Kent · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Bidborough
Thermal roof surveys in Bidborough from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Heat escaping through the roof
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
For landlords and managing agents
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer.
Thermal roof survey in Bidborough: what you get
Thermal imaging can also show where a roof is losing heat. Missing or slipped insulation and gaps at the eaves often show up as temperature differences. The difference shows most clearly when it’s warm inside and cold outside. Our report points out what the images suggest and where to look more closely. We do not give energy ratings or heat loss calculations. We survey commercial roofs, pitched roof slopes and insulated roof spaces, and the problems we are asked to look at most are damp patches with no obvious cause and wet areas near outlets and upstands.
Some older homes in villages like Bidborough are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Bidborough (TN3, TN4)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in Bidborough
Do you cover Bidborough?
Yes, Bidborough is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property.
Is my home in Bidborough listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How long is the visit?
Expect it to take about one to two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. You will then get the report by email.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Also near Bidborough
What else we do in Bidborough
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Readings unaffected by sun, shade or reflections
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
- An energy rating for the building
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Pitched roof slopes
- Ceilings below the roof
- Flat roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Loft conversions
Airspace, weather and Bidborough roofs
About 2.3 miles west lies Penshurst Place, a reminder of how long the area around Bidborough has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Take an older house close to Parish Church of St Lawrence: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. Take a building like Southborough CofE Primary School: a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. For businesses in and around places such as Royal Victoria Place, a commercial roof can be photographed from above without anyone walking on it.
Bidborough is about 3 miles north-west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Bidborough is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Our Kent coverage includes Bidborough. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
We work across TN3 and TN4 for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer thermal roof surveys to properties on High Street, Rectory Drive and Glebelands. We also cover the places around Bidborough: Stockland Green (1 mile south), Printstile (1 mile west), Southborough (1 mile south-east), Speldhurst (1 mile south-west) and Lower Haysden (1 mile north). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (8 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (3 miles south-east), Tonbridge (3 miles north-east), Kings Hill (10 miles north-east) and Foley Park (15 miles north-east).
What’s near Bidborough
We work in homes and buildings around Haysden Country Park, The Beehive Public House and St Gregory's Catholic School. For rail, the closest station is Leigh (Kent) station, roughly 2.1 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Tonbridge Cottage Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Tonbridge Castle (2.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve and Barden Lake.
What we look for on each type of roof
Parapets, valleys and junctions
When valley or parapet gutters overflow, water can get into walls and ceilings. Thermal images, checked with moisture readings, can help trace it.
GRP fibreglass roofs
Cracks in GRP can let water into the boards beneath. We combine a visual check of cracks with the thermal images around them.
How the survey works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. The survey typically takes an hour or two for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Older rural homes like those around Bidborough can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- We look over the roof from wherever it is safe.
- We take thermal images of the roof and of the loft where we can reach it.
- We take moisture readings where the images suggest a problem.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
Before we arrive
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Roof area
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £400, including VAT.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Anything about access we should know
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.