Buying a house with spray foam insulation in 2023

Buying a house with spray foam insulation in the United Kingdom can have several advantages, but it also comes with considerations you’ll want to think through. Spray foam insulation can provide excellent thermal insulation, reducing energy bills and creating a more comfortable living area within the house.

Advantages

1. Energy Efficiency: Spray foam insulation is highly efficient at reducing heat transfer, which can lead to significant savings on heating and cooling costs. This is especially valuable in the UK, where heating costs can be high due to the country’s often chilly weather.
2. Airtightness: Spray foam expands to fill gaps, making it excellent at sealing leaks and drafts. This can further enhance the energy efficiency of a home and improve indoor comfort.
3. Noise Reduction: Spray foam insulation can also provide soundproofing benefits, which can be an advantage in noisy urban areas.
4. Moisture Barrier: Spray foam insulation can help to keep moisture out, potentially reducing the risk of problems like mold and dampness.
5. Durability: Spray foam insulation is typically long-lasting, which means it won’t need to be replaced as often as some other types of insulation.

Considerations

1. Installation Quality: The effectiveness of spray foam insulation depends heavily on the quality of its installation. Poorly installed spray foam can lead to gaps in coverage, uneven insulation, and even potential structural issues. If you’re buying a house with spray foam insulation, it would be wise to have the installation inspected by a professional.
2. Cost: Houses with spray foam insulation may be more expensive due to the increased energy efficiency and other benefits. However, these upfront costs could be offset by future energy savings.
3. Potential Health Concerns: Some people have reported health problems associated with spray foam insulation, such as respiratory issues or allergic reactions. This is more likely with certain types of spray foam insulation and is generally less of a concern with open-cell spray foams like H2Foam Lite, which is VOC class A+ and has low emissions​.
4. Sustainability: While spray foam insulation can significantly reduce a house’s energy use (which is good for the environment), the production of some types of spray foam insulation can have negative environmental impacts. However, products like H2Foam Lite use water as a blowing agent, which is more environmentally friendly than chemical alternatives​.

If you’re considering buying a house with spray foam insulation in the UK, an important question people are asking is their ability to get a mortgage. This is primarily due to the potential risks associated with bad or poorly installed spray foam insulation. When improperly installed, it can lead to problems such as rot or overheating of covered cables. The type of spray foam used can also make a difference. Closed-cell spray foam can cause stress on supporting roof timbers, restrict air circulation, and cause condensation, which could lead to rot​.

A properly installed spray foam insulation should come with several pieces of documentation:

• A pre-survey suitability report detailing the condition of your roof and timbers before the foam was sprayed.
• A condensation risk assessment.
• An independent test certificate such as BBA or Kiwa certification detailing the type of foam and how it should be sprayed.
• Installation company details and its credentials.
• An installation guarantee.

With regards to mortgages, one of the leading financial lenders in the UK Nationwide states that they will lend provided you have the correct paperwork, your foam has been correctly sprayed by an accredited installer, and your roof was in good condition before the application of the foam.

In summary, buying a house with spray foam insulation in the UK can offer several benefits including saving on energy bills, environmental, health but it’s important to ensure the insulation was properly installed by fully accredited installer.