Greater London · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Charlton, Greater London
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across Charlton, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Moisture around outlets and upstands
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
How a thermal roof survey works in Charlton
A thermal imaging roof survey uses a thermal camera to show differences in surface temperature across a roof. The patterns can suggest wet insulation, gaps in insulation or places where heat is getting out. The camera doesn’t see water itself, so we check what it shows with moisture readings. It comes as part of our Premium Survey, from £400. Conditions on the day affect the results, and the report explains how. We survey pitched roof slopes, commercial roofs and insulated roof spaces, and common reasons people get in touch are leaks far from where the stain appears and missing or slipped insulation.
London’s roofs are often hard to see from the street: butterfly roofs behind parapets, dormer tops and flat roofs over back additions. Drone photos and thermal images can show parts of a roof that are hard to reach safely. The weather decides the day: both drones and thermal cameras need the right conditions. Thermal images show surface temperature, not water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Charlton (SE7, SE18)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- 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
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Also in Charlton
What affects the price in Charlton
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Roof area
Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Helping us price your survey
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Tips that help
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Keep the heating on as usual before a heat loss survey
- Ask us about the forecast if rain is expected
- Clear leaves from outlets and gutters each autumn
- Note where damp appears and after what weather
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.
Make sure loft insulation covers the whole area and hasn’t been disturbed. Gaps frequently appear after work in the loft.
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in Charlton
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Charlton?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Are there drone restrictions around Charlton?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. The flight restriction zone around London City Airport covers Charlton, or comes right up to its edge. Before any flight there, we ask the airport for permission, and the flight only goes ahead if it is given. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
How much does a thermal roof survey cost?
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.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it is safe. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
Can a thermal survey trace a roof leak?
It’s a useful tool for tracing leaks, but not the only one. The results depend on conditions on the day. If the source cannot be confirmed, we’ll say what could help next, such as electronic leak detection.
Different roofs, different checks
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Many single-ply and EPDM roofs sit on insulation boards. If water gets under them, thermal imaging can suggest which boards are wet.
Pitched slate and tile roofs
Even on pitched roofs, the camera can point to heat loss and some damp. The report explains what the images can tell you and what they cannot.
What a thermal roof survey does not cover
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Seeing water directly, as the camera shows temperature, not moisture
- Insulation values or heat loss calculations
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Pitched roof slopes
- Insulated roof spaces
- Loft conversions
- Ceilings below the roof
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
Airspace, weather and Charlton roofs
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail. About 1.9 miles west lies Queen's House, a reminder of how long the area around Charlton has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Thorntree Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. Charlton is in London, so parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door cannot be promised. If you run a business near Gallions Reach Shopping Park, big, flat commercial roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help most.
Charlton is about 2 miles west of Plumstead, in Greater London. Charlton is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across Greater London, we cover Charlton and the places around it. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the SE7 and SE18 postcode area for thermal roof surveys. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on Floyd Road, Guild Road and Priolo Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out thermal roof surveys in New Charlton (1 mile north-west), Westcombe Park (1 mile west), Woolwich (1 mile east), Vanbrugh Park Estate (1 mile south-west) and Kidbrooke (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include London (6 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (7 miles west) and Shoreditch (6 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Charlton
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Charlton Park, Wildwood Montessori School and Royal Greenwich Trust School, among other places. There’s a railway station in Charlton itself: Charlton station. Other landmarks nearby include British Hospital for Mothers and Babies (0.5 miles east) and Gallions Reach Shopping Park (2.3 miles north-east). The countryside around Charlton includes Gilbert's Pit.
What happens on the day
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can safely be seen, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey typically takes about one to two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. In a London conversion, the way into the loft space is often from a communal landing or the top flat. Where that’s the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Otherwise, the visit in Charlton runs like any other.
- First we go over the roof, the problem you’ve noticed and the conditions forecast for the visit.
- We look at the roof from the ground, from windows and from the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Thermal images are taken to show differences in surface temperature.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.