spray foam loft insulation

MultiFuelBurner

Surely they contravened listed consent doing that

FreeBear

maladict said:

There's a lovely 180 year old, C-listed building just come on the market where we're looking, but it has (open cell if that makes a difference) spray foam insulation - I guess that means we absolutely shouldn't consider it.  

The price of replacing a roof is scary enough; the thought of replacing a listed roof is terrifying.

Despite what the installers say, open cell is just as bad as closed cell foam - It traps moisture unseen, and when rot sets in, the first you know about it is when the roof starts to sag.

Wonder if the local Conservation Officer knows about the spray foam - Might cause a few issues for the current owner if you make contact with the CO.. That said, at times, I've seen rules being relaxed in some situations north of the boarder (I'm guessing this property is in Scotland).

maladict

Yes, my very first thought was that surely they couldn't do that to a listed building, and then the fear of being forced to put it right if we did buy it and the council found out.  It seems to have been done recently as it's still under guarantee apparently.

It's in Scotland, yes.  

MEM62

The product itself is not inherently bad.  However, if applied incorrectly it seals roof space and causes damp issues that can lead to the rotting of the roof timbers.  As the timbers are covered with the insulation you cannot inspect them to ascertain whether they are OK or not. That is the reason that most mortgage companies do not like it and, as risk mitigation, refuse to lend on all properties with this type of insulation.  In my parents case, they had to have all the tiles taken off their roof and the insulation removed before the house was saleable.  (or should I say mortgageable)     

ThisIsWeird

gerdo said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Hi Gerdo.
I presume the 'whole loft' refers to the sloping undersides of the tiled areas, and not the loft 'floor' - IE the house ceiling?
I just don't get how folk cannot sue these companies from the obvious point that this does not - can not - add 'insulation' value to houses. 
Such lofts are ventilated, so what you stick to the slopes matters not a jot to what happens in the house below; you still have a howling passing through the loft area, and it'll effectively be at outdoor temp.
Why can't folk sue on the basis of 'this is not insulation'?
On a connected note, why don't they spray where it could actually be effective - between the joists over the ceiling?! Can't imagine a more effective insulation there.

The whole loft is covered, floor and undersides of the roof, the loft looks like a padded cell ☹

Is it foam on the loft floor too?

The loft is still ventilated to the outside via the eaves as before, I presume? In which case what is the insulation value of the 'roof' foam?! None that I can see.

robatwork

Get a roofer to visit and quote for a new roof. Then negotiate from there - if it's £20,000 knock 10k off the price perhaps.

Mollymops10

We have received  an offer on our property. Buyers surveyor highlighted spray foam in the loft. This was obviously installed by the previous owner to us  18/19 years ago. We have never been in the loft we are pensioners and aren’t able to climb up to access. We had no idea about the spray foam or the fact that mortgage companies will not lend on the property. Our proposed buyers are unable to obtain a mortgage.  We had a specialist removal company take a look at it and they have said due to the time and type of insulation they would not try to remove it as it will cause problems with our roof. We now have no alternative but to re roof the whole roof at great expense.
There doesn’t seem to be any other route for us.

user1977

Mollymops10 said:

We now have no alternative but to re roof the whole roof at great expense.

There doesn’t seem to be any other route for us.

Why do you think you have to do it? You can just find a buyer prepared to take it as it is.

ThisIsWeird

I wonder if it's possible to buy an indemnity policy on the basis that it'll pay out if it can be demonstrated that the foam has caused any future roof failure?

MeteredOut

ThisIsWeird said:

I wonder if it's possible to buy an indemnity policy on the basis that it'll pay out if it can be demonstrated that the foam has caused any future roof failure?

I very much doubt that would make any buyers lender change their mind if they have a rule re. no foam insulation.