Essex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Braintree
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof in Braintree. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Water that travels before it shows
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
Honest limits
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Proving moisture from the images alone
- What’s inside walls or under coverings, without opening up
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Braintree
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
- Insulated roof spaces
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
- Commercial roofs
Thermal roof survey in Braintree
Thermal imaging can also show where a roof is losing heat. Gaps in loft insulation and poorly insulated areas can stand out on the images. It works best when the building is heated and it is colder outside. Our report points out what the images suggest and where to look more closely. It isn’t an energy rating or a heat loss calculation. We are frequently asked to look into damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys and wet insulation beneath the membrane, on flat roofs, loft conversions and ceilings below the roof.
Conditions on the day matter: drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day with a dry roof and little wind. In Braintree, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part in when the visit happens. A look inside the roof space can go ahead whatever the forecast.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Place
- Braintree (CM7, CO9, CM77, CO6)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Keep the heating on as usual before a heat loss survey
- Do not climb onto the roof to look for leaks yourself
- Ask us about the forecast if rain is expected
You also get an in-person consultation with a Premium Survey, giving you the chance to talk through the images and findings. There’s a 12-month follow-up too.
After repairs or a new covering, a later survey can confirm things are dry, when the conditions are suitable.
When to book a survey in Braintree
Once a leak has been fixed, people often ask whether the roof is still wet. A thermal survey with moisture readings can show whether wet areas remain, given suitable conditions on the day.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
If you live in an older home near Congregational Church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view by drone or thermal camera helps.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Their report turnaround times
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
How it works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit typically takes between one and two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. In busier parts of Braintree, parking can be tight, so let us know about driveways, permits or nearby car parks. On the day, we check the roof from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe, with the drone where it applies.
- We go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- Thermal images are taken across the roof and, where there’s safe access, in the loft.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Before the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Tell us where we can park nearby
Getting a price
Prices start from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Related advice
Thermal roof surveys in Braintree: local notes
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
If you look after a building like Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Braintree means lost rooms as well as repairs, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Braintree is about 39 miles north-east of London, in Essex. Surveys in Braintree work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Braintree is one of the places in Essex we cover for thermal roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Here we cover the CM7, CO9, CM77 and CO6 postcode area for thermal roof surveys. You will find streets such as Market Street, Little Square and Great Square. Main roads around Braintree include the A12 and A120. Nearby, we also carry out thermal roof surveys in Bocking (1 mile west), Long Green (2 miles south-east), Great Notley (2 miles south-west), Black Notley (2 miles south) and Row Green (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Colchester (14 miles east), Chelmsford (11 miles south), Maldon (12 miles south-east), Witham (6 miles south-east), Camulodunum (13 miles east) and Halstead (5 miles north-east). Braintree is among the bigger towns we cover in Essex.
Around Braintree
In Braintree, that means homes and buildings near Edith Borthwick School, Bocking Blackwater and Angel Inn, among other places. The closest station to Braintree is Braintree station, roughly 0.5 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (less than half a mile north-west) and St Michael's Hospital (0.9 miles west). For a walk, there’s Belcher's and Broadfield Woods.
Braintree: your questions answered
Do you cover Braintree?
Yes, Braintree is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Braintree as anywhere else.
How do I find out if my home in Braintree is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
What does the report include?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photos throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Will the survey show heat loss through my roof?
It can show temperature patterns that point to missing or thin insulation. It shows most clearly when it is warm inside and cold outside. Where we can reach the loft safely, we check there too.
What happens next?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs can’t always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest.
What affects the cost of thermal roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The size of the roof
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.