Why homeowners have spray foam removed
Spray foam was sold to a lot of Somerset and Devon households as a quick way to warm up a loft or hold a tired roof together. On paper it sounded sensible. In practice, foam sprayed directly onto the underside of the tiles or felt covers up the very parts of the roof that need to be seen — the rafters, the battens and the membrane.
That causes two problems. The first is ventilation. A traditional pitched roof is designed to let air move through it so that any moisture can escape. When foam seals everything in, condensation has nowhere to go and can sit against the timber. The second is inspection. A surveyor walking into a foamed loft simply can't tell whether the wood behind it is sound.
Because of this, some mortgage lenders and surveyors treat spray foam with caution, and it's become a common reason a house sale or remortgage stalls. Every lender has its own view, so it's worth asking yours directly. What we can do is take the foam off so the roof can breathe again and anyone who needs to look at it can see exactly what's there.
What removal involves
Every roof is different, so the job starts with a visit. We'll go up into the loft, look at how much foam there is, what it has been sprayed onto and how easy the space is to work in. Low pitches, tight hatches and boarded floors all make a difference, and it's better to know about them before work starts rather than halfway through.
On the day, the work broadly follows three stages:
- Access — getting into the loft safely and protecting the rest of the house from dust and debris.
- Taking the foam off — cutting and scraping it away from the rafters, battens and underside of the roof covering.
- Checking underneath — once the foam is gone we look properly at the battens, membrane and timbers and tell you what we see.
That last step matters most. As roofers, we're not just there to remove a product; we're looking at the structure it was hiding. You'll get honest advice on whether the roof is in good order or whether something needs attention.
Repairs that can show up once the foam is off
Quite often, foam was sprayed in the first place because a roof was already struggling — tiles slipping, nails failing or felt breaking down. Removing it can reveal those older issues. Typical findings include damp or softened battens, torn or perished underlay, and tiles or slates that are only staying put because the foam was gluing them in place.
Small problems can usually be put right with targeted roof repairs. If the battens and membrane are past saving across the whole roof, a full strip and re-tile may be the better long-term answer — you can read more about that on our re-roofs and pitched roofs page. Either way, we'll explain what we've found and let you decide. We won't push a bigger job than the roof needs.
Areas we cover
We're based just outside Taunton and take on spray foam removal across Somerset and Devon, generally within about 50 miles. That takes in places like Bridgwater, Wellington, Yeovil, Tiverton and Exeter. Have a look at our areas we cover page, or just ring and ask if you're not sure — we'll tell you straight away.
We work on both domestic and commercial buildings, so whether it's a family home, a rental property or a small business unit, the approach is the same.
Free written quote and site visit
With 25 years on West Country roofs, Jason prices the work himself after seeing the loft. You'll get a free written quote that sets out what's involved, so there's no guesswork. If anything turns up once the foam is off that changes the picture, we'll talk to you before going any further.
To book a visit, call 07399 680142 or use our contact page. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am–5:30pm and Saturday 8am–3pm. It helps if you can tell us roughly when the foam went in, whether the loft is boarded and whether you've got a sale or remortgage coming up.