We remove spray foam insulation from homes across Childwall in the L16 district. Most properties here are twentieth-century semis, detached houses and bungalows with tiled roofs, and the foam is usually on the rafters or sprayed onto the felt. We remove it by hand, clear the waste, check the timbers and give you a written report with photographs to share with whoever needs it.
Who usually calls us from Childwall
Childwall is largely a residential suburb, with streets of inter-war and post-war semis, roomy detached homes and a good number of bungalows. Many owners have lived in their houses a long time, and calls from L16 tend to come at a turning point:
- Downsizing. A buyer’s survey flags the foam and the sale stalls.
- Equity release. The lender’s valuer will not proceed until the roof can be inspected.
- Inherited homes. Family members clearing a parent’s house find the foam and want it sorted before marketing.
- Remortgaging. A routine valuation picks it up, sometimes years after it was sprayed.
In each case the underlying issue is the same. Foam covers the timber, so no one can say what condition it is in.
Bungalow lofts: a special case
A bungalow’s roof covers the entire living space, so its loft is often large and low-pitched, with a long run of rafters on every side. Foam in a bungalow therefore means a lot of sloping surface to clear, often with limited headroom at the edges. The ceiling joists span every room in the house, so we take care with boards and keep weight off the ceilings throughout.
Because bungalows are popular with older buyers, and older buyers are more likely to use equity release later, a bungalow with foam can be particularly hard to sell until the issue is resolved. Read our spray foam and mortgages page for an overview of what lenders tend to ask.
Tiled roofs over felt
Most Childwall roofs are tiled, with roofing felt or a later membrane beneath the battens. Installers often sprayed foam straight onto that felt. Open-cell foam generally comes away from felt more cleanly; closed-cell foam can bond so firmly that the felt tears as it is removed. We explain the likely outcome when we visit, and if the felt needs patching or replacing afterwards, that goes in our report so you can bring in a roofer. Our open-cell removal page explains why the softer foam usually behaves better.
From first call to written report
When you ring, we ask about the house, what you know about the foam and whether anything is waiting on it. We then come out to look at the loft and give you a written quote with an expected timescale. On the day, we protect the hallway and landing, work across the roof slopes by hand, bag every piece of foam and carry it out. With the timber exposed, we take moisture readings, photograph each slope and write up our findings.
If you would rather have a clear assessment before deciding, our spray foam survey sets out what is in the loft and what removing it would involve.
Old loose-fill insulation between ceiling joists in older houses can occasionally contain vermiculite, which may contain asbestos. If we suspect it, it must be tested and, if necessary, handled by licensed specialists. We do not disturb suspected asbestos.
Areas next to Childwall
We regularly work in Wavertree to the west, Woolton to the south-east and West Derby to the north. The home page covers our spray foam removal across Liverpool in more detail, and you can also read about how our local foam removal works from start to finish.
Spray foam in a Childwall home?
Call 07777 659786. Let us know if it is a bungalow, semi or detached house and whether a sale, equity release or remortgage is pending. We will call back and arrange a time to look.
Frequently asked questions
Do you cover the whole of Childwall in L16?
Yes, we work throughout L16 and in the neighbouring districts around it. If your property is near the border with Wavertree, Woolton or Broadgreen and you are not sure which area you fall in, it does not matter: just call with your postcode.
Is removing foam from a bungalow loft a bigger job?
Often, yes. A bungalow roof covers the whole house, so there is more sloping surface to clear than in a two-storey home of similar floor area, and headroom at the edges can be tight. We look at the loft first and give a duration with our written quote.
We have inherited a parent’s house with spray foam. Should we remove it before selling?
Many executors choose to, because a buyer’s surveyor is likely to flag it. Speak to your estate agent and, if needed, your solicitor about timing. We can inspect, quote and provide a report with photographs that can be shared with prospective buyers.
Will the roofing felt be damaged when the foam comes off?
It depends on the foam and the felt. Open-cell foam usually releases more cleanly; closed-cell foam can be bonded so firmly that the felt tears. We tell you what to expect after the visit and record any damage so a roofer can repair it.
How quickly can you come out if our buyer is waiting?
Call as soon as you know. We will try to look at the loft promptly and tell you how long the work is likely to take, so you can update your buyer and solicitor with realistic dates.