Spray foam insulation and the problems facing households

Spray foam insulation – also called spray foam or spray polyurethane foam (SPF) – is an alternative to traditional building insulation. However, it comes with a number of drawbacks including high cost and safety concerns, and could potentially lower your property's value.

Spray foam insulation is causing a number of problems for homeowners and can affect their ability to get a mortgage, release equity on a property. Recently it has been found that many insurance companies will not even insure properties with spray foam insulation due it being highly flammable and when installed incorrectly it causes increased risk of a property has other electrical devices installed in the loft space, solar panels ceiling spotlights etc.

• When installed incorrectly spray foam insulation can also prevent ventilation, and rot the timbers of the loft. It can reduce air circulation and lead to dampness and condensation on the underside of a roof because it forms an air barrier and stops moisture from escaping . This will ultimately result in an expensive reroof.
• The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said the presence of spray foam may affect a surveyor’s valuation of a property, for example, if it has been applied incorrectly. The Home Owners Alliance (HOA), a consumer group which advises homeowners, says that because spray foam covers a roof’s structure, surveyors appointed by mortgage lenders may find it difficult to inspect the condition of individual roofs and identify risks.
• In November 2021, the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) and Property Care Association (PCA) published guidance . The guidance said that without technical information, it was “unlikely” that surveyors could “comment on the condition of the timber roof structures or speculate on risk”.

Checkatrade advises homeowners against removing insulation themselves because it could “damage tiles, electrics and other materials”. It says some spray foam is “toxic to touch and breathe in”. Qualified professionals may be able to advise affected homeowners about removing spray foam insulation.

In April 2023 the major spray foam installation companies changed the criteria and documentation required, prior to spray foam insulation being installed. They also recommended that any spray foam insulation installed prior to 2023 should be removed.

It is estimated that over 250,000 households across the UK could be affected.

If you have any queries or concerns please give us a call to arrange an independent assessment of your properties spray foam installation.