Removing spray foam from pitched roof
Discussion
I am after a bit of PH advice and thoughts. My parents had spray foam installed to the underside of the roof on their 4 bed tiled pitch roof house a number of years ago. They want to get it removed as worried about future issues and sales problems.
We have had one quote which seems OK price wise for the removal of the foam and to fit knauif wool insulation. £4.5k for removal, £1k for insulation.
They have included 'damp treatment' supply and fit to all rafters for £700 and £2k to install vapour barrier/super foil to underside of roof.
Questions are:
1) anything I should be asking/wary of about the removal work. Payment is on completion and they say I will get a certificate of works and photos of before/after.
2) do we need the vapour barrier? I don't understand why you need a vapour barrier on the underside of the roof it self. This is a traditional 1950s house.
House is in SE England...
We have had one quote which seems OK price wise for the removal of the foam and to fit knauif wool insulation. £4.5k for removal, £1k for insulation.
They have included 'damp treatment' supply and fit to all rafters for £700 and £2k to install vapour barrier/super foil to underside of roof.
Questions are:
1) anything I should be asking/wary of about the removal work. Payment is on completion and they say I will get a certificate of works and photos of before/after.
2) do we need the vapour barrier? I don't understand why you need a vapour barrier on the underside of the roof it self. This is a traditional 1950s house.
House is in SE England...
Is it really possible to remove this stuff from the inside without damaging the roof ?
Our neighbours had their house totally reroofed over the summer due to being unable to sell with spray foam insulation in place. Having seen the effort it took the guys to get the foam off, even with the tiles off the roof, I can't imagine it would have been possible to do the job while keeping the existing roof.
Our neighbours had their house totally reroofed over the summer due to being unable to sell with spray foam insulation in place. Having seen the effort it took the guys to get the foam off, even with the tiles off the roof, I can't imagine it would have been possible to do the job while keeping the existing roof.
outnumbered said:
Is it really possible to remove this stuff from the inside without damaging the roof ?
Our neighbours had their house totally reroofed over the summer due to being unable to sell with spray foam insulation in place. Having seen the effort it took the guys to get the foam off, even with the tiles off the roof, I can't imagine it would have been possible to do the job while keeping the existing roof.
This ^^^^^^Our neighbours had their house totally reroofed over the summer due to being unable to sell with spray foam insulation in place. Having seen the effort it took the guys to get the foam off, even with the tiles off the roof, I can't imagine it would have been possible to do the job while keeping the existing roof.
How much damage will the contractor do by attempting to remove the foam and how much will they charge to repair said damage!
outnumbered said:
Is it really possible to remove this stuff from the inside without damaging the roof ?
Our neighbours had their house totally reroofed over the summer due to being unable to sell with spray foam insulation in place. Having seen the effort it took the guys to get the foam off, even with the tiles off the roof, I can't imagine it would have been possible to do the job while keeping the existing roof.
Had a friend in the same situation. After his 3rd buyer pulled out, due to the mortgage survey putting an end to proceedings. Solution was a whole re-roof.Our neighbours had their house totally reroofed over the summer due to being unable to sell with spray foam insulation in place. Having seen the effort it took the guys to get the foam off, even with the tiles off the roof, I can't imagine it would have been possible to do the job while keeping the existing roof.
If they’re installing mineral wool at ceiling level, there’’s no reason to also be fitting superfoil insulation to the rafter.
Hybrid installations such as that can be problematic unless the condensation risks are carefully considered by someone with the required knowledge since insulation at ceiling level requires ventilation of the roof void, whereas rafter installation wouldn’t.
You can only have one or the other, not both.
Hybrid installations such as that can be problematic unless the condensation risks are carefully considered by someone with the required knowledge since insulation at ceiling level requires ventilation of the roof void, whereas rafter installation wouldn’t.
You can only have one or the other, not both.
About six houses along from us had scaffold put up, tiles removed…. next time I passed there was sprayed foam in the skips……. Was striped back to rafters.
Took about 2 days to remove and retile. Joists/rafters not changed. New rooftiles.
If the foam is stuck to the tiles then it will be cheaper to change them than clean them.
Took about 2 days to remove and retile. Joists/rafters not changed. New rooftiles.
If the foam is stuck to the tiles then it will be cheaper to change them than clean them.
Thanks for the replies. Sounds like a high risk of more damage as the work is done. A bit more research suggests some less then reputable firms use attaching the membrane to the rafters after removal to hide the damage they have done, which explains the sales push for it. I will advise my parents to not go ahead with this firm.
When didn’t tbh eye stop flogging this
From the early 90s until recent times there was a fella at the local b and q doorway flogging this
My elderly uncle looked at getting it removed, thankfully he did need a lot of roof work so went for a re roof
He was thinking ahead for when he died and my cousin had to sell his place
From the early 90s until recent times there was a fella at the local b and q doorway flogging this
My elderly uncle looked at getting it removed, thankfully he did need a lot of roof work so went for a re roof
He was thinking ahead for when he died and my cousin had to sell his place
Ask how they will remove the spray foam. Mechanical scraping or chemical treatment can cause damage to roof timbers.
A certificate of works is good, but check whether they provide a guarantee that the roof remains structurally sound after removal.
In most traditional 1950s houses with pitched roofs, a vapour barrier is NOT needed unless you are converting the loft into a living space. Instead of a vapour barrier, they should use proper ventilation (e.g., eaves vents, ridge vents) and breathable insulation materials (like mineral wool or natural fibre insulation).
The £700 damp treatment sounds like an upsell unless they find evidence of rot or fungal growth.
A certificate of works is good, but check whether they provide a guarantee that the roof remains structurally sound after removal.
In most traditional 1950s houses with pitched roofs, a vapour barrier is NOT needed unless you are converting the loft into a living space. Instead of a vapour barrier, they should use proper ventilation (e.g., eaves vents, ridge vents) and breathable insulation materials (like mineral wool or natural fibre insulation).
The £700 damp treatment sounds like an upsell unless they find evidence of rot or fungal growth.
Saleen836 said:
outnumbered said:
Is it really possible to remove this stuff from the inside without damaging the roof ?
Our neighbours had their house totally reroofed over the summer due to being unable to sell with spray foam insulation in place. Having seen the effort it took the guys to get the foam off, even with the tiles off the roof, I can't imagine it would have been possible to do the job while keeping the existing roof.
This ^^^^^^Our neighbours had their house totally reroofed over the summer due to being unable to sell with spray foam insulation in place. Having seen the effort it took the guys to get the foam off, even with the tiles off the roof, I can't imagine it would have been possible to do the job while keeping the existing roof.
How much damage will the contractor do by attempting to remove the foam and how much will they charge to repair said damage!
paddy1970 said:
The £700 damp treatment sounds like an upsell unless they find evidence of rot or fungal growth.
Any damp treatment would be a waste of money. If the roof is made weather tight and correctly ventilated the timbers can't rot any further. If the decay is significant then the timbers need replacing. If dry rot is present then £700 would barely cover the preliminary exposure.
I'm currently assisting an elderly client with this and arranging for removal of the spray foam using a local firm who I know and trust.
There's a scam going around whereby the firm who hoodwinked them into doing it then morph into another company who advise them to remove it a year or so later due to 'damp issues'. They then charge around the same for removal - utter crooks.
Anyway, OP, if you wish to PM me I will send you information on how to remove, what the risks are, and how much it should cost (I'm a chartered building surveyor)
There's a scam going around whereby the firm who hoodwinked them into doing it then morph into another company who advise them to remove it a year or so later due to 'damp issues'. They then charge around the same for removal - utter crooks.
Anyway, OP, if you wish to PM me I will send you information on how to remove, what the risks are, and how much it should cost (I'm a chartered building surveyor)
C Lee Farquar said:
paddy1970 said:
The £700 damp treatment sounds like an upsell unless they find evidence of rot or fungal growth.
Any damp treatment would be a waste of money. If the roof is made weather tight and correctly ventilated the timbers can't rot any further. If the decay is significant then the timbers need replacing. If dry rot is present then £700 would barely cover the preliminary exposure.
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