Essex · London and the South East
Arkesden Thermal Roof Survey
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across Arkesden, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Patches of heat loss across the roof
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
How a thermal roof survey works in Arkesden
Your report sets out the thermal images alongside ordinary photographs, making it clear where on the roof each pattern is. Each one comes with an explanation, the moisture readings and our recommendation. Premium reports are sent the same day. If you have questions, the in-person consultation gives you time to go through them. A follow-up 12 months later is included too. Common reasons to book are ceilings that feel colder in places and patches of heat loss across the roof, across flat roofs, ceilings below the roof and loft conversions.
Villages like Arkesden often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. Strong wind or a downpour stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Arkesden (CB11)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Arkesden
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Joyce Frankland Academy, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. Historic houses such as Audley End House, about 3.5 miles north-east, show how far back building around Arkesden goes. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Arkesden is about 4 miles south-west of Saffron Walden, in Essex. We carry out thermal roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Arkesden and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Surveys in CB11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on Clatterbury Lane, Wicken Road and Hampit Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Close by, we survey roofs in Hill Green (1 mile south), Wicken Bonhunt (1 mile south-east), Clavering (2 miles south-west), Starling's Green (2 miles south-west) and Langley (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Harlow (15 miles south), Saffron Walden (4 miles north-east), Great Dunmow (12 miles south-east), Stansted Mountfitchet (6 miles south), Newhall (15 miles south) and Elsenham (6 miles south-east).
Around Arkesden
We work in homes and buildings around Axe And Compasses Inn and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Audley End station, roughly 2.3 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Saffron Walden Community Hospital (4.9 miles north-east) and The Warren (4 miles west).
What we look for on each type of roof
Pitched slate and tile roofs
Inside the roof space, thermal images can help with damp around stacks, valleys and roof windows. Findings are checked with moisture readings.
Felt and asphalt flat roofs
These coverings sit directly on the layers beneath, so temperature differences often show through. Any patterns are checked with moisture readings.
Other services in Arkesden
Prices for thermal roof surveys in Arkesden
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The roof’s overall size
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
What we need to know
What helps most when you contact us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Anything about access we should know
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Signs you need a thermal roof survey in Arkesden
Flat roofs that have leaked for a while can have wet insulation under the covering. Owners want to know how far it has spread before deciding what to do. Thermal images and moisture readings together can show the likely extent.
People typically book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Stains that keep coming back
- Wet areas near outlets and upstands
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What insurance they carry
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. A typical visit takes between one and two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. In a hamlet or village like Arkesden, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the roof, its history and any signs of damp or heat loss.
- We check the conditions and note how they may affect the images.
- We inspect the roof and take thermal images during the same visit.
- Moisture readings are used to check what the camera shows.
- You get the report the same day, with an in-person consultation to follow.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Advice
FAQs for Arkesden
How do I find out if my home in Arkesden is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Arkesden?
Yes, Arkesden is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Arkesden as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
What conditions are best for thermal imaging?
The results depend on the weather. A dry surface, little wind and a sunny spell beforehand help most. Our report notes the conditions and how they affected the findings.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Leave the roof to people with safe access
- Check outlets after heavy rain
- Keep the report to compare against after any repair
- Keep a record of when stains appear
Many people send the report to roofers, who can then quote for the areas shown. Because the images are paired with photos, it is easy to find each area on the roof.
Deal with small splits and lifted seams promptly. Water that gets under a covering can spread a long way before it shows.
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.