What to know and do if you have spray foam insulation

Householders with spray foam insulation may battle to remortgage or promote their houses as lenders fear one of these insulation can intrude along with your property’s construction.

Putting in insulation is an efficient approach of maintaining your private home heat in winter, however have you ever thought-about the kind of insulation you utilize? A latest report by the BBC discovered 1 / 4 of the UK’s greatest mortgage suppliers wouldn’t lend towards houses with spray foam insulation within the roof.

Spray foam insulation has been used for the previous 30 years and in 2022, the Residential Property Surveyors Affiliation (RPSA) reported that as many as 250,000 houses have spray insulation within the UK. What’s extra a lot of this insulation was put in underneath the earlier authorities’s Inexperienced Properties Grant scheme, which offered grants to owners and landlords to make their houses extra power environment friendly.

Now, The Householders Alliance (HOA) has really useful that owners keep away from putting in spray house insulation till the dispute with lenders has been resolved. However the place did this battle come from?

What’s spray foam insulation?

There are two sorts of foam insulation known as open cell and closed cell. Each are fashioned from polyurethane and stuffed with air bubbles however have totally different properties as soon as the froth has been set.

Spray foam insulation is utilized in liquid type which rapidly units and varieties an insulating layer. It’s a well-liked technique due to its capacity to get into tight nooks and crannies.

Closed-cell spray foam insulation units to type a inflexible layer that does not permit air or moisture to go by way of. In the meantime, open-cell spray insulation is far softer and breathable, permitting moisture and air to go by way of. The sort of insulation must be put in by a manufacturer-approved installer.

The issue with spray foam insulation

Spray insulation is commonly utilized to roofs and attics, however lenders have grow to be more and more involved in regards to the harm attributable to spray foam insulation, with experiences of some property brokers even refusing to checklist properties with spray foam insulation put in.

Lenders fear about how spray insulation will work together along with your property’s construction. If it is utilized incorrectly, it might lure moisture, which may result in timber decay or mould in your roof house,’ says Fiona Peake mortgage professional at Ocean Finance.

‘Over time, this might weaken the construction of your private home. Some sorts of spray insulation make it tougher for surveyors to correctly examine roof timbers, leaving lenders not sure in regards to the property’s situation. These unknowns make them hesitant to approve mortgages on houses with spray insulation.

‘One other situation is resale. Properties with spray insulation can take longer to promote as a result of patrons are cautious. There’s a notion that eradicating it’s costly and probably damaging, which may scale back your private home’s market worth.’

What you need to do in case you have spray foam insulation

In case you have spray foam insulation put in, the essential factor is to not panic, based on Fiona.

‘It’s value having it inspected by a professional surveyor to evaluate its situation. You would additionally get an expert contractor to verify it was put in correctly and hasn’t brought about any structural points,’ she says.

‘Having this documentation can go a great distance in reassuring lenders and patrons. Should you’re planning to promote, be ready to reply questions on it and even negotiate on value if a purchaser sees it as a danger.’

In accordance with the HOA, for those who’ve had spray foam set up put in in your house for a number of years and have skilled any points and also you’re not planning on promoting your private home, you would not have to fret about getting the insulation eliminated.

Some lenders will lend in case you have spray foam insulation offered you will have the proper paperwork, your foam has been sprayed accurately and your roof is in good situation.

What insulation is healthier to make use of?

There are many sorts of insulation that gained’t influence the opinion of lenders and save power at house over winter.

‘Should you’re contemplating insulation, options like mineral wool or inflexible foam boards are sometimes higher choices. They’re efficient, simpler to put in, and don’t carry the identical dangers. Plus, they’re extra more likely to tick the field for mortgage lenders and potential patrons,’ says Fiona.

In case you have any considerations about the kind of insulation you will have, you possibly can converse to a fee-free mortgage dealer about your choices and which lenders are comfy with spray foam insulation. And for those who plan on putting in insulation, make sure you get it professionally fitted.