Three short checklists that protect you at the three moments that matter: when a survey flags foam, when a mortgage is on the line, and when a removal company is quoting. Free to use and reference with credit to National Spray Foam Advisory.
Spray foam in the UK — the key numbers
Who will lend where spray foam was retrofitted?
Sources: House of Commons Library briefing CBP-10658 · PCA & HomeOwners Alliance joint letter (May 2025) · BBC research (Nov 2024) — full detail on our spray foam statistics page.
1. The Survey Checklist
Use when a survey or valuation has flagged spray foam. Full guide: what a flagged survey really means.
- Get the exact wording. “Unable to inspect”, “further investigation” and “removal may be required” mean different things — copy the sentence out of the report.
- Identify the foam type — open-cell (soft, spongy) or closed-cell (rigid). It changes everything downstream.
- Gather any paperwork from the installation: certificate, product name, installer, date.
- Don’t book removal yet. A flag is not a diagnosis — in many cases inspection shows removal isn’t required.
- Arrange an independent assessment of the foam and roof timbers — evidence beats assumptions with every lender and buyer.
- Take independent advice before spending — free routes exist (including ours) before any company quotes for work.
2. The Mortgage Checklist
Use when buying, selling, remortgaging or after a decline. Full guides: lender-by-lender table · after a decline · remortgaging.
- Find out the lender’s actual objection — ask for the valuer’s comments, not a summary.
- Check current lender criteria before applying anywhere — policies differ widely and change; avoid scattergun applications that mark your credit file.
- Assemble the evidence pack: installation certificate, product certification (e.g. BBA), foam type, and any independent inspection report.
- If remortgaging, ask about a product transfer first — it may not trigger a fresh physical valuation.
- Use a whole-of-market broker who has placed spray foam cases before.
- If removal becomes the route, insist on independent sign-off at the end — that document is what lenders rely on.
Talk it through with a free, independent adviser — no obligation, and we carry out no removals ourselves.
3. Questions To Ask Any Removal Company
Use before signing anything. Full guide: how to choose a removal company.
- “Will you assess whether removal is even necessary — in writing?” Assessment before sales talk.
- “Do you take a deposit?” The answer you want is no — payment follows the work.
- “What happens on day one?” Listen for sampling — testing a section before committing the whole roof.
- “What do I get at the end?” Independent sign-off by a chartered surveyor, not just the company’s own certificate.
- “Can I have an itemised quote?” Removal, disposal, timber work, making good, VAT — line by line. Compare three like-for-like: see what removal should cost.
- “How did this conversation start?” If they cold-called you, stop — see mis-sold spray foam.
Partway through one of these and unsure?
Talk it through with an independent adviser — free, no obligation, no sales script.
New: six questions to ask anyone before they go up your ladder.
Worried about spray foam problems in your home? Call us free on 0800 494 7163 or leave a message about your situation and we will give you the advice you need to resolve it — and a full understanding of the guidance around spray foam and how it applies to your home. We are a free, independent advisory service and we carry out no removals ourselves.