Vermiculite Perlite Insulation

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 perlite insulation. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral compound that expands when heated. Perlite and vermiculite are used as loose fill insulation in the construction of modern insulated masonry wall systems. 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. Both are odorless sterile disease free insect free and seed free.

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. 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. 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. Pros and cons of vermiculite or perlite.

A member of the phyllosilicate group of minerals it resembles mica in appearance. Common traits of perlite and vermiculite. In its pure form vermiculite is clean odorless nontoxic and sterile. Both of these amendments are mined minerals that can be used for insulation and water filtration.