Don't Wait Until You Make a Claim to Find Out You're Not Covered.

The Spray Foam Advice Centre is urging homeowners with spray foam insulation to check their household insurance policies and obtain written confirmation of their cover following concerns raised by several homeowners who have contacted our centre.
For years, the conversation surrounding spray foam insulation has largely focused on mortgage difficulties, property valuations and problems selling homes.
However, another concern is now being brought to our attention.
Several homeowners have told the Spray Foam Advice Centre about difficulties involving insurance companies and spray foam installations, including reports that the presence of spray foam has been raised when household or structural insurance claims have been considered.
These reports have prompted us to issue some straightforward advice.
If you have spray foam insulation installed in your roof, contact your insurance company and ask them to confirm, in writing, whether your installation affects your buildings and household insurance cover.
Do not wait until something goes wrong.
Why Are We Raising This Concern?
Home insurance is something most homeowners pay for year after year, often without giving it much thought.
We expect that if our property suffers storm damage, water ingress, structural damage or another insured event, our insurance company will assess the claim fairly and provide the protection we have paid for.
But what happens when an insurance company raises the presence of spray foam insulation during that assessment?
Could the installation complicate a claim?
Could an insurer argue that certain damage is connected to the insulation, inadequate ventilation, concealed roof deterioration or an existing structural problem?
These are questions we believe homeowners should be asking before they ever need to make a claim.
We are not suggesting that spray foam automatically invalidates household insurance. Nor are we suggesting that every insurance company is refusing claims.
What concerns us is that some homeowners may not discover there is an issue until they actually need their insurance.
Get It in Writing — Not Just Over the Telephone
This is perhaps the most important advice we can give.
If you have spray foam insulation in your property, contact your insurance provider and explain that spray foam has been installed within your roof structure.
Ask them to confirm in writing that they are aware of the installation and whether it affects your existing policy.
We recommend asking for confirmation of the following:
- Whether the presence of spray foam insulation affects your buildings insurance.
- Whether any exclusions apply to roof timbers, structural damage, damp, condensation or water ingress.
- Whether storm damage and other insured events remain covered where spray foam is installed.
- Whether the insurer requires an inspection, survey or further information about the installation.
- Whether the installation needs to be declared or recorded on your policy.
A verbal reassurance is not the same as having a clear written record of what your insurer has confirmed.
An email or formal letter could prove extremely useful if a disagreement arises over a future claim.
Don't Give Your Insurance Company an Avoidable Reason to Dispute a Claim
Insurance policies contain conditions, exclusions and obligations that homeowners may not always fully understand.
We believe it is sensible to clarify these matters before a problem occurs.
The last thing any homeowner wants is to discover, after suffering damage to their property, that their insurer is questioning the circumstances of a claim because spray foam insulation is present.
Of course, insurers must have legitimate grounds for refusing a claim, and the presence of spray foam does not automatically justify a refusal.
Nevertheless, obtaining written clarification now may help prevent avoidable disputes later.
Our advice is to be proactive.
Make your insurer aware of the installation, ask the relevant questions and retain their written response with your household insurance documents.
What If Your Insurance Company Raises Concerns?
If your insurer confirms that your spray foam installation affects your cover, don't ignore the situation.
Ask them to explain precisely which parts of the policy are affected, why they are affected and what steps, if any, would be required to resolve the problem.
It may be that additional information or an independent assessment is needed.
In some circumstances, removal of the insulation may be considered.
However, do not rush into having spray foam removed without first obtaining independent advice.
The circumstances surrounding the original installation could be important, particularly if you are considering seeking recovery of the money you originally paid for the product and the cost of its removal.
The Spray Foam Advice Centre Is Here to Help
We regularly hear from homeowners who have experienced difficulties involving spray foam insulation.
Mortgage problems, property sales, concerns about installation quality and now reports involving insurance claims all demonstrate why homeowners need clear, independent advice.
We encourage anyone with spray foam installed to take a few simple precautions.
Check your insurance arrangements.
Get written confirmation.
Keep your installation documents.
And if removal becomes necessary, speak to us before arranging the work.
Depending upon your individual circumstances, there may be options available for seeking recovery of the original installation costs and the subsequent cost of removal.
Our specific pre-removal assistance is available only where the spray foam is still installed.
Our Message to Homeowners Is Simple
You pay for your home insurance to protect your property. Make sure you understand what protection you actually have.
A short email to your insurance company today could help avoid a much more difficult conversation in the future.
If you are concerned about spray foam insulation in your property, or your insurer has raised questions about your installation, contact the Spray Foam Advice Centre.
Complete our online enquiry form and allow one of our advisers to contact you.
Don't wait until you have a problem with a claim to discover there may be an issue with your cover.
Spray Foam Advice Centre
Independent advice for UK homeowners.
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