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    Thinking of having spray foam installed? What to check first

    Last reviewed 2 November 2026 by Jan Pospisil, DEA qualified (ABBE Level 3)

    Reviewed weekly: every fact checked against the news and its sources. Page last updated 24 October 2026.

    Includes time-sensitive information: checked in the weekly sweep

    Independent: SprayFoamCheck doesn't install or remove insulation and takes no referral fees.

    Short answer

    The Financial Ombudsman noted in 2025 that spray foam has not been prohibited[1], but before you agree, check what the product approval requires for your roof, what your mortgage lender says, and what paperwork you will get. Some large lenders decline homes with spray foam[2]. Insulating at loft-floor level is an alternative to compare[3].

    Your next step:Get an independent view before you agree

    On this page

    Key facts

    • BBA product approval 23/7062 (Jan 2024) requires a documented survey with a condensation risk assessment, timber below 20% moisture and a breathable (LR) underlay[4]
    • BBC survey of the 20 largest lenders (Nov 2024): five would not lend; most decide case by case[2]
    • Citizens Advice: don't use a company that cold calls; get at least three quotes; pay a deposit of no more than 25%[5]
    • UKAS statement (15 Jun 2026): BBA recognition suspended from 26 Feb 2026 until 25 Nov 2026 at the latest; existing UKAS-backed BBA approvals stay valid[6]

    Step by step

    1. Check what the rules require for your roof

      Product approvals are conditional: BBA product approval 23/7062 requires a documented survey with a condensation risk assessment, a roof in good repair, timber below 20% moisture and a breathable (low-resistance) underlay[4]. RICS advises against spraying onto bitumen felt, and says most products should not go directly onto tiles or slates[7]. How spray foam should be installed

    2. Ask your mortgage lender before you agree

      Trading Standards guidance tells installers to advise you to check with your mortgage provider first[8]; some lenders decline and others decide case by case[2]. One later-life lender said in August 2023 that fitting foam after a lifetime mortgage starts breaches the mortgage conditions[9]. What mortgage lenders publish

    3. Ask about fire safety and linings

      One Kiwa product approval records reaction to fire Euroclass E and requires 30-minute plasterboard in habitable rooms, 75 mm clearance around recessed lights and flues isolated with non-combustible insulation[10]. RICS advises checking with your buildings insurer because the foam is combustible[7]. Is spray foam a fire risk?

    4. Agree the paperwork you will receive

      Trading Standards guidance says installers should survey the roof first, photograph it before, during and after, and hand over the contract details, installation warranty, product approval and an installation report[11]. Ask what the warranty covers: RICS notes some cover the material only, not workmanship or design[7]. What paperwork you should get

    5. Don't be rushed into signing

      A contract made in your home carries a 14-day cancellation period[12]. Citizens Advice says not to use a company that cold calls, to get at least three quotes and to pay a deposit of no more than 25%[5]. Your consumer rights

    6. Compare insulating at loft-floor level

      The Energy Saving Trust says rafter-level insulation is more expensive and less energy-efficient than loft-floor insulation, and that gable walls, party walls and chimneys then need insulating too[3]. RICS asks why insulate at rafter level in an unused loft when ceiling-level insulation sits directly above the heated rooms and is cheaper[7]. What spray foam is, and the alternatives

    What to do next

    • Get independent advice, separate from the installer and manufacturer, on whether foam suits your roof, as RICS advises[7].
    • If you go ahead, ask what will happen to the existing loft-floor insulation: the regulator found higher risk where it was left in place under rafter-level foam[13].
    • If your home is listed, Historic England says spraying foam under the roof covering needs listed building consent and is likely to harm the fabric[14].
    • After installation, check what was fitted against the paperwork, as in Planning to sell: area matched the paperwork, foam depth up to twice the stated 100 mm.
    • If you want an independent view of your loft's condition before deciding, see the report below.
    Your next step

    Get an independent view before you agree

    RICS advises getting independent advice, separate from the installer, on whether foam suits your roof. A loft condition report records the loft as it is now, with insulation, ventilation, timber and moisture observations and photos, before anything is sprayed.

    Loft Condition Report£295

    Report within 48–72 hours of inspection. Independent: no installation, no removal, no referral commissions.

    Travel included within about three hours of the North West; a fixed supplement further away, shown with your total before you book.

    It isn't a design or a condensation risk calculation for a new installation.

    Book this inspection What's included

    Questions first? Call or WhatsApp 07349 718935 WhatsApp (opens in a new tab)

    How should spray foam be installed?

    Case files like this

    Anonymised inspections Jan has carried out. Every loft is different.

    Selling a house with spray foam

    Planning to sell: area matched the paperwork, foam depth up to twice the stated 100 mm

    near Coventry · Recent inspection · Spray Foam Inspection

    Open-cell foam from 2021 on felt. The area matched the paperwork; the depth did not: about 150–200 mm against 100 mm, with some rafters missed. All 12 timber readings were under 20%, the two highest at the ridge.

    Read case file
    See all case files

    Go deeper: the original sources

    3 original documents, each with a note on what it covers.

    Questions people ask

    Should I get spray foam insulation?

    That depends on your roof, your plans and your lender. The HomeOwners Alliance advises not installing spray foam for the time being (in a February 2025 release, updated April 2026)[15], while the ombudsman noted in 2025 that spray foam has not been prohibited[1].

    Is spray foam better than mineral wool loft insulation?

    Not necessarily. The Energy Saving Trust rates mineral wool at joist level among the lowest-risk options and impermeable foam on an old, poorly maintained roof among the highest[16]. RICS says topping up mineral wool is usually much cheaper than spray foam[7].

    Can I cancel a spray foam contract signed at home?

    Usually, within 14 days[12]. The period can be extended by up to 12 months if you were not told about it[17], and work should not start in that time unless you expressly ask for it on a durable medium, a lasting record such as writing[18]. This is general information, not legal advice.

    Sources

    18 sources, numbered as cited in the text. Tap a footnote number to jump to its source.

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