Mortgage refusal because of spray foam
We remove the foam, photograph every rafter and issue a completion report written for valuers. Most Barnstaple sales we unblock complete within weeks of the report being sent to the solicitor.
Attic Spray Foam Removal in Barnstaple clears failed open cell and closed cell foam from your roof space so your timbers can breathe again. We handle lofts across Barnstaple and Devon for homeowners, buyers and landlords, from single dormers to full trussed roofs. If a surveyor has flagged foam, or you have spotted damp and rot, we extract it, clean the structure and give you the evidence your lender or buyer needs.

Attic Spray Foam Removal in Barnstaple is the controlled extraction of sprayed polyurethane insulation from a roof space, followed by cleaning and inspection of the timbers underneath. Foam is cut back with a spray foam removal saw or oscillating multi-tool, then lifted out by hand and industrial vacuum. Because foam bonds hard to timber, plasterboard and felt, the work is slow and dusty. We seal the loft with negative air machines and air scrubbers, wear full PPE, and bag every scrap for disposal. Nothing gets dragged through your house.
Most Barnstaple foam problems start with a loft conversion or a cheap insulation job done years ago. Open cell foam traps moisture against rafters, and North Devon's damp winters do the rest: condensation, roof timber rot and a failed mortgage valuation. Lenders flag it, surveyors write it up, and sales stall. We also see closed cell foam sprayed straight onto felt, which hides leaks until the ceiling stains. If you need loft spray foam removal in Barnstaple, the sooner it comes out, the less timber you lose.
Every job is priced as a complete package: survey, containment, extraction, cleaning, disposal and report. You do not pay extra for bagging, waste or photographs. If we find rot or a hidden leak, we quote that separately and only proceed with your say-so.
Moisture meter and thermal imaging checks on every rafter, plus photographs of foam coverage. You get a written fixed price the same day, with no obligation to book.
Sealed hatch, protective sheeting, negative air machine and air scrubbers. Foam dust stays in the loft, not on your landing, stairs or furniture.
Saws, multi-tools and dry ice blasting remove foam from rafters, felt and plasterboard. Every scrap is bagged and removed from site the same day.
Full vacuum of the roof space, preservative treatment on affected timber and replacement of failed battens. Thermal imaging confirms no damp pockets remain.
Dated before-and-after photographs, foam type removed and timber condition, written for lenders, surveyors and solicitors. Issued within 48 hours of finishing.
We inspect the loft, measure foam coverage, check timber with a moisture meter and photograph problem areas. You get a fixed price the same day, plus a clear explanation of what is foam and what is rot. Most Barnstaple surveys take 45 to 60 minutes.
On day one we lay protective sheeting, seal the loft hatch and install a negative air machine with air scrubbers. This keeps dust and foam particles out of your living space. We run cabling for lighting and set up bagging stations before any cutting starts.
Foam is cut with a spray foam removal saw and oscillating multi-tool, prised off rafters and bagged. A two-person crew clears a typical 30 square metre loft in two to three days. Stubborn patches on felt or plasterboard come off with dry ice blasting or sand blasting equipment.
Once the foam is gone we vacuum every rafter, treat any rot with preservative and replace battens that have failed. A thermal imaging camera confirms no damp pockets remain. You get photographs of every elevation before we close up.
We issue a completion report with before-and-after photos, foam type removed and timber condition. That document is what lenders, surveyors and buyers want to see. We walk you through the loft, explain ventilation, and leave the space clean.
Purpose-built equipment, used by trained technicians — so the job is done accurately the first time.
Cuts through dense closed cell foam in straight runs without tearing the timber underneath. Used for the bulk of extraction on rafters and battens.
Gets into corners, around nails and along felt edges where a saw will not fit. Essential for tidy removal on older Barnstaple roofs.
Lifts foam residue from felt, plasterboard and awkward surfaces without water or chemicals. Leaves the surface clean and dry.
Captures foam dust and debris at source and filters the air in the work zone. Keeps your landing and stairs clean.
Creates a pressure difference so dust travels into the loft, not into your house. Runs throughout the job.
Finds hidden damp and foam-filled voids before we cut. Tells us which rafters need treatment and which are sound.
Removes stubborn foam residue from masonry and hard surfaces where hand tools cannot reach. Fully contained to control dust.
A 1900s terrace in Pilton had open cell foam sprayed across every rafter. The buyer's lender refused the mortgage, and the surveyor flagged trapped moisture and early rot on two rafters.
We removed 28 square metres of foam over three days, treated the two damp rafters and replaced one batten. The completion report with dated photographs went to the solicitor, and the lender signed off within two weeks.
Closed cell foam had been sprayed over the felt in a Roundswell semi, hiding a leak for years. The ceiling below had a faint stain, and the homeowner assumed it was condensation.
We cut out 22 square metres of foam with saws and dry ice blasting, found the failed flashing and repaired it. Thermal imaging confirmed the timbers were dry, and the loft was left clean and ready for new insulation.
A landlord in Newport had foam in two rental lofts, one with damp staining on a rafter. The properties were due for inspection and the foam was flagged as a defect.
Both lofts were cleared in five days, with 40 square metres of foam removed in total. Damp timber was treated, battens replaced, and reports issued for both properties. The inspections passed without further action.
Foam is rarely the only issue. It hides leaks, traps damp and stalls sales. Here are the problems we see most often in Barnstaple lofts and how we deal with them.
Ask a pro →We remove the foam, photograph every rafter and issue a completion report written for valuers. Most Barnstaple sales we unblock complete within weeks of the report being sent to the solicitor.
We map damp with a moisture meter and thermal imaging camera before cutting, then treat or replace affected timber. Catching it early saves the rafters and keeps the repair local.
Once the foam is out we restore airflow at the eaves and advise on ventilation. We also check insulation performance loss and recommend mineral wool at the correct depth.
Our report gives buyers and their solicitors the evidence they need: what was removed, what condition the timbers are in, and photographs of every elevation. It removes the unknown that stalls sales.
Typical 2026 pricing in Barnstaple runs from 1,800 to 4,500 pounds for a standard loft, depending on foam type, coverage and access. Closed cell foam bonded to felt takes longer than open cell, and scaffolding adds cost. We give a fixed price after a free survey, so you know the figure before we start cutting.
Yes. We remove open cell and closed cell foam from lofts across Barnstaple and Devon, including foam sprayed onto rafters, felt and plasterboard. We use saws, multi-tools and dry ice blasting where needed, then clean and treat the timbers. Most lofts are cleared in two to four days.
It is safe when it is done with containment and PPE. We seal the loft, run negative air machines and air scrubbers, and wear respirators and coveralls. Foam dust and old isocyanate residues stay in the work zone. Once we finish, the loft is vacuumed and safe to enter without protection.
A typical 30 square metre Barnstaple loft takes two to three days to clear, with larger or felt-bonded roofs running four to five days. Survey and quote take under an hour. We book most jobs within two weeks and can prioritise mortgage deadlines where needed.
Foam does not get better with time, and lenders do not soften their stance. Call Union Trust Spray Foam on 0127 159 4024 for a free survey and a fixed price. We are CHAS accredited, we work to ISO 9001, and we have been clearing North Devon lofts since 2022.
Get a Free Quote 0127 159 4024 →Ring us on 0127 159 4024 or email info@uniontrustsprayfoam.com and we will get back to you the same working day. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with a 24/7 line for emergencies. Free assessments across Barnstaple and North Devon.