National trade body The Property Care Association (PCA) has established a new membership category, representing specialists with the skills to help householders encountering problems where sprayed foam insulation is installed in pitched roofs.

Homeowners have experienced a number of issues where sprayed foam has been applied in the roof space, including situations where properties have been hard to sell, or were unacceptable for equity release lending, due to potential issues with the installation.

Now, with the new PCA membership category in place, householders will be able to access practical guidance, centred around identification, evaluation and the recommendation of appropriate actions.

James Berry, Deputy Chief Executive of the PCA, comments: “Sprayed foam is a method of insulating within roofs, walls and floors to reduce heat loss through the building envelope.

“It has been used for many years, but its use in pitched roofs has received a lot of negative publicity as many surveying professionals and financial organisations have raised concerns regarding the potential effects of poorly applied or inappropriately specified foam.

“As a result, the presence of spray foam may significantly affect a surveyor’s valuation of a house, with many mortgage companies refusing to lend on such properties.

“For surveyors and property professionals, sprayed foam could potentially pose an issue when evaluating and reporting on the condition of structural roof timbers, ventilation and moisture management.”

The launch of the new membership category comes after the PCA contributed to new guidance in 2022 as part of a cross-industry group, which offered a defined course of action for the inspection of properties with spray roof insulation.

James Berry added “The new membership is a progression from our work two years ago and marks the next step in helping to address householders concerns across the UK.

“Those affected by poor installations had no route to seek advice on how to deal with the issue, but the new PCA membership, which has stringent requirements for entry, means there are now trained and recognised professionals who will be able to provide assistance.”

More information can be found at https://www.property-care.org/homeowners/advice/sprayed-foam

The PCA also offers a sprayed foam course for built environment professionals. More details athttps://www.property-care.org/training-qualifications/courses/timber/evaluating-spray-foam-roof/17618

Homeowners are being urged to get ahead of spring cleaning and give their property some much needed TLC this new year. 

Home insurance comparison experts from Quotezone.co.uk are providing homeowners with a check list of new year home improvements. 

This comes after it is revealed a quarter of people don’t know that a lack of maintenance, or ‘tender loving care’ for their property could actually void their home insurance.  

A recent survey found 23% said they had no idea that if their property was damaged and there was evidence of lack of care, that their insurance is unlikely to protect them.

Many vital elements of a property need serviced at least once a year so January is a good time to kick off the new year by ensuring the home is healthy and ready for 2024. 

Helen Rolph, home insurance comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk says:  “January is a great time of year to get your house in order, the decorations are cleared away and people want a fresh start, it’s ideal timing to tick off our checklist of key items in the home that need some extra TLC.

“Over the winter it can be tricky to keep an eye on what’s happening to your property, with the cold and dark evenings but we would urge people, when they get daylight hours at the weekend, to give the property a proper inspection.

Ideally check roof tiles, gutters and pipes and start booking up appointments to service key items like the boiler and the chimney to make sure the house is safe. 

“I know January can be tough, with 39%* saying it’s their most stressful month financially but homeowners need to safeguard their finances by making sure their insurance policies are intact and their home is protected.  A lack of maintenance to the property could risk invalidating the home insurance should they need to make a claim, leaving homeowners vulnerable.”

The team at Quotezone.co.uk has pulled together their January checklist of 5 key items in need of TLC;

1. Check and service the boiler

Boilers require regular maintenance by a professional to make sure they are safe and efficient. December is the most common month for boiler breakdowns so homeowners need to make sure it’s serviced.  Some home insurance policies include boiler repair / replacement but chances are you have to add it as an extra – if it’s been years since your boiler was serviced and it breaks down, your insurance may not cover you as it wasn’t looked after properly. 

1. Check and sweep the chimney

A chimney needs swept at least once a year to keep it safe and reduce the risk of fire, chances are over Christmas there were lots of cosy fires lit, adding to the soot build up – lack of care and maintenance to a property can render the home insurance invalid. 

2. Check and clear the gutters

Blocked drains and pipes can lead to excess water, causing leaks, damp and flood damage.  Your gutters need checked regularly and cleared at least once a year to ensure rainwater is carried away from the building and down into the drains – any damage sustained to the property as a result of blocked gutters and drains could see your policy invalidated due to lack of maintenance.

3. Check and seal the roof

The stormy Christmas season could leave you with broken or missing roof tiles and slates, check for any issues and have them sealed as soon as possible to prevent leaks and water damage.

4. Check and insulate pipes

Many people love a break to the heat in January, make sure if you’re away on holiday that the unoccupied details are accurate on your home insurance – if a frozen pipe bursts while you’re away for two weeks and your policy only covers you for seven unoccupied days, then you may not be protected.  It might also be sensible to check key water pipes have insulation before jetting off.  

As a price comparison site, Quotezone.co.uk helps millions of people in the UK save millions of pounds every year on home, car and personal finance products, it’s never been more important to compare and find savings.  CompareNI.com can help those living in Northern Ireland.