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A 76-year-old grandmother from Brentford, west London, is facing financial strain and distress after spending over £13,000 to remove spray foam insulation from her home’s roof. Patricia Salt initially had the insulation installed in 2006 to improve her house’s energy efficiency. However, nearly twenty years later, she was contacted by a company claiming that the insulation might cause serious damage to her property.
Following their warnings, Patricia paid £7,770 to one firm for the removal of the spray foam, only to find the job had not been completed correctly. She then paid a further £5,760 to a second company for the same removal, but neither company provided her with the required certification to confirm the work was properly carried out. Without this documentation, estate agents informed her that she is unable to place her three-bedroom end-of-terrace home on the market.
Patricia expressed her frustration, saying, “I used to have black hair before this, now I’m grey.” She described feeling “trapped” in her own home with no way out and criticized the builders’ unprofessionalism, adding, “If I had been as unprofessional as all these builders when I was working, I would have been sacked over and over again.” Additionally, her roof has sustained damage, leading to leaks that a professional surveyor has estimated will cost £20,000 to fix — an amount beyond her means.
Spray foam insulation involves the mixing of two chemicals that expand substantially to fill gaps, creating an effective insulation layer. However, if installed improperly, it can cause condensation issues that impact the roof structure. In Patricia’s case, a surveyor—who was recommended by the company that initially contacted her—found the foam to be “rock solid,” which prevented sufficient ventilation of the rafters. This lack of airflow has resulted in the risk of wood rot and even potential roof collapse. In response to the situation, Patricia has begun a fundraiser to help cover the cost of essential roof repairs, hoping to resolve the predicament that has left her feeling completely stuck
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