Spray foam removal

What it costs

Checkatrade's spray foam removal page for Leeds gives £3,200 on average to remove roof foam insulation from an 80m² roof, such as a 3 bed detached house^[1].

The same page gives £40 per m² on average for roof foam insulation removal, and £175 on average as the labour cost per day^[1]. Checkatrade says the exact cost varies with the size and difficulty of the job^[1].

Checkatrade says removal is usually not covered by home insurance, because it is classed as maintenance or remedial work rather than an insured event, but it is worth checking your policy^[1].

How it's done

Checkatrade says firms usually remove foam from a loft by manual scraping combined with mechanical tools, then clean the timber^[1].

Checkatrade advises hiring a firm rather than doing it yourself, because removal is labour intensive, potentially hazardous and it is easy to damage the roof or walls^[1].

How long it takes

Checkatrade says removal takes 2 to 5 days for most properties, and large or hard-to-access roofs may take longer^[1].

What the quote should include

• Checkatrade lists what a typical removal quote includes: an assessment and survey, manual and mechanical foam removal, safe disposal of the waste, and cleaning the timber if needed^[1].
• Checkatrade suggests checking that a removal firm has public liability insurance and a waste disposal licence^[1].
• Ask for written confirmation of what was removed, with photographs of the cleaned timbers, so you have it for a future buyer or lender.

Foam in walls

Checkatrade says foam can be removed from cavity walls, but it is more invasive and may mean opening up sections of the wall, so a specialist should assess the job^[1].

If you rent or live in a listed building

• Checkatrade says renters should speak to their landlord first, because the property owner has to agree to removal, and that spray foam causing damp, mould or damage should be raised as a repair^[1].
• RICS says spray foam must not be installed in a listed building without prior consent, and because removing it could damage the structure it is not considered reversible^[2]. Speak to the council's conservation officer before any work.