Is Spray Foam Easy to Remove?
Like most things in property – it depends. Mainly, it depends on the type of spray foam insulation you have in the property. Open cell insulation is generally much easier to remove, since it’s less strongly adhered to the roof timbers and any underfelt there may be. It’s also a lot less time–consuming, and can be removed with scrapers.
Closed cell insulation, on the other hand, can be tricky. It’s more firmly stuck to the surfaces than its open cell counterpart, and may require different methods to remove it from the timbers. Dry ice blasting or abrasion are the most common, but they need to be done by a specialist. These methods also create a lot of debris and waste, which means proper protection and disposal methods need to be used. It’s important to make sure that all insulation is removed from the timbers and eaves to ensure any eaves ventilation paths are clear.
Can Removing Spray Foam Cause Damage?
If removal isn’t done properly, then yes. Removing insulation needs to be done carefully, and this does take time. Carefully removing it from the timbers should not cause them any damage. Modern underfelts should be easier to remove open cell insulation from, old bitumen felts, that can become brittle with age, so special care will be needed to avoid poking holes in them. For older properties with bitumen paper underlays, they are usually so fragile that they can’t be saved – and spraying insulation on them in the first place wasn’t appropriate. In these cases, they will normally need to be removed and replaced.
Small areas of damage can sometimes be patch repaired, but if a larger section is damaged then the proper approach is to remove tiles and piece in new sections of felt. In the worst cases, it could mean stripping and re-laying the whole roof covering.
When insulation has been applied directly to the tiles or slates it gets a bit more complicated. To the point where it can sometimes be more economical (or necessary) to remove the roof covering.
Who Should I Instruct to Help?
There are many specialist insulation contractors and general roofing contractors who do removal works, and when working with one you should be sure to do your due diligence. However, we would always be wary of using anyone who cold calls you offering to survey the insulation and quotes for removal. Unfortunately, we’ve come across a lot of very poor removal jobs, and to make sure you’re aware of the dangers, here are a few examples of what can happen when using a cold-caller contractor.
Some contractors will quote and install either an underlay felt or other membrane below the rafters after removal. In most cases these linings serve no practical purpose – they’re installed to disguise the damage the contractor has caused while removing the insulation, or sometimes where they haven’t even removed the insulation at all!
In some cases, the debris and dirt left over after removal aren’t fully removed, instead it’s just hidden under a new ceiling level insulation. In one memorable case, the contractor quoted to remove the closed cell insulation and install new open cell insulation. But what they actually did was spray new insulation over the top and didn’t remove any of the old insulation.
We have encountered several cases of people being sold a ‘preservative’ treatment applied to the timbers. The exact nature of the product couldn’t be determined in some cases, but in others it appeared to be exterior fence preservative. In a roof space this serves no practical purpose at all – if the timbers are decayed then the cause of the damage (either water ingress or woodboring insects) needs to be addressed.
So you see, cold-caller contractors usually cause more problems than they solve, and your best bet is to research and reach out to a company yourself.
What Do I Do Now?
First, don’t be rushed into any agreement for removal. Some removal companies have been known to pressure clients, using scare tactics in their ‘survey’ findings. These surveyors are usually commission-based salesmen with no professional surveying qualifications, who will pressure you into buying things you don’t need If they are pressuring you, trying to upsell additional products, or can attend in a very short space of time, this is a red flag.
Instead, seek out quotes and recommendations from reliable contractors. And if you’re worried about the need for removal, then get a second opinion from a qualified person. If you’re not able to get into the loft to inspect any work you have done after completion, make sure you get a qualified person to inspect it for you. We always recommend you pay using a credit card – you may get extra protection under the Consumer Credit Act if something goes wrong.
If you need any help or advice on spray foam insulation, never fear. Our team of experienced surveyors are here to help. Just give us a call on 023 8155 0051 to talk to one of our experts today, and we look forward to supporting you.
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