It was glden orange in color and sort of rigid. When smashed it becomes a fine powder.The nearest material I can use to describe it is an old foam cushion that disintigrates with age.

What is this stuff? When was it popular and is it toxic. (I mean more than I am ...LOL).

The house was built in 1946 and apparently re-sheetrocked (walled) to cover a crime-against-humanity metallic beige and brown late 70's funk-a-delic wallpaper.

Any clues?

 

[petek]

It could possibly be Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation (UFFI) for short, which became popular in the late 60's or early 70's. They would drill small holes at intervals in either the inside drywall or outside walls and pump the liquid in which then expanded and hardened.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Sounds to me like spray foam insulation

Is this around a door frame or window?

This is still common and sold, and I don't think there is any toxicity to it. Basically it's a can and you spray it in cracks and it expands and fills, then it dries and becomes insulation. I used it in my old house. It is powdery when it dries. The stuff I used was golden orange also.

It is available at Home Depot. I would wear a dust mask if you are clearing alot of it out, just as I would use a mask with anything dusty made of chemicals.

 

[toggleswitch]

Great input fellas, thank you.

It also reminds me of the block of green "styrofoam" that anchors cut flowers in an arrangement. (Extremely hydorphylic, at least the green stuff).