Insulation removal
Spray foam removal
Foam removed and the roof documented for your lender or surveyor.
Spray foam was sold hard as a loft insulation upgrade. What a lot of homeowners found out afterwards is that most lenders will not offer a mortgage on a house with foam sprayed onto the underside of the roof, and surveyors regularly down value or refuse. Getting it out is often the difference between selling your house and not.
What removal involves
Survey and assessment
We look at what type of foam was used, open or closed cell, how thick it is and whether it has been sprayed straight onto the felt or the timbers. That decides the method and the price.
Mechanical removal
The foam is cut and scraped off the rafters and the underside of the covering. It is slow, dirty work and there is no shortcut that leaves the roof in good order.
Timber inspection
Foam traps moisture against the rafters, so once it is off we check the timbers for rot and tell you what we find. On some roofs this is the real problem and nobody knew.
Making the roof right again
Depending on what is underneath, that can mean new breathable membrane, timber repairs, or a full re-cover. We will price the options rather than assume the biggest one.
Clearance and disposal
All the foam bagged and taken away, and the loft left clear.
Our process
- Survey. We get into the loft, identify the foam type and check the timbers as far as we can see them.
- Written quote. Including what happens to the roof afterwards, so there is no second bill you did not expect.
- Removal. Sheeted and contained so the foam does not end up through the rest of the house.
- Report. Photographs and a written record of the condition of the roof once the foam is off, which is what a surveyor or lender will want to see.
Frequently asked questions
Why will a mortgage lender not accept spray foam?
Because it covers the roof timbers so a surveyor cannot inspect them, and because closed cell foam in particular can trap moisture against the rafters. Lenders vary, but a lot will decline or require removal before they will lend.
Can spray foam be removed without replacing the roof?
Often, yes. It depends on the foam type, how well it bonded and what state the felt and timbers are in underneath. Some roofs come out fine and need a new membrane at most. Others were already failing under the foam. We will not know until we survey it.
How long does removal take?
A typical loft is a few days. It is labour intensive work and the time depends on the area, the foam thickness and how well it stuck.
Will you give me something in writing for my lender?
Yes. We provide photographs and a written record of what was removed and the condition of the roof afterwards. That is usually what gets the mortgage or the sale moving again.
Recent work
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Spray foam removal near you
We cover Norfolk and surrounding towns.
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