How to remove spray foam insulation

Removing spray foam from a roof means separating it from the rafters and the roof membrane without damaging either, then disposing of the waste legally and recording the work.

What a professional removal involves

1. Survey. The firm checks the foam type, the area, the access and the roof membrane before fixing a price.
2. Removal. The foam is cut, scraped or blasted away from the timbers.
3. Clean-down and inspection. The timbers are cleaned so a surveyor can see them, and any damage is recorded.
4. Waste disposal. The foam is bagged and taken away by a licensed waste carrier, with a waste transfer note.
5. Paperwork and re-insulation. You get a completion report with photos, and the loft is re-insulated if that's part of the job.

Removal methods

• Manual removal. Cutting and scraping by hand and with hand tools. It works for both foam types, but takes time on closed-cell foam.
• Dry ice blasting. Pellets of frozen carbon dioxide blasted at the foam. One firm in the directory says the method leaves no secondary waste and doesn't damage the timber or tiles.

Ask any firm which method it will use on your roof and why.

Can you remove spray foam yourself?

You can physically scrape foam away, but it rarely solves the problem that made you want it gone:

• Lenders and buyers' surveyors want evidence of a complete, professional removal. DIY work comes with no completion report.
• Scraping can tear the roof membrane or damage the timbers, adding repair costs.
• The waste still has to be disposed of legally.

Before and after

A good firm photographs the whole roof before and after removal. Those photos go in your completion report, so ask to see examples from past jobs before you book. See what paperwork to ask for.