Devon's spray foam removal specialists for mortgage and survey problems

Closed Cell Spray Foam Removal in Barnstaple, Done Right

Closed Cell Spray Foam Removal in Barnstaple is what we do every week, from Pilton lofts to Roundswell new-builds. If a surveyor has flagged the foam in your roof, or your mortgage lender is holding funds until it comes out, we strip it back to clean timber, treat what we find, and give you the paperwork your lender needs. We have been removing closed cell spray foam across Barnstaple and North Devon since 2022.

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Closed Cell Spray Foam Removal in Barnstaple, Devon
Careful work. Honest options.
About this service

What Closed Cell Spray Foam Removal in Barnstaple Involves

Closed Cell Spray Foam Removal in Barnstaple is the controlled stripping of cured polyurethane foam from roof timbers, rafters and sarking boards, followed by inspection and treatment of the timber underneath. Closed cell foam is far denser than open cell spray foam, so it does not crumble away with a scraper. We cut it back in sections with a spray foam removal saw and oscillating multi-tool, then finish the timber with dry ice blasting or sand blasting equipment to clear the last residue without gouging the wood.

Most Barnstaple jobs we take on start with a mortgage refusal or a surveyor's report. Lenders see closed cell foam as a risk because it traps moisture against the timber, and in a wet Devon winter that moisture has nowhere to go. We also get called to remove closed cell spray foam in Barnstaple after a botched DIY install, or where an old Icynene or Lapolla application has started to smell damp. If you are searching for closed cell spray foam extraction near me Barnstaple, we cover the whole town and the surrounding villages.

  • ✓ Unblocks Your Mortgage
  • ✓ Saves the Roof Timbers
  • ✓ Restores Insulation Performance
  • ✓ Clean, Sealed Working Area
What's included

What Our Closed Cell Spray Foam Removal Includes

Every closed cell spray foam removal in Barnstaple includes the full strip, clean and documentation package. We do not charge extra for the report, the dust control or the timber inspection. If we find rot or failed sarking, we tell you and quote separately before doing anything.

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Full Foam Strip

Complete removal of closed cell foam from rafters, purlins and sarking using a spray foam removal saw, oscillating multi-tool and dry ice blasting equipment. We do not leave patches behind for the surveyor to find.

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Timber Moisture Survey

Every rafter is probed with a moisture meter before and after removal. We record the readings and flag any timber that is above safe levels, so you know exactly what condition your roof is in.

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Dust and Fume Control

Air scrubbers, negative air machines and sealed work zones keep isocyanate dust and foam particles out of your living space. All technicians wear respirators, coveralls and gloves throughout.

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Waste Removal and Disposal

Foam is bagged on site and removed the same day. We provide waste transfer documentation, which matters if your lender or insurer asks how the material was disposed of.

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Photographic Removal Report

You receive before-and-after photographs, moisture readings and a signed removal record. This is the document Barnstaple surveyors and mortgage lenders ask for when they review a foam-insulated property.

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1-Year Workmanship Warranty

Our removal work is covered by a 1-year workmanship warranty. If foam residue or dust reappears in the roof space within that period, we come back and put it right at no cost.

How it works

How Our Removal Process Works

01

Survey and Quote

We attend your Barnstaple property, usually within 48 hours of your call. We photograph the foam, check the depth with a thermal imaging camera, and probe the timbers with a moisture meter. You get a fixed written price the same day, and we tell you straight if the roof is beyond saving.

02

Set Up and Protect

On day one we lay dust sheets, seal the loft hatch, and set up the air scrubber and negative air machine. All technicians wear respirators, coveralls and gloves. If you are living in the property we work around you, and we keep the water and heating running.

03

Cut and Strip

We cut the closed cell foam into manageable sections with a spray foam removal saw, then lift it off the rafters with an oscillating multi-tool. A typical 3-bed Barnstaple semi takes two to three days to strip. Foam is bagged and removed from site the same day.

04

Blast and Clean

Dry ice blasting removes the last film of polyurethane from the timber without damaging the grain. On older Barnstaple roofs with fragile sarking we switch to sand blasting equipment at lower pressure. We vacuum the loft with an industrial vacuum and leave it swept.

05

Inspect and Report

We re-check every rafter with the moisture meter, treat any rot we find, and photograph the finished roof space. You receive a removal report with before-and-after images, which is what your lender or surveyor needs. Most Barnstaple jobs are signed off within a week.

Tools & methods

Tools and Methods We Use

Purpose-built equipment, used by trained technicians — so the job is done accurately the first time.

Spray foam removal saw

Cuts cured closed cell foam into liftable sections without tearing the timber underneath. Essential on thick Icynene and Demilec applications.

Oscillating multi-tool

Gets into rafter notches, eaves and awkward corners where a saw will not reach. Lets us lift foam cleanly off old Barnstaple roof timbers.

Dry ice blasting machine

Removes the final film of polyurethane from rafters without gouging the wood grain. Our preferred finish on fragile sarking boards.

Sand blasting equipment

Used at controlled pressure on hard timbers where foam has bonded deeply. Slower than dry ice but effective on stubborn residue.

Industrial vacuum and air scrubber

Captures foam dust and isocyanate particles at source. Keeps the loft and the rooms below free of airborne contamination.

Negative air machine

Maintains negative pressure in the work zone so dust cannot escape into the rest of the house. Standard on every occupied Barnstaple property.

Thermal imaging camera and moisture meter

Finds hidden damp, cold bridging and trapped moisture behind foam and plasterboard before and after removal.

Real results

Before and after.

Pilton Loft Cleared for Mortgage

Before

A 3-bed terrace in Pilton had closed cell foam sprayed between every rafter. The buyer's lender refused to proceed, and the surveyor reported early rot in two purlins. The loft smelled damp and the owner was facing a stalled sale.

After

We stripped 42 square metres of foam over three days, treated the affected purlins, and issued a photographic removal report. The lender released funds within a week and the sale completed on the original date.

Newport Rental Damp Fixed

Before

A landlord's two Newport rentals both had closed cell foam in the loft and tenants complaining about condensation and a musty smell. One property had mould forming on the bedroom ceiling below the loft hatch.

After

Both lofts were stripped in five working days. Moisture readings dropped from 24% to 13% in the rafters, mould was treated, and the properties passed their letting agent inspection the following month.

Bratton Fleming Barn Roof Stripped

Before

A 60-foot agricultural barn near Bratton Fleming had thick closed cell foam across the entire roof underside. The farm insurer wanted it removed before renewing the policy, and dust was falling onto stored feed.

After

We phased the removal over six days around livestock movements, stripped the full roof, and cleared the last residue with dry ice blasting. The insurer renewed the policy and the feed store stayed clean throughout.

Problems we solve

Problems We Solve for Barnstaple Homeowners

Closed cell foam causes a predictable set of problems in Barnstaple roofs. Here are the ones we see most often, and how we sort them.

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01

Mortgage lender refuses to lend on a foam-insulated property

We remove the closed cell foam, document the stripped roof with photographs and moisture readings, and provide a report your lender accepts. Most Barnstaple sales clear within two weeks of the final visit.

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02

Damp smell and condensation in the loft or attic room

We strip the foam, dry the timbers, and reinstate breathable insulation such as mineral wool or open cell spray foam. The roof space dries out and the damp smell goes with it.

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03

Roof timber rot hidden behind closed cell foam

Our moisture meter survey finds rot early. We remove the foam, treat affected timber with preservative, and where necessary replace individual rafters before the damage spreads further.

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04

Foam shedding dust into bedrooms below

We seal the work zone, run air scrubbers and negative air machines, and remove the foam in controlled sections. Dust never reaches the rooms below, and we clean the loft before we leave.

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Proof you can check

Certified, Accredited, Accountable

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CHAS AccreditationCHAS
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Constructionline RegistrationConstructionline
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SafeContractor ApprovalSafeContractor
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ISO 9001 Quality ManagementInternational Organization for Standardization
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NVQ in Insulation and Building TreatmentsCITB
Good questions

Frequently Asked Questions

0127 159 4024 →

Typical 2026 pricing in Barnstaple runs from £1,800 for a small loft to £4,500 for a full 4-bed detached roof, depending on foam depth and access. That includes stripping, dry ice blasting, timber inspection and the removal report. Larger commercial roofs are priced per square metre after a site survey.

Yes. We remove closed cell spray foam across Barnstaple and the whole of North Devon, including Sticklepath, Pilton, Newport and Roundswell. Closed cell foam is denser than open cell, so we cut it in sections with a spray foam removal saw before blasting the residue off the timbers. Most lofts are cleared in two to four days.

It can be. Barnstaple's damp coastal climate and older roof stock mean foam often bonds harder to soft sarking and old rafters, and we find more hidden timber rot here than in drier inland areas. We probe every rafter with a moisture meter and adjust our blasting pressure so we clean the wood without damaging it.

A standard Barnstaple loft takes two to four working days from setup to final report. Larger roofs, or jobs where the foam is over 100mm thick, can run to five or six days. We give you a day-by-day schedule with the quote, and we do not leave a job half-stripped over a weekend.

Ready when you are

Book Your Closed Cell Spray Foam Removal in Barnstaple

Send us a photo of the foam and we will give you a fixed price, usually the same day. We are CHAS accredited, SafeContractor approved, and every removal carries a 1-year workmanship warranty. Call 0127 159 4024 and speak to a technician, not a call centre.

Get a Fixed Quote 0127 159 4024 →
Request an appointment

Contact Union Trust Spray Foam

Ring us on 0127 159 4024 or email [email protected] and we will get back to you the same working day. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with a 24/7 line for emergencies. Free assessments across Barnstaple and North Devon.

Call anytime0127 159 4024Email the office[email protected]
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