16/09/2025
🔍 **CASE STUDY: Victorian Farmhouse Spray Foam Investigation**
When a client contacted us about water droplets forming on their roof lining during cold spells, we knew exactly what to look for.
**The Problem:**
✗ Open cell spray foam installed directly onto high vapour resistant underfelt
✗ No ventilation paths or vapour control layers
✗ Interstitial condensation causing water damage
✗ Electrical wiring subjected to potential overheating
✗ Poor ventilation leading to condensation-related wood rot and increased likelihood of wood boring insect attack to softened timbers
✗ Poor design and installation - didn't follow BS 5250 standards
**The Impact:**
Without intervention, this roof would face accelerated deterioration requiring early replacement - potentially cutting the roof's lifespan from 30-50 years down to just 10-15 years. That's a 50-70% reduction in roof life expectancy.
**Our Solution:**
✅ Detailed technical assessment referencing current building standards
✅ Specific remediation plan (25mm ventilation voids, precise vent sizing)
✅ Safety considerations (asbestos awareness with older slates)
✅ Complete roadmap from problem identification to resolution
**The Result:** Clear understanding of the issues, compliant solution design, and prevention of accelerated roof deterioration.
This Victorian farmhouse in Barry shows why proper spray foam assessment matters. Poor design and installation created serious problems that, without intervention, would have led to costly structural damage, potential electrical hazards, and premature roof replacement.
**Facing spray foam issues?** Our specialist surveys don't just identify problems - we provide the technical solutions to fix them properly.
📞 Call us on 01446 393555 or get an instant quote at hartreesurveyors.co.uk
