Reading · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Caversham, Reading
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Caversham from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Heat escaping through the roof
Thermal roof survey in Caversham: what you get
Flat roofs over extensions, garages, flats and commercial buildings are where thermal imaging often helps most. Patterns can suggest where water is trapped under the covering. Pitched roofs with slates or tiles are often harder to read, because of the air space beneath, so we combine the camera with an inspection from the loft where there’s safe access. If you’ve noticed cold areas below the roof and damp around roof outlets and upstands, we can find out what’s behind it.
Before any drone flight in a town like Caversham, the airspace is checked on the Drone Safety Map, including zones around airports and prisons. We fly a sub-250g drone and hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. We take care over neighbours’ privacy. In the open category, flights stay under 120 m (400 ft) with the drone in sight.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Place
- Caversham (RG4)
- Region
- Reading
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a thermal roof survey in Caversham?
On big commercial and residential flat roofs, thermal imaging helps owners plan. Patterns can point to wet areas and show which parts look sound, so we know where to take moisture readings.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
If you look after a building such as The Hill Primary School, big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their insurance cover
- What exactly goes into their report
- How soon the report will arrive
Honest limits
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- A formal energy assessment
- Confirming water without moisture readings
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Caversham
- Pitched roof slopes
- Ceilings below the roof
- Loft conversions
- Flat roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
Questions from Caversham
Do you cover Caversham?
Yes, Caversham is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
What do I need to do before a survey in Caversham?
The main thing is access, inside and out, plus somewhere to park in Caversham. Let us know about known leaks or past repairs as well.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
What happens after the survey?
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.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Is thermal imaging included in your surveys?
Thermal imaging is included in our Premium Survey, from £400. That also includes a full inspection, a drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and a same-day report.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
How the survey works
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 for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a home in Caversham, the main things we need are a way into the loft, a route to the back garden and somewhere to park. If you won’t be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- We start by discussing the roof, any signs of damp and how the weather may affect the images.
- We carry out a visual inspection of the roof from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We take thermal images of the roof to pick up temperature patterns.
- We check the patterns that stand out with moisture readings where there’s safe access.
- The report sets out the images, what they suggest and what we recommend.
Before the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Related advice
Nearby places to Caversham
Also in Caversham
What affects the cost of thermal roof surveys
We confirm the price for your survey before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to tell us when you get in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The kind of building and roof involved
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Take photos of stains as they appear, so we can compare
- Keep the report to compare against after any repair
- Clear leaves from outlets and gutters each autumn
- Note where damp appears and after what weather
If you’re buying, the report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It is your decision how to use it, whether that is asking for work or discussing the price.
Make sure loft insulation covers the whole area and hasn’t been disturbed. Gaps frequently appear after work in the loft.
Flying and imaging in Caversham
The wider area around Caversham has a long history of building, with Mapledurham House about 3 miles west. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
For businesses in and around places like Broad Street Mall, a commercial roof can be photographed from above without anyone walking on it. The streets around a church such as Grace Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Caversham is about 2 miles north of Reading, in Reading. Bookings from Caversham are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. We cover towns and villages across Reading.
We work across RG4 for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Marshland Square, Church Road and Buckingham Gate. Caversham sits on or near the B3345, so getting to you is simple. We also cover Emmer Green (1 mile north-east), Caversham Park Village (1 mile north-east), Lower Caversham (1 mile south), Caversham Heights (1 mile west) and Littlestead Green (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Norcot (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (3 miles south-west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Horncastle (3 miles south-west) and Whitley Wood (4 miles south). Caversham is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading.
Near you in Caversham
Around Caversham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Chiltern Nursery Nurse Training School, The White Horse pub and Eldon Square and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Reading station, roughly 1.3 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Broad Street Mall (1.6 miles south). The countryside around Caversham includes South Lake and Sonning Hill.