What is 'urea' insulation ?

Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation.

Uploaded PDF document explaining same.

Cheers
Steve

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Lots of really good info here folks - you've come up trumps again.

I didn't realise I could accompany the inspector, so I will do that anyway if at all possible, if only to 'get to know' my new home better. We will hopefully have a long and happy relationship - that's with the house, not the inspector! (Mind you .... )

Yes Gryph, a bit nervous and quite excited - and no pressure at all ! Hubby delights in teasing me how it will all be down to me if things go wrong ....

Thanks Butch, yes, using that realtor ...

A very interesting thread. We are coming out to NS in August with the view to buying a house. I shall print off all the excellent information here and take it with us.

Anymore information that can be of use, please keep it coming.

Thanks again everyone.

K

What Steve said. It was fashionable for a while. When we had a house valued (not inspected) a couple of years back, it was the first question the guy asked us. It would make the house essentially unmortgageable (sp?).

Thanks for the info – I read the pdf and am a little concerned. We have a new house (2004 Ontario) and the detached garage has an apartment above that has expanded foam insulation in the garage roof/apartment floor area. So, do you know if the ban on Urea covered all provinces or is there an OK type of foam that is now in use. The roof section of both the house and apartment use a shredded paper insulation.

The ban on Urea-formaldehyde foam was nation wide I believe.

I don't think you have anything to worry about the stuff they use nowadays is O.K.

Cheers
Steve

What Steve said. There is no way a 2004 house would have urea insulation. Don't worry.

Shredded paper insulation in attics is very common in North America. It's shredded newspaper treated with flame-retardant chemicals (borax). You don't see it very often in Europe.

Thanks again for your help - much appreciated.
Regards
Mike