Insulation, Radiant and Vapor Barriers - Removing Insulation

We are renovating a 1940's farm house and removing the old insulation is driving me insane. I tried the little white mask and that wasn't enough!! I bought a respirator and the effects from the previous days hasn't worn off yet, so I'm not sure how good thats working. It is the old pink owens corning with the silver backing. My dad owns his own insulating business and they are going to replace the old with new insulation. The problem is removing the old. No matter the layers of clothes or mask I still feel it all over and inside my throat and lungs. Do you think running a shop vac with a hypallergenic filter would help clear the air and perhaps a rainbow vacuum to trap some of the airborne glass into the water would help? It seems that opening windows etc... makes the fibers float around worse, stirring it up so to speak. I guess I am just going to have to pay someone to come and do this because I can't even walk in there at this point. Any advice would be appreciated thanks.

You could consider renting a commercial/industrial grade fan to suck the air out of the house. Put it in a nearby window then open a window on the other side of where you are working. A high quality respirator should work just find assuming you are using it correctly. Make sure you check for a tight seal after you secure it. You could also consider one of these: http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1290521&cp=2568450.2628080.2629236&parentPage=family

I use it if I might be in a dangerous area. It filters out a lot of stuff. But again, it won't work right if you don't have a good seal. You want to put the mask on then put your palms over each filter to cover it then suck in. If it sucks in for a couple of seconds and keeps the seal then you are good to go. If not, you need to redo your seal.

What would the vacuum help? If you have dust in the area, the vacuum will only be able to capture a little but of it. You could get a filter setup with the fan if you want so the material won't go to the outside air if you do that idea.

You didn't ask but I'm going to mention it anyway. Be sure to install cellulose and not fiberglass. Much better material. Good luck!

The respirator listed is a good one. One you can change the filters. You can also buy a painters coveralls and gloves. Put on the coveralls, gloves then duct tape the cuffs. Put on a hat/hood and eye protection. When you are done, go outside and brush/shop vac your self off. Don't use a shop vac to filter the air you will just burn out the vac (I did it once with drywall dust :o) instead, get some box fans and tape some 20"X20" filters on them. Hope this helps!

Thanks, I did buy a good respirator. I also hired my dads insulation crew to come get the bulk out. They are not quite finished yet but when they are I will be definitely trying the fans etc...I have done the coverall thing, gloves and even a plastic grocery bag over my head with a hat on that, along with the safety galsses. I still itch. I just prefer to let them do it. Since my last post we have discovered some wood destroying beetles, Old House Borers to be exact so we will have to gas the place. Its a good thing my husband works with an exterminating company but I guess all this is a whole different thread. Thanks for the ideas and info.