Spray foam insulation removal in Swindon

Why people in Swindon are having foam removed

Most of the calls we get start with a surveyor's report. A buyer's lender has sent a valuer round, they've spotted foam on the underside of the roof, and the mortgage offer has stalled. Others come from homeowners trying to remortgage, release equity, or who have simply read about the problems and want it gone.

The worry is the same in each case. Foam sprayed onto rafters hides the timber, so nobody can tell whether it's dry and sound or quietly rotting. A slow leak can go unnoticed for years. Lenders don't like lending against what they can't see.

What our removal service includes

• A free survey. We check the type of foam, how much there is, the condition of the roof membrane and how easy the loft is to work in.
• A fixed price in writing. The price we quote after the survey is the price you pay, unless we find something we couldn't see, in which case we stop and talk to you first.
• Careful removal. We cut and scrape the foam away from the rafters, battens and membrane, working to avoid damage to the roof covering.
• A clean-down. The timbers are cleared so a surveyor can see them properly.
• Legal disposal. The foam is bagged and taken to a licensed site by a registered waste carrier, and you get a waste transfer note.
• A completion report. Before and after photos, notes on the timbers, and a record of what was done.
• Re-insulation if you want it. We can put in new insulation once the foam is out, so your home doesn't lose heat.

Swindon homes we work on

Swindon's housing is unusually varied for a town its size, and that changes how a removal job goes. In the Railway Village, many of the stone cottages are listed and the roof timbers are original, so we work slowly and protect the slate. In Rodbourne and Gorse Hill, the Victorian terraces have small lofts and narrow hatches, which means more trips up and down the ladder. The post-war estates in the east often have low-pitched roofs where there's little room to stand. And in West and North Swindon, foam was usually added years after the house was built, sprayed straight onto the breathable membrane.

We'll talk you through what applies to your house at the survey.

After the foam is out

Once the roof is clear, we photograph the timbers and note anything a surveyor should know about, such as old water staining or soft spots. If repairs are needed, we'll explain what they are and what they're likely to cost before anything else is done.

Spray foam removal: questions

Can all spray foam be removed?

In most lofts, yes. Occasionally closed-cell foam has bonded so firmly to the membrane or tiles that taking it off would damage the roof. If that's the case we'll tell you at the survey and explain the options, rather than starting a job we can't finish properly.

Will removal damage my roof?

Careful removal shouldn't. The membrane is the part most at risk, especially where foam was sprayed straight onto it. We check its condition first and tell you if it's already damaged.

Do you leave a mess?

We sheet the route from the loft hatch to the door, bag everything in the loft and vacuum up before we leave.