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Seymour, CT Posts: 8
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Oswego, NY Posts: 1758
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#2] Posted: 04/15/2012 - 4:16:50 PM |  | |
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What hole? Sealing them to what? Do you have pictures you can post or could you expand on this?
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I'm Gary Blum and I approve this message
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Chicago, IL Posts: 9553
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#3] Posted: 04/15/2012 - 4:33:09 PM |  | |
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If there are open holes in a wall, and you are at an upper floor, you are going to be getting stack effect wafting micro particles toward the upper floors.
Shiny particles could well be fiberglass. Or not. Seal up the hole. Clean your house. Tell us if the particles come back.
Don't lose too much sleep about being exposed to microfibers. There's only a few million trillions floating around your neighborhood right now.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Seymour, CT Posts: 8
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Chicago, IL Posts: 9553
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#5] Posted: 04/15/2012 - 4:48:30 PM |  | |
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It's good to be concerned about foreign particles in the living space, just don't panic.
Forget duct tape. It's not even any good for sealing ducts.
Cut some cardboard to fit that will cover the holes. Form, fold, or otherwise shape the thing so you get a decent fit to cover the hole. Tape the edges with Gorilla Tape. Forget about it.
Gorilla Tape is an expensive variation of duct tape; it's worth every penny. It actually does all the things folks imagine the grey duct tape does.
I have no idea how folks got this idea that plain old duct tape is wonderful stuff that can be used for fixing all sorts of things; it doesn't do a damn thing. Not a single thing. Throw every bit you have in the garbage.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Seymour, CT Posts: 8
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Evergreen Park (Chicago), IL Posts: 1567
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Chicago, IL Posts: 9553
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#8] Posted: 04/15/2012 - 6:04:29 PM |  | |
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Everyone gets to do whatever they want. I just don't want duct tape doing anything where it makes a difference.
I've had good luck using grey duct tape to remove warts; wrap it around the finger with the wart, change it out every day, the warts go bye bye. Don't know what's in the stuff, but it kills warts.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Oak Park, IL Posts: 123
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#9] Posted: 04/15/2012 - 6:29:40 PM |  | |
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I'd like to point out that the Apollo astronauts took ordinary gray tape (they didn't call it "duct" tape) to the moon with them. In the movie "Apollo 13", and in the book "Lost Moon" from which the movie comes, they use gray tape to help fashion the air scrubber that saves their lives.
They were planning to use it to tape down trash bags.
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Steve Nations NationsHomeInspections.com |
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Seymour, CT Posts: 8
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#10] Posted: 04/15/2012 - 6:53:44 PM |  | |
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Any other insight for me besides tape advice? :)
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Gaston, Oregon Posts: 8139
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Kenmore, WA Posts: 15413
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#12] Posted: 04/15/2012 - 7:25:16 PM |  | |
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Shiny particles?
Vermiculite maybe?
Uh oh, here we go again.
ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!
Mike
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Seymour, CT Posts: 8
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#13] Posted: 04/15/2012 - 7:26:36 PM |  | |
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Quote: Originally posted by Jim KatenQuote: Originally posted by zoolzoo
Any other insight for me besides tape advice? :)
Do you own a microscope? Fiberglass that wafts in through cracks generally looks like tiny fibers. When it gets caught in openings, it tends to look very delicate and feathery. I wouldn't describe it as shiny particles, more like fine filaments. How old is the building? Could you post a picture of the building from the exterior? Pictures of the gaps around the cabinets?
The buildings were built in the early to mid 70's. I can try and get you those pics tomorrow.
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Victoria, British Columbia Posts: 2452
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#14] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 12:00:24 AM |  | |
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There could be particles of that cheap duct tape floating around. 
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Oswego, NY Posts: 1758
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#15] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 06:13:02 AM |  | |
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So, if we're done with the duct tape debate, I'm still interested in why someone hung cabinets on what sounds like an unfinished wall /ceiling?
What got left open? What's stopping a fire from spreading?
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I'm Gary Blum and I approve this message
www.gtbinspectionservices.com |
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Seymour, CT Posts: 8
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#16] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 10:25:52 AM |  | |
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So I had a contractor over. The person who installed my cabinets had to knock out part of the sheet rock in order to get the correct fit. So, on one of my walls the cabinets are installed on top of the sheet rock. On the connecting wall, the sheet rock is knocked out and the cabinets are directly up against the studs...which is why you can see the concrete behind them.
He told me that the quick fix is to use expanding foam sealant to seal up the cracks, Otherwise, I guess I need new cabinets and sheet rock? 
I dont know what to do, I just hope I haven't been inhaling blown insulation for a year and a half. Im sort of nervous and overwhelmed.
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Kenmore, WA Posts: 15413
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Chicago, IL Posts: 9553
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#18] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 3:53:39 PM |  | |
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OK, I get it. Foam is not a bad idea for a basic "seal up the hole" approach. Foam it, let the foam set, then take a knife and clean up the lumpy stuff until you have a decent square/clean surface. Patch it with drywall compound, paint it.
Don't sweat the dust. I'm not casual about this stuff, but the harsh reality is you're exposed to all sorts of micro fibers every day. Clean up what you got, clean your house, go on living.
Get a HEPA vacuum; they're nice to have for all sorts of clean up stuff. Run over the place with a HEPA vac; you'll be in the 99% of clean habitations.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Seymour, CT Posts: 8
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#19] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 4:20:03 PM |  | |
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You guys are great, thanks. I will pick up some foam tomorrow and get going on it. Any recommendation on a reliable brand? SHould I use the all purpose drywall joint compound?
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Chicago, IL Posts: 9553
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#20] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 4:58:13 PM |  | |
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It's called Great Stuff. Beware getting it on yourself or anywhere you don't want it as it's almost impossible to get off, don't put too much in as it expands wildly.
Experiment outside somewhere until you get the hang of what you're doing. It's not rocket science, but you'll see what I'm talking about after you make a few trial runs.
It expands, then sets up fairly hard. After it's hardened, use a razor knife to cut it to get a clean right angle and finish surface. Smear on any old drywall compound as this is a gap toothed hillbilly type repair methodology in the first place, so don't be obsessing about perfection.
But, it'll work OK.
Paint it, forget about it.
And don't use crappy duct tape anymore, even if it is romanticized in the Apollo 13 story. Get Gorilla Tape. You'll see what I mean when you use it.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Kenmore, WA Posts: 15413
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#21] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 5:12:46 PM |  | |
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See if you can find Daptex expanding foam.
It's latex based, so unlike Great Stuff you don't need to use acetone to get it off; just use soap and water.
ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!
Mike
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Victoria, British Columbia Posts: 2452
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#22] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 6:19:02 PM |  | |
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A word of caution if you're new to using expanding foam - it expands for several minutes after you spray it into a cavity. Go light with the first few shots and watch it fill the gap. If you don't do this right, the foam could blow your cabinets right off the wall, no kidding..
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Chicago, IL Posts: 9553
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#23] Posted: 04/16/2012 - 8:13:25 PM |  | |
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Both good advice. Practice runs.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Gaston, Oregon Posts: 8139
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Seymour, CT Posts: 8
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#25] Posted: 04/17/2012 - 7:47:05 PM |  | |
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So my father came over and gave me a hand. The foam worked like a charm, and we used some silicone for backup. That foam can really get sloppy though! Whether or not I was getting anything harmful coming up, its nice have piece of mind. Thanks again guys.
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Chicago, IL Posts: 9553
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Are fiberglass particles the only shiny ones?
[#26] Posted: 04/17/2012 - 8:34:11 PM |  | |
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Tell all your friends. We got answers for everything.
Real people, real info. It's a whole new idea in home improvement information.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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