Vermiculite Perlite Insulation

Perlite and vermiculite are used as loose fill insulation in the construction of modern insulated masonry wall systems.

Vermiculite perlite insulation.

These builders will use a 5 1 6 1 or 7 1 parts insulator to one part concrete to build their hearth and skin the pizza oven dome. Many do it yourself pizza oven builders as well as importers of authentic italian brick ovens are big advocates for using vermiculite or perlite mixed with concrete. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral compound that expands when heated. Like perlite vermiculite is an effective soil conditioner that can loosen compacted soil provide drainage and hold three to four times its weight in water.

Pros and cons of vermiculite or perlite. Neither medium will rot deteriorate or decompose. And not only do they significantly increase the tested r values of these walls they also can help change the fire rating of many walls from a basic 2 hour fire rating to a 4 hour rating. Common traits of perlite and vermiculite.

Perlite and vermiculite are both lightweight sand substitutes for soilless potting mixes which are often used to improve aeration and texture in potting soil and garden soil mixtures. Both are odorless sterile disease free insect free and seed free. In its pure form vermiculite is clean odorless nontoxic and sterile. But and this is an important but vermiculite is more compressible and less porous than perlite giving vermiculite higher water holding capacity when it s used as a planting medium.