Selling or buying a property with spray foam installation

If you are selling a property with spray foam insulation, be prepared for some direct questions from your buyer because both buyers and lenders are becoming more concerned about it.

Spray foam installation can cause problems if not properly installed, namely:

• It can lead to mold
• It can have a foul odor due to improper ratios of chemicals
• It can lead to termite damage
• If it is too airtight, it can cause humidity and damp, resulting in roof supports weakening and even rotting over time
• It can negatively affect the value of the property

Buying or leasing a property with spray foam installation?

If you are buying a property where spray foam insulation has been installed, be aware that it can cause the problems referred to above.

We always advise you take a survey when purchasing or leasing a property.  This is a matter upon which a suitably qualified surveyor can inspect and report to you upon. Make sure that they are competent to do this sort of survey and are themselves properly insured.

There should be a valid, current guarantee with a company still in existence, the terms of which are sufficient to give you proper cover for the future.

On no account should you exchange contracts until you have clearance from your lender.

What is spray-foam insulation

Spray foam insulation was developed and used by the military in the 1940s and applied to airplanes. It was not until the 1970s that it started to be used as foam insulation in properties. Spray foam is a liquid that expands and solidifies.

Spray foam should be installed by a professional.  It should not be used in listed buildings or houses with thatched roofs.

Doubts and concerns

If you have any doubts or concerns, please get in touch with our Residential Property team and we will help you through the process. Standard pre-sale enquiries will not usually reveal the existence of spray foam insulation, so it is important to make a detailed inspection and have your survey carried out.