Spray foam removal, loft insulation and damp proofing in Portsmouth
EcoTrust Roofing & Insulation Ltd covers Portsmouth and Southsea in Hampshire for spray foam removal, loft insulation, loft boarding and damp proofing. Surveys are free and every job is priced in writing first.
Portsmouth
Spray foam, loft insulation and damp in Portsmouth homes
Most of Portsmouth sits on Portsea Island, a flat, low-lying island and one of the most densely built places in the country. As the naval dockyard grew in the 19th century, the city filled with tight grids of brick terraces. Southsea, Fratton, Copnor, North End, Stamshaw and Milton are still lined with them, many with bay fronts and small yards.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces here are usually solid brick with slate roofs and suspended timber floors. Damp is the job we are asked about most. It comes from failed or bridged damp courses, blocked air bricks under the floors, and rain pushed in by wind off the Solent. In Southsea, salty air also wears pointing and render faster than inland.
Bombing in the Second World War destroyed large parts of the city, so central areas such as Landport and Somers Town were rebuilt with post-war flats and houses. On the mainland, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington are mostly interwar and post-war semis and bungalows. Those lofts are roomier, and a proper top-up of insulation with raised boarding usually makes the biggest difference.
Spray foam turns up in all of these. It is often sold for terrace lofts as a quick fix, but it hides the rafters and can trap moisture against them, which is a real concern in damp coastal air. Many lenders and surveyors are cautious about spray foam. We remove it by hand and lay Knauf mineral wool to 300mm.
Most common jobs in Portsmouth
- Damp in Victorian terraces
- Spray foam removal in terrace lofts
- Loft insulation in mainland semis and bungalows
- Condensation and ventilation checks
Recent EcoTrust jobs you can read in full
Real jobs, written up with photos. Each one is labelled with the town it was done in.
- Damp proofing in Doncaster: Damp Walls Stripped, Treated and Replastered in 4 Days (South Yorkshire)
- Loft boarding in Lancing: 16.5m² Loft Stripped, Insulated to 300mm and Boarded on Raised Legs (West Sussex)
- Spray foam removal in Birmingham: 40m² of Closed Cell Foam Removed and Loft Reinsulated in 2 Days (West Midlands)
Where we work around Portsmouth
We cover PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4, PO5 and PO6 and the villages around Portsmouth. Not on the list? Call 0800 870 8086, we almost certainly still reach you.
Questions we get in Portsmouth
Do you cover all of Portsmouth?
Yes. We cover PO1 to PO6, including Old Portsmouth, Southsea, Fratton, Copnor, North End, Stamshaw, Milton and the mainland at Cosham, Drayton and Farlington. Surveys for spray foam removal and loft insulation are free, and you get a written price before any work is agreed.
Why are Portsmouth terraces so prone to damp?
Many were built in the 1800s with basic damp courses that have since failed or been bridged by raised floors, paths and render. Air bricks get blocked, and wind off the Solent drives rain into worn pointing. We trace the real source first. Damp proofing comes with a 25-year insurance-backed guarantee.
Does living on Portsea Island affect my house?
It can. The island is flat and low-lying, with salty, wet wind coming off the sea. That wears pointing and render faster and can push rain into walls. Good ventilation under timber floors and in the loft matters more here, and we check both at every survey.
Can you insulate a small Victorian terrace loft in Southsea?
Yes. Terrace lofts are often tight, with low pitches and party walls. We clear old material where needed, lay Knauf mineral wool to 300mm and keep the eaves vents clear to avoid condensation. Raised boarding can usually be fitted for some storage, and we check the space first.
Is spray foam a problem when selling in Portsmouth?
It can be. Foam hides the roof timbers and can trap moisture, a real worry in damp coastal air. Many lenders and surveyors are cautious about spray foam, so it often comes up at a buyer's survey. We remove it by hand and provide a Certificate of Removal and photos.
What happens at a free survey in Portsmouth?
We look at the loft, the roof timbers, any spray foam and any damp walls or floors, take photos and explain what we find in plain English. You then get a written price with no obligation. If nothing needs doing, we will tell you. Spray foam and loft surveys are free.
Free survey in Portsmouth, and a price in writing
EcoTrust Roofing & Insulation Ltd. Rated 9.97 on Checkatrade, 4.9 on Trustpilot and 5.0 on Google, with 500+ spray foam removals and 35+ years of combined experience.