Essex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Cattawade, Essex
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Thermal roof surveys in Cattawade.
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Water that travels before it shows
- Missing or slipped insulation
How a thermal roof survey works in Cattawade
We present each thermal image next to a normal photo of the same area, so it’s easy to see which part of the roof each one shows. We explain what each pattern may mean, what the moisture readings found and what we recommend. With a Premium Survey, the report reaches you the same day. You can talk the findings through with us at the in-person consultation. There’s a 12-month follow-up as well. If you’ve noticed cold spots on ceilings under the roof and wet insulation beneath the membrane, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Cattawade, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- Cattawade (CO11)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Useful tips for Cattawade property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Do not switch the heating off ahead of the visit
- Keep outlets and gutters clear to stop water sitting
Buyers can use the findings when talking to the seller or agent. It is your decision how to use it, whether that is asking for work or discussing the price.
Keep an eye on ceilings under the roof for new stains. Catching a leak early stops insulation getting soaked.
How the survey changes by roof type
Felt and asphalt flat roofs
Felt and asphalt sit tight to the layers below, which often helps the camera pick up differences. Any patterns are checked with moisture readings.
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.
Airspace, weather and Cattawade roofs
Cattawade is within about 1 mile of the coast, and wind off the sea can be strong. Calm, dry conditions after a sunny day suit thermal imaging best, so the visit is planned around the forecast. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
With Castle House about 2.9 miles west, the area around Cattawade has a long history. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. Take an older house close to Church of St Michael and All Angels: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Cattawade is in Essex. Anywhere in Cattawade, we can carry out thermal roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Cattawade is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Surveys in CO11 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer thermal roof surveys to properties on Temple Pattle, Grimwade Close and Hardy Close and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out thermal roof surveys in Brantham (1 mile north), East End (1 mile north), Manningtree (1 mile south), Lawford (1 mile south) and Mistley (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Colchester (8 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (12 miles south), Harwich (9 miles east), Camulodunum (10 miles south-west), Greenstead (7 miles south-west) and Wivenhoe (8 miles south-west).
What’s near Cattawade
Around Cattawade, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Ark pub and Manningtree High School, among other places. Cattawade’s nearest station is Manningtree station, roughly 1 mile south-west of the centre. A little further out are Little Wenham Castle (3.8 miles north) and The Munnings Museum (2.9 miles west). For a walk, there is Cattawade Marshes and Alton Water.
How the survey works
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. For a village or hamlet like Cattawade, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- We look over the roof from wherever it’s safe.
- Thermal images are taken across the roof and, where there is safe access, in the loft.
- We take moisture readings where the images suggest a problem.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Preparing for the visit
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Getting a price
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Common questions in Cattawade
Will you come out to Cattawade?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is Cattawade in the area you cover?
Yes, Cattawade is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
What does a thermal roof survey show?
The camera records how the surface temperature varies. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat loss. We check what it shows with moisture readings.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
When to book a survey in Cattawade
People frequently book a thermal survey when a damp patch has no obvious cause. Water can travel under a roof covering or along timbers before it shows inside. Temperature patterns can help narrow down where to look.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Brooklands Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What the survey won’t cover
- Whether VAT is added on top
- When you will get the report
- What insurance they carry
Places near Cattawade
Also in Cattawade
What affects the cost of thermal roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The size of the roof
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Height and safe access
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Anything about access we should know
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.