When considering spray foam insulation for your home, it's essential to understand its potential effects on your mortgage. Let's delve into the intricacies of spray foam insulation types, industry challenges, and the steps taken to address concerns raised by mortgage companies.
Differentiating Spray Foam Insulation Types
There are two primary types of spray foam insulation: open cell foam and closed cell foam. Closed cell foam, historically used for temporary roof repairs, is rigid and waterproof. However, it's crucial to distinguish this from open cell foam, which is soft, flexible, and breathable. Unlike closed cell foam, open cell foam undergoes rigorous testing by independent bodies like the BBA to confirm its breathability and safety. This breathability eliminates the risk of moisture entrapment and timber rot, ensuring a secure and durable insulation solution for your home.
Challenges Raised by Mortgage Companies
Historically, the spray foam insulation industry lacked regulation, leading to challenges for surveyors and installers. Surveyors faced difficulties in assessing properties with spray foam insulation, lacking training to distinguish between open and closed cell foam installations. This uncertainty prompted mortgage companies to issue cautionary statements, causing unnecessary panic and misinformation among homeowners.
Resolving Industry Challenges
To address these concerns, industry bodies such as RICS, PCA, IMA, and RPSA collaborated to develop a comprehensive code of practice for surveyors and lenders. Released in March 2023, this code outlines guidelines for surveyors when assessing properties with spray foam insulation, ensuring consistency and accuracy in evaluations. This development marks a significant step forward for the spray foam insulation industry, alleviating unjust issues faced in previous years.
Value Foam's Commitment to Compliance
At Value Foam, we prioritize compliance with industry standards to provide homeowners with peace of mind. Here's how we ensure compliance with the new code of practice:
Detailed Pre-Installation Report: Before commencing work, we conduct a comprehensive assessment of your property's roof condition, including moisture readings and photographic evidence.
BBA Certificate: Our open cell foam holds BBA approval for various applications, ensuring quality and suitability for your property.
Condensation Risk Analysis: We provide a customized condensation risk analysis to prevent any moisture build-up and maintain the integrity of your roof timbers.
Product Warranty: Our installations come with a 25-year manufacturer's warranty, offering long-term assurance and value for your investment.
With these measures in place, Value Foam ensures that our spray foam insulation installations not only meet regulatory requirements but also deliver lasting comfort and efficiency for your home.
For further information, please refer to the PCA surveyors protocols in the link below.
Contact Value Foam today to learn more about how spray foam insulation can benefit your home and mortgage.
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