What is Roof Foam Insulation?
Roof foam insulation is a spray-applied polyurethane foam product that was widely used in the UK from the 1970s through to the early 2000s as a method of fixing loose roof tiles and improving thermal performance in loft spaces. Applied directly to the underside of roof tiles from inside the loft, it was marketed at the time as a cheap and effective solution for older properties with deteriorating tile fixings.
What are the different types of Roof Foam Insulation?
There are two common types of spray foam insulation found in residential properties, each with their own characteristics and implications for your home.
Open Cell Foam
A soft, flexible foam which absorbs moisture easily and is particularly problematic in roof spaces where condensation is common.
Closed Cell Foam
A rigid, dense foam which bonds strongly to roof timbers and tiles, making removal significantly more complex and costly.
Both types present serious problems for homeowners and are now widely recognised by mortgage lenders, surveyors, and insurers as a major defect when found in a property.
Why was Roof Foam Insulation Used in Construction?
Spray foam insulation was promoted heavily during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s as a quick fix for aging roof structures across the UK. One of the primary reasons it became so widespread was aggressive door-to-door marketing campaigns targeting older homeowners, often with the promise of government grants or energy savings. The foam was easy to apply, required no specialist equipment, and appeared to solve the problem of loose or slipping tiles at a very low upfront cost. What homeowners were not told was the long-term structural, financial, and legal consequences the product would create for their properties.
What Type of Foam has been Applied to Your Roof?
The type of foam present in your roof will determine the complexity and cost of its removal. Closed cell foam bonds aggressively to both the tile battens and the felt underlay beneath the tiles, meaning in most cases the underlay cannot be salvaged and the roof will require re-felting and re-battening as part of the removal process. Open cell foam, while softer, still saturates roof timbers with moisture and must be fully removed to prevent long-term timber decay and structural damage.
What can I do about my Roof Foam Insulation?
Once spray foam has been applied to your roof structure there is unfortunately no quick fix. Some companies offer a partial treatment to stabilise sections of foam, however this is widely regarded as a temporary and inadequate solution. The only permanent and mortgage-approved resolution is full removal by a specialist contractor.
When Should You Have Your Roof Foam Removed?
Roof Foam Poses the Greatest Risk to Your Property When You Are Trying to Sell, Remortgage, or Insure It.
You should take immediate steps to have your roof foam removed if your property has been flagged by a mortgage surveyor, if you have been declined a remortgage, or if your insurer has raised concerns about the condition of your roof structure. Even if none of these situations currently apply, proactively removing roof foam will protect your property's value and prevent the structural deterioration that worsens significantly over time.
Living With Roof Foam Insulation
Understand The Risk
Roof foam can trap moisture within your roof structure, accelerating the decay of roof timbers and tile battens. Left untreated, this can lead to sagging roof sections, failed tiles, and in serious cases structural failure of the roof itself.
The Mortgage Problem
The majority of high street mortgage lenders will decline to lend on a property where spray foam insulation is present in the roof. This not only affects your ability to sell your home but can prevent you from remortgaging or releasing equity, effectively reducing your property to a cash-buyer-only sale.
Impact on Insurance
Many insurers either decline to cover properties with roof foam or apply significant exclusions to the policy. In the event of a claim related to roof damage or water ingress, the presence of foam may be used to void the policy entirely.
Impact on Neighbouring Structures
In terraced and semi-detached properties, roof foam that has caused structural movement can affect adjoining properties. This can create legal and financial complications with neighbouring homeowners and their insurers.
Having Your roof Foam Removed
Damaged or not, having an Asbestos garage roof places restrictions on the functionality of your garage. The associated health risks prevent using your garage as a usable space such as a workshop or gym but the real damage is from the release of Asbestos fibres which can contaminate the contents of your garage preventing the storage of sentimental and financially valuable items. Although harder surface items can be cleaned, penetration of soft materials and fabrics can leave items dangerous and unusable.
Our operatives are trained and certified to work with Asbestos and our company is fully licensed to transport and dispose of Asbestos material. As the homeowner it is your responsibility to ensure that any company you hire disposes of the Asbestos waste safely and within the regulations.
Benefits of having the roof Foam Removed
Modern roofing materials and techniques have advanced considerably in recent years. Once foam has been professionally removed, your roof can be reinstated to full working order using contemporary breathable underlay and high-quality tile fixings, leaving your property structurally sound, mortgageable, and fully insurable.
Property Becomes Mortgageable Again
Removal of spray foam restores your property to a condition acceptable to the vast majority of high street mortgage lenders.
Completed Efficiently with Minimal Disruption
Our removal projects are planned and managed to minimise the time your roof is open to the elements, with works typically completed within a structured and agreed timeframe.
No Need to Vacate the Property
In the majority of cases our works can be carried out while you remain in your home, with access required only to the loft space and roof externally.
We Work Around Your Schedule
Whether you are booking an initial inspection or confirming your project start date, we will do our best to work around your availability.
