Spray foam removal, loft insulation and damp proofing in Torquay
EcoTrust Roofing & Insulation Ltd covers Torquay and the rest of Torbay in Devon for spray foam removal, loft insulation, loft boarding and damp proofing. We start with a free survey and give you a written price before any work is agreed.
Torquay
Spray foam, loft insulation and damp in Torquay homes
Torquay grew fast as a Victorian seaside resort, and the housing shows it. Wellswood, the Warberries and the Lincombes are full of large stucco and limestone villas with slate roofs, many now split into flats. Around the harbour and up through Upton and Ellacombe the streets tighten into Victorian terraces, while Chelston, Shiphay, Barton and Watcombe are mostly 20th century semis and bungalows.
Living by the sea has a cost. Torquay's homes climb steep hillsides above Torbay, and the most exposed walls and roofs take the full force of wind-driven rain and salty air. Over the years that breaks down pointing, render, chimney flaunching and lead flashings. When water gets in, it often shows first as a stain in the loft or a damp patch on a gable wall, so we always look at the outside before blaming the inside.
Spray foam is often sold to bungalow and semi owners as a quick fix for draughty roofs. Under an old slate roof with no breathable membrane, foam stuck to the battens and rafters can trap moisture and hide rot from view. Many lenders and surveyors are cautious about spray foam, so it tends to surface when you sell or remortgage. We remove it by hand, clean the timbers back and give you photos and paperwork for your surveyor.
Parts of Torquay sit in conservation areas, including Cockington village and St Marychurch, and some of the older villas are listed. Work inside the loft does not change how a house looks, but it still needs the right materials. We lay breathable mineral wool that suits old timbers and stone, keep the eaves ventilated, and fit raised boarding so storage never crushes the insulation.
Most common jobs in Torquay
- Spray foam removal from bungalow and semi roofs
- Loft insulation top-ups in Victorian villas and flats
- Raised loft boarding for storage
- Damp traced to chimneys, render and exposed gables
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.
Where we work around Torquay
We cover TQ1 and TQ2 and the villages around Torquay. Not on the list? Call 0800 870 8086, we almost certainly still reach you.
Questions we get in Torquay
Do you cover Torquay and the rest of Torbay?
Yes. We cover Torquay across TQ1 and TQ2, from Babbacombe and St Marychurch down to Chelston and Cockington, plus Paignton, Brixham and the villages around Torbay. Surveys for spray foam removal and loft insulation are free, and you get a written price before any work is agreed. Call 0800 870 8086 to book.
Why do so many Torquay homes get damp?
Coastal homes take a battering from wind-driven rain and salty air, and on Torquay's hillsides the exposed walls take the worst of it. Over time pointing, render and lead flashings fail and water finds its way in. We trace damp to the real cause first, then fix the outside as well as the inside.
Is spray foam a problem in a Torquay villa or bungalow?
It can be. Foam stuck to the underside of an old slate roof can hold moisture against battens and rafters and hide rot. Many lenders and surveyors are cautious about spray foam, so it often comes up at sale time. We remove it by hand, clean the timbers back and give you photos and paperwork to show your surveyor.
My Torquay home is in a conservation area. Can you still insulate the loft?
Usually yes. Insulating inside the loft does not change how the house looks from the street. We use breathable mineral wool that suits older timbers and stone walls. If your home is listed, some work may need listed building consent, so check with Torbay Council's planning team first. We will flag anything we spot at the survey.
How much loft insulation should a Torquay home have?
Current guidance is around 270mm of mineral wool. Many older lofts have far less, or insulation that has been squashed flat by boxes and boards laid straight on top. We clear the old material where needed, lay new insulation to 270mm to 300mm and fit raised boarding so you can still use the space for storage.
What happens at a free survey in Torquay?
We check the loft, the roof timbers, any spray foam and any damp walls, take photos and explain what we find in plain English. Then you get a written price, with no pressure and no obligation. If nothing needs doing, we will tell you that too. Surveys for spray foam removal and loft insulation are free.
Free survey in Torquay, 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.