Spray Foam Insulation Removal

[Suffolkposy]

FIL sadly passed away a couple of weeks ago and we’ve just started going through all his paperwork. Utterly horrified to discover he’s had open cell spray foam insulation installed in the loft back in 2022.

I’ve been reading that it makes houses un-mortgageable, and we need to get it removed before it goes on the market. Or is that wrong and we can auction the house to cash buyers?

Has anyone else dealt with getting it removed? Any recommendations for companies? Thanks!

No experience in getting it removed but we just sold a bungalow probate property (completed a few weeks ago) that had spray foam insulation.
Sold to a builder/developer who was going to completely refurbish the place.
No mortgage involved as it was not in an expensive area (<£300k).

Ok that makes me feel a bit better. This will be a complete refurb job, it’s not been touched really since the 70s. Good to know it can be done, thanks.

How old is the house?

Have you been in the loft, or can you?

What do you think is the age and condition of the roof, from the outside?

Yes you are right, mortgage requiring buyers will find it hard, but not impossible, to get the loan. There are still a few lenders who will consider it at a premium rate. Pretty much as you said - if you want to sell at the best price you need to have it removed - but you can still sell it at trade price for cash or at auction.

I’ve got this situation although dad still going strong. Just the decision making that’s been questionable. I’m getting a surveyor to look at it and make recommendations. I’m sure it will need removing and he’s got the added complication of the house being listed. It won’t sell without removal.

It’s mortgage lenders that don’t like spray foam insulation. Any cash buyer would still be able to buy it. However they will likely reduce their offer to cover themselves for the costs of getting it removed.

However you are probably better off getting it removed yourself, and selling on the open market. You’ll get a better price by opening it up to more buyers like that, Even after paying for the foam removal, you’ should end up with more cash in your pocket than you would have done sellling at auction.

It’s a 5 bed semi, mid 1960s house, roof is also probably from the 60s, but had some work done on it in the 80s.

He’s also had solar panels put all over the roof, leading to batteries in the lounge!

Not been in the roof yet, been dealing with tons of paperwork but hoping to have a look this week.

I thought that might be the case, I need to find a company who can give us a quote then, which is proving harder than I thought it would be.

A listed building!! You have my sympathy!

As we are going through his paperwork we are finding some absolute nightmare decisions he’s made. Before he went into hospital he was about to change two absolutely tiny windows maybe 45x30cms each. £4k he’d agreed with the window company! They don’t even need doing. I’m dreading going through the rest of his paperwork.

A 1960's house might have a felted roof. If so, the foam might be stuck to the felt rather than the tiles and battens, and be easier to remove.

The other point is that the roof might be of an age where it is due for replacement or major overhaul. In which case a reputable local roofing company might strip off all the old, which would need doing anyway as you would get new tiles and battens. A new roof is worth having, so your money would not be wasted. I am not keen on concrete tiles. I don't know about the panels, but a lot of the cost is usually putting up the scaffolding. I had a faulty panel, and had it dealt with this year when I had scaffolding up for new gutters.

That’s so useful to know, fingers crossed it’s on the felt.

Sadly there is no way we can do a new roof, my husband’s siblings barely believe the foam is a problem. They’ll never agree to it. It also needs a new kitchen and 2 new bathrooms and the less said about FIL’s electrical work on the place the better! I think it’s going to be a hard sell unless a builder buys it.