Spray foam insulation with gov grant

120624

So we finally got someone round to inspect and quote loft insulation and I’m extremely unsure about the method having only heard bad things! I’ll include the quote if anyone was interested in this but I am more so looking for thoughts on spray foam.

So what they intend to do is 100mm of open cell spray foam (lapolla) with an internal membrane over 74m squared (semi detached) - when we purchased the property the survey came back with concerns over the felt lining (it was completely battered) and no insulation but I believe the tiles are intact. We would have a guarantee on the work done.

Can anyone give any experience or thoughts over this method?

The quote was just under 5k with the gov covering 2/3 so we would be paying roughly £1500 ourselves.

Doozergirl

We've got recent threads with houses not passing mortgage surveys because of spray foam insulation. 

Do not do it!   

Insulating your loft normally shouldn't even cost that much.  

120624

Doozergirl said:

We've got recent threads with houses not passing mortgage surveys because of spray foam insulation. 

Do not do it!   

Insulating your loft normally shouldn't even cost that much.  

I can’t believe it, how can they offer the service?!

troffasky

You haven't said if this is going on the back of the tiles or on top of the ceiling.

If it really is such an obviously terrible product, then it's a bit of a disappointment that government subsidies [ie, your fellow tax payer's hard earned] are available for installing it.

Is the general problem with spray foam that corners are cut during installation, or is the whole concept fundamentally flawed?

Have a read over the BBA cert for this product:

https://www.bbacerts.co.uk/publications/guidance/qr-codes/lapolla-industries-inc/

There are quite a few caveats and warnings in here:

"... the product must only be applied to a roof construction incorporating a breathable roof tile underlay....Care must be taken to ensure the integrity of the roof tile underlay drape when spraying the product".

Are they going to take the tiles off, fit an underlay, re-fit the tiles and then spray the foam, for £5k?

"Installation must not be carried out until the moisture content of any roof timber framing is less than 20%"

Do you trust them to abide by this? What if it's at 25% after the roof has been made water-tight? Hopefully they'll come back after a month when it's had a chance to dry out. Or maybe they'll just crack on, not wanting a delay in getting paid.

FreeBear

120624 said: So what they intend to do is 100mm of open cell spray foam (lapolla)

Doesn't matter what they call the stuff, it is still an isocyanate foam - It gives off toxic fumes as it cures, and should it ever catch fire, it releases even more toxic fumes - Really nasty stuff. Also, any claims about being "breathable" is just hog wash. I would only use isocyanate & polyurethane insulation in sheet form (Celotex/kingspan type boards) where there is a fire resistant layer over the top. An example would be rigid boards cut to size and fitted between joists then clad with plasterboard.

If you want to see some real horror stories about spray foam in houses, look for some of the American videos over on youtube - If some of those videos don't put you off, perhaps the devaluation of your property will.

greatcrested

Don't touch with a bargepole.

Insulating a loft with insulation from a builders merchants/ DIY store is hardly expensive! £30? for a 2 bed house + a weekend spent in the attic. Wear gloves and goggles.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Building-Materials/Insulation/Loft-Insulation/c/1000270

Cosy & sorted.

Poppy1312

Don't do it!
We've just had our roof done that had had this spray foam insulation done at some time in the past.
ALL the battens were rotten. Luckily the structural timbers were OK but it was a very messy job removing the foam and all the slates had to be smashed off.
Having this foam sprayed everywhere meant you couldn't see the condition of the timbers. Luckily we decided to bite the bullet and have it done when we did.

Suquie

Read all this with interest.  Thank you for all your comments. Just had someone around with a really hard sale on La Polla.  one price if I sign today, another (still a lot) but half price if I sign before Friday.  Needless to say after reading all these comments, I am not going ahead

plumb1_2

Is this a government grant? Or a discount from the company and them telling you it’s a grant.
Sneaky salesperson 

Woolsery

Suquie said:

....  one price if I sign today, another (still a lot) but half price if I sign before Friday. 

Doesn't matter what the product is, this is a red flag and your answer should be 'No.'