Why removal alone does not settle it
A lender's concern with spray foam was never really the foam. It was that the foam hid the roof structure, so nobody could say what condition the timbers were in. Taking the foam out answers half the question. The other half is proving what was found underneath, and what was done about it. That proof is paperwork.
The documents worth having
- A removal report stating what type of foam was removed, from which areas, and by what method
- Photographs of the exposed timbers, taken after removal and before any new insulation went in, ideally covering every roof slope rather than one flattering corner
- A record of the timber inspection, including moisture readings where they were taken, and either confirmation the structure was sound or details of what was repaired or replaced
- The re-insulation specification, what was installed, at what depth, and how ventilation was provided
- Invoices that identify the company that did the work, because an anonymous job is hard for anyone to stand behind
Assemble this while the work is happening. Reconstructing it two years later, mid-house-sale, with the roof now insulated over again, ranges from difficult to impossible.
Who should produce it
The company doing the removal. This is worth checking before you book: ask what documentation you get at the end, and whether the photographs are taken as standard. A firm that can also repair timber matters here, because if the inspection finds damage, a removal-only contractor has to stop and hand you the problem, while a construction company can fix what it finds and document the repair in the same pack.
What surveyors do with it
A surveyor who can see photographs of clean, sound timbers, a written inspection record and a proper re-insulation spec can report on the roof like any other roof. Without them, some will still caveat the report, because they cannot verify what happened, and a caveat is exactly what a lender reacts to. The paperwork does not guarantee any particular lending decision, but it removes the unknowns that cause refusals.
If you have not removed it yet
Start with what the job really involves and costs: our guide to spray foam removal cost explains why quotes vary so widely, and our spray foam removal service covers removal, timber inspection and repair, re-insulation and the documentation pack described above, nationwide.