BeforeAfter
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SVC 01 & 02 / Spray foam & insulation removal
Spray foam out. Photos in hand.
We cut open and closed cell spray foam off the rafters by hand, then give you dated photos of the cleared roof space for your lender, surveyor or buyer.
Why people want it gone.
Spray foam was sold as a quick fix for cold lofts. It causes real problems for a lot of homeowners:
- Mortgages and equity release. Many UK lenders are wary of spray foam in the roof, and some won't lend until it has been assessed or removed.
- Hidden timber. Foam stuck to the rafters means a surveyor can't see the wood underneath.
- Damp. Foam that was specified or fitted badly can hold moisture against the timbers instead of letting the roof breathe.
- Selling the house. A buyer's surveyor flags it and the sale slows down or falls through while everyone argues about it.
Removal isn't always the right answer, so we ask questions before we quote, not after. If your foam isn't causing a problem, we'll tell you.
How we take it out.
Slowly, by hand. No shortcuts that damage the timbers we're trying to save.
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Quote and photos
We work out whether it's open or closed cell foam, check the roof structure, and photograph the loft as found. You get a fixed written quote before anything is cut.
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Protection
Loft contents moved or covered, hatch and landing sheeted, and a clean route in and out of the house.
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Removal by hand
Foam is cut and stripped from each bay, working round felt, membrane, wiring and pipes. Timbers are cleaned back and checked as they come clear.
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Clear away and record
All waste bagged and taken away. You get dated photos of every cleared bay.
What you get at the end.
When we hand the loft back you also get the paperwork that shows what was done:
- Dated photos of the roof space before, during and after removal
- Notes on the condition of the exposed timbers, with anything that needs attention flagged plainly
- An itemised invoice describing exactly what we did
A lot of customers have fresh mineral wool laid at joist level while we're there. That's the way lenders and surveyors expect to see a loft insulated. See loft insulation.
SVC 02 / Insulation removal
Old insulation out.
Not every loft has foam in it. Plenty have ordinary insulation that has stopped working: soaked by an old leak, flattened under years of boxes, chewed by mice, or laid so badly it holds damp against the ceiling.
- Old material lifted and bagged in the loft, then carried out along a sheeted route
- Joists, ceiling and wiring checked and photographed once the space is clear
- Dust and debris vacuumed up rather than swept into the house
- Fresh mineral wool laid the same day if you want the loft re-insulated
If we think there might be asbestos in the material, that's a different job. We'll say so when we look rather than disturb it. How we re-insulate.
Before and after.
Foam in the rafters, then the same loft with the bays cleared. Drag the line.
Questions we get asked.
Will removing the foam damage my roof?
Done carefully, no. Open cell foam generally strips back well by hand. Closed cell foam bonds harder to the wood and takes longer to remove cleanly. We tell you which you've got when we look and price for it, rather than finding out halfway through.
How long does removal take?
Most domestic lofts take one to three days depending on the size of the roof, the type of foam and how thick it was sprayed. Your written quote includes a time estimate for your roof.
Do I need it removed to get a mortgage?
Not always. Lender policies vary and some will accept an assessment instead. What lenders don't like is uncertainty, and a cleared, photographed roof space removes it. Speak to your lender or broker first. Our photo record then gives them what they ask for.
What happens to the waste?
All the stripped foam is bagged in the loft, carried out along the protected route and taken away by us for proper disposal. We leave the loft swept.
Can you insulate the loft afterwards?
Yes, and it usually makes sense to do it in the same visit. We lay mineral wool at joist level, which is what surveyors expect to see. Details here.
Find out what's under the foam.
Tell us about the loft. We identify the foam, check the roof and give you a fixed written quote, or tell you honestly to leave it alone.