Insulating your home properly is one of the most effective ways to keep the heat in your home high and your energy bills low.
This is achievable using spray foam insulation, often known as spray polyurethane foam (SPF). It can be used in loft spaces, flooring, walls and roofs as a modern alternative to traditional home insulation. However, there are circumstances where spray foam removal may be required.
But is Spray Foam Insulation Worth It?
Yes, foam insulation does have its advantages, and it is a highly effective and usually very quick method of insulating a property. However, there are some disadvantages that you should be aware of before deciding to have spray foam insulation applied.
Not only will many surveyors undervalue a house that has spray foam insulation, but its presence can also make roof repairs difficult if the spray foam has been added to the roof space. It all comes down to getting proper advice from a trusted spray foam installer who can advise you whether it is suitable for your home and where it can be reliably applied without causing you any issues in the long term.
What is Roof Foam Insulation?
Roof foam insulation is also known as spray foam insulation or polyurethane foam in the industry (SPF). It is delivered as a liquid foam sprayed into position before expanding and hardening into an effective insulating layer.
An alternative to traditional insulation, this type of insulation can be sprayed on the inside or exterior of a roof and in lofts, walls, and floors.
Spray foam is classified into two types:
- Closed cell spray foam: This is an excellent insulator, but it is a moisture barrier and can impede ventilation to the roof region.
- Open cell spray foam: Less dense, more flexible, more breathable. To get the same level of insulation, a thicker layer is required.
Advantages of Spray Foam Insulation
- It can help you save money on your energy bills because more than half of a home’s heat is lost through the roof, walls, and other air leakage spots, causing your heating system to overcompensate and cost you extra money.
- It’s adaptable enough to insulate areas that would be difficult or impossible to insulate otherwise.
- It is more effective at preventing allergies and other airborne contaminants from entering your house.
- It has a lifespan of up to 80 years.
- It’s excellent for keeping pests out of your home including mice and rats; it can even deter bats, which can be problematic if they find their way into your home.
- It naturally reduces outside noise, so your property will benefit from an improved sound reduction.
Disadvantages of Spray Foam Insulation
- It can obstruct necessary air, increasing the likelihood of humidity and wetness – and if you have a timber roof, it may deteriorate.
- It is not usually permitted in listed structures, such as those with thatched roofs.
- It is typically two to three times the price of standard cloth or fibreglass insulation.
- Spray foam insulation can lower the cost of your home in some cases.
- Spray foam insulation installation is not a do-it-yourself project; you will probably need to hire a professional.
What is the Cost For Removing Spray Foam Insulation?
The approximate cost for removing roof foam insulation from, say, a 3-bedroom house should be around £3,500.
Given the toxicity of some types of spray foam, it also includes £100 for specialised disposal. It would help if you also considered the expense of skips.
The removal of roof foam insulation can cost substantially more than other types of roof insulation removal.
Most other insulation types will cost you around £300 for safe removal and disposal because they will roll up or pull away whereas spray foam removal is much more tricky and labour intensive.
The cost of Roof foam insulation removal can vary due to the following:
- Your location: Some parts of the UK, such as London, have higher labour prices.
- The access: The costs listed above assume a reasonable-sized loft hatch. The size of your loft: Larger lofts have more surface area of insulation to remove.
- The thickness of the insulation: It will typically cost more to remove insulation that has been applied thickly.
Furthermore, there are very few specialists in this sector. Therefore, you may receive a better deal if you had the contractor you are using to remove your roof foam insulation carry out further work, such as replacing the foam with a new insulation system at the same time.
Why May Spray Foam Removal Be Required?
Roof foam insulation offers advantages. It’s adaptable and can even serve to support the structure of a building (in the case of closed-cell spray foam). However, it is not all roses and rainbows.
Here are some of the reasons why you might need to consider having spray foam insulation removed:
- Many surveyors will undervalue properties with this type of insulation.
- Some lenders will not finance a home with spray foam insulation in the loft or roof space.
- Closed-cell spray foam can contribute to condensation and humidity, leading to the degradation of your roof timbers. In addition, it can be nasty and difficult to clean up.
- It might make it difficult to perform roof repairs, such as replacing broken tiles or repairing roof leaks. It may cause structural damage to your home if not applied properly. It could be masking further harm.
How Do You Remove Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam insulation removal is a dirty and labour-intensive process.
It usually entails cutting the roof foam as far as feasible without injuring the surrounding components and then scraping the rest off by hand.
It will also almost certainly cost more to remove the spray foam than to put it in the first place.
Is It Possible For Me To Remove the Roof Foam Insulation Myself?
We would advise against removing roof foam on your own. If you’re inexperienced, you could damage tiles, electrics, other materials, and some types of spray foam can be poisonous to touch or breathe in.
Furthermore, spray foam can get into all sorts of nooks and crevices, making it difficult to remove altogether, and using a professional spray foam removal service increases your chances of it being done correctly and not causing any damage.
Unfortunately, removing spray foam insulation will almost certainly cost more than it cost to install it in the first place.
Spray Foam Removal Summary
If you are looking for a relatively low-cost insulation option for your home, then spray foam insulation is definitely worth checking out. However, always remember that with this type of insulation, foam removal costs, if you need it to be removed, can be significant.
If you need spray foam removal services, then contact an insulation specialist and look at the options that are available to you.
