Vermiculite Perlite Insulation

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.

Vermiculite perlite insulation.

Both of these amendments are mined minerals that can be used for insulation and water filtration. 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. 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. In its pure form vermiculite is clean odorless nontoxic and sterile.

Pros and cons of vermiculite or perlite. A member of the phyllosilicate group of minerals it resembles mica in appearance. The similarities between vermiculite and perlite before we look at how these two minerals are different let s consider the similarities of vermiculite vs perlite. 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.

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