What is the shiny material coating on the wood boards above the crawl space that seems unaffected by water and sparkles when touched?
Asked by Jacob Kristensen 
8 months ago
Last Updated: May 9, 2024
I just dealt with a pretty serious water leak from my dishwasher. As I was checking out the damage, I noticed this shiny material covering the wood boards on the main floor above the crawl space. Do you have any idea what it could be? Surprisingly, it doesn’t seem to have been affected by the water at all. This part of the house was added on in 1966. If you touch it, it kind of sparkles like glitter. It’s really strange!
Maybe it’s mica sheeting. Back in the day, they used it to make things water and fire resistant.
It’s hard to say for sure based on the picture! But I think you could be correct.
Ah, the classic mica sheeting, or as I like to call it, thick sparkly tarpaper….
There is a chance that the material could be asbestos. It’s best to take necessary precautions.
That’s an older Homesite item. It’s a hardboard coated with a gel that is resistant to water and only susceptible at the edges.
Do you need to get it tested to make sure there’s no Asbestos?
If you’re concerned about asbestos, just handle it as if it were asbestos. Put on a respirator, keep it wet, and seal it in a bag during demolition. Save on testing costs!
Watch out for the asbestos patrol.. those reflective barrier panels that were installed over crawlspaces in the 70s and 80s. I think it was made by Armstrong. Basically, it was used to deflect heat radiation back into the living space.