Cost of removing roof foam insulation

If you’ve had enough of your roof foam insulation, you can get it removed. But what exactly is the cost of removing roof foam insulation? We’ll reveal all here.

What is roof foam insulation?

Roof foam insulation is technically known as spray foam insulation or spray polyurethane foam (SPF). It comes as a liquid foam that’s sprayed into place before expanding and hardening into an insulating layer. It’s an alternative to traditional insulation and can be sprayed onto a roof’s interior or exterior (or both), as well as being used to insulate lofts, walls and floors.

There are two main kinds of spray foam:

• Closed cell: This is a very good insulator but is a barrier to moisture and can reduce ventilation to the roof area.
• Open cell: This is less dense, flexible and breathable. A thicker layer is needed to provide the same level of insulation.

Cost of removing roof insulation

For a three-bedroom detached house, you can expect the total roof foam insulation removal cost to come to around £3,200. This is assuming that it takes two/three tradespeople a week to complete, at £175 each per day. It also includes £100 for specialist disposal, given the toxic nature of some kinds of spray foam. You will also need to factor in the cost of skips.

The cost of removing roof foam insulation is significantly more than the cost of removing other kinds of roof insulation. With most insulation types, you’re looking at closer to £300 for safe removal and disposal, as it will generally just roll up or pull away.

Roof foam insulation removal cost factors

The total cost of removing spray foam insulation from your roof will depend on a number of factors, including:

• Your location: Some areas of the UK, like London, typically see higher labour costs.
• The access: The costs above assume that there is a fair-sized loft hatch.
• The size of your loft: Bigger lofts will typically have more surface area of insulation to remove.
• The thickness of the insulation: If the insulation has been applied more thickly, it will generally cost more to remove.

On top of this, there are very few specialists in this field. It might be that you could get a better price by having your roof foam insulation removed as part of a wider package, for instance getting a builder to replace the foam with a new insulation system at the same time.

 Why remove roof foam insulation?

Roof foam insulation has its positives. It’s versatile, flexible and can even help to support a building’s structure (in the case of closed cell spray foam). However, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Here are some of the reasons you might be looking to get your spray foam removed:

• Many surveyors will down-value properties that have this kind of insulation.
• Some lenders won’t give you a mortgage on a property with spray foam insulation applied to the loft or roof.
• Closed cell spray foam can contribute towards condensation and damp, which can, in turn, cause your roof timbers to decay.
• It can be messy and hard to decorate over.
• Spray foam shouldn’t be used on listed properties.
• It can make it hard to carry out roof repairs, such as fixing broken tiles or roof leaks.
• If it’s not applied well, it could risk damaging the structure of your home.
• It could be covering up other damage.

FAQs

How is spray foam insulation removed?

Removing spray foam insulation is messy and labour-intensive. It usually involves cutting the roof foam as far as possible without damaging the materials around it and then scraping off the rest by hand.

It’s also very likely to cost more to remove the spray foam than it was to have it installed in the first place.

Can I remove roof foam insulation myself?

We’d recommend against undertaking roof foam removal yourself. Not only could you damage tiles, electrics and other materials if you’re inexperienced, but some kinds of spray foam are toxic to touch or breathe in. On top of that, spray foam can get into all sorts of nooks and crevices, which makes it difficult to fully remove effectively. Using a professional gives you the best chance.

Is it true that some lenders won’t give you a mortgage with spray foam insulation applied to the loft or roof?

This is true. Some lenders will not give a mortgage on a property with spray foam insulation in the loft. This is due to:

1. The spray foam insulation sealing the roof space and reducing the air circulation to the roof timbers. This could lead to condensation and potential wood rot.
2. The spray foam insulation sets very hard (closed cell insulation) and can add additional stresses to the roof timbers potentially causing distortions.

Unfortunately, removing spray foam insulation is likely to cost more than the original installation. But even after the removal, there will still be lenders that refuse to offer a mortgage due to a view that the damage may well already be done.