Spray Foam insulation
With rising energy costs, is spray foam insulating your home a good idea?
We answer some of the queries around this topic and what it might mean in terms of mortgaging your home
Given the current economic climate and the cost of energy crisis, many people are looking at cost savings and ways to make their home more energy efficient this winter. As such, articles and advertising about spray foam insulation are becoming common place on the internet and on social media, but is it a good idea to spray foam insulate your home?
What is spray foam insulation?
Spray foam insulation, also called spray foam or spray polyurethane foam (SPF), is an alternative to traditional building insulation. Spray foam insulation is pitched as a versatile product that can be used to insulate rooves, lofts, walls and floors, helping to retain warmth and reduce energy costs. Due to the nature of the material it can be applied in difficult-to-reach areas and may also provide some sound insulation.
What are the risks?
This type of insulation needs to be installed by a professional and it can be difficult to remove once it's been installed. Depending on how it is installed it can limit ventilation within the roof space, stopping it from breathing, causing humidity and damp which can put roof timbers at risk of decay. It should very much be avoided in listed buildings or houses with thatched rooves for obvious reasons. It can be unsightly and is difficult to decorate over unless covered. You also have to be very aware of scammers and unreputable companies that don’t offer a professional service, especially those selling door-to-door.
What can spray foam insulation do to the value of your home?
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors explain that if one of their surveyors encounters spray foam insulation during an inspection, they may reduce the value of the property or request an independent specialist report. More importantly, most lenders and all Equity Release providers refuse to lend against properties with spray foam insulation as a blanket rule.
What do we say?
With so many uncertainties and risks when it comes to mortgaging a property with spray foam insulation, we would advise against any form of this, and instead stick to additional layers of more traditional forms of insulation until the industry is more heavily regulated.