Spray Foam Insulation & Foil Insulation

Watch out for pressure from salespersons about loft insulation

We encourage householders in Cornwall to be cautious of phone calls or door-to-door sales visits from people trying to sell spray foam insulation or foil insulation for their homes.

Whilst these products can help in some homes, the issue here is that some salespeople are using pressure or scare tactics to make people – especially those who may be more vulnerable – buy insulation they don’t actually need.

Don’t feel rushed. Always take time to check if it’s right for your home.

Sold as an alternative or addition to loft insulation, spraying insulating foam directly onto the underside of the roof and between the rafters or adding foil insulation to your loft isn’t recommended because the roof isn’t a heated space, so these methods offer little insulation benefit and can trap moisture in the rafters which can cause them to rot. The presence of spray foam insulation can affect the ability to get a mortgage on a property and once it’s applied, and it can be a very difficult and costly job to remove.

Cornwall Council Trading Standards are warning local residents to be wary of scams relating to energy efficiency measures, particularly spray foam insulation and foil insulation. This follows an incident that occurred in Helston, where an elderly couple were told by a salesman that the Government would fine them £1,000 each year if they didn’t make improvements to their home insulation. Although the couple have now cancelled the contract within the 14-day cooling-off period, they had already paid for the work. They have received support to secure a refund.

Another recent case involves a householder whose loft was already fully insulated with mineral wool. Despite this, they were persuaded to pay £5,900 for the installation of foil insulation on the underside of the roof trusses. The initial quote was £9,000, later “discounted” to £8,000, and finally dropped to £5,900 as a so-called special offer after the householder expressed concern over the cost. Traditional insulation would have cost significantly less than the price they agreed to, and grants are available for eligible households to help cover these costs. After discussing the matter with one of our energy advisers, the householder cancelled the installation. However, the following day, the salesperson returned uninvited to persuade them to reconsider. We have encouraged the householder to report the incident to Trading Standards.

With energy prices rising, many people are looking at ways to improve the energy efficiency of their home. Unfortunately, this has provided an opportunity for rogue installers to pressure people into agreeing to works which are unsuitable for their property.

Spray foam or foil insulation is a technology that’s suitable in some situations, but careful advice should be sought before making a commitment. Our advice is that if you are contacted by a company offering spray foam insulation or foil insulation, be on your guard and contact us before signing anything or paying a deposit.

“It is important to be wary of businesses cold calling you to offer energy efficiency measures for your home. We regularly receive complaints each year about installers who claim to be working on behalf of the Government or the Council, offering grant-funded work. This case was particularly shocking, as the customers were misled into believing that they would face massive fines if they did not improve their insulation.” Gary Webster, Senior Trading Standards Officer

It is important that we all do what we can to both tackle climate change and keep our homes warm and healthy. There is financial assistance out there for homeowners who want to make these energy efficiency improvements. It is important to get the right advice, so you can avoid those rogue businesses who are simply out to make a profit.

For more in depth information, read RICS Consumer Guide to Spray Foam Insulation.

Things to consider 

• Be wary where you are approached following a cold call. Whilst some businesses do legitimately use these methods to find new customers, we would always recommend doing your own research, including looking at independent online reviews.

• Speak to independent advisers – we can help you work out which energy efficiency measure is best for your home, the likely cost, and what funding you may qualify for.

• When dealing with a business, make sure they tell you who they are and which source of grant funding they are intending to access. Challenge any vague statements which suggest they are ‘working for the Government’ or ‘working for the Council’.

• Genuine installers will offer a fair price for the work. Whilst they may be prepared to be negotiate a little, it is important to be suspicious if a salesperson or ‘surveyor’ offers a very large discount.

• There is no law that states that homeowners will be fined if they fail to make improvements to the energy efficiency of their home.  

Here are some common sales tactics to watch out for:

High pressure sales tactics are used to try to push you into making quick decisions – often decisions you wouldn’t make if you were given more time to think about it. They’re trying to make you say ‘yes’ quickly, even if you don’t want to.

They might:

• say it’s a “special offer” and you must decide today;
• try to scare you, like saying your home isn’t safe or at risk if you don’t act now;
• talk for a long time and won’t leave, using fear, guilt or flattery to try to make you say yes or make you feel guilty if you say no;
• make false claims about how much money you’ll save or tell you something is wrong  with your home, when it’s not;
• target vulnerable people who are less likely to challenge them or who might not fully understand what they’re saying.

If someone comes to your door selling something, it’s okay to say no, ask for written information, or just close the door. You don’t owe them your time or a decision on the spot. You can say: “No, thank you.” “Please leave.” “I want to check this first.” You have the right to say no. You don’t have to let anyone in and we encourage householders not to invite anyone into their home unless they have initiated the survey themselves.

Stay Scam Aware

Cornwall Council offer a text alert service, which can send alerts about the latest scams direct to your mobile. Messages will provide links on where to find more information or advice on how to avoid being caught out. The messages will focus on scams that are most relevant to your local area.

You can subscribe online to this service.