Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chells Thermal Roof Survey
Thermal roof surveys in Chells from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Cold areas below the roof
- Moisture around outlets and upstands
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Chells
Wet insulation under a flat roof covering holds heat for longer than dry. So a wet patch can show as a warmer or cooler area on the camera. It helps us see how far water may have spread under the covering, which is hard to judge by eye. We then check those areas with moisture readings. If you are worried about cold areas below the roof and damp that repairs haven’t cured, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Even in a smaller place like Chells, there may be airfields or restrictions nearby, so every drone flight starts with a check of the Drone Safety Map. Exposed sites can be windy, and a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind. Each flight is planned with neighbours’ privacy in mind, as well as the airspace and the wind.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Place
- Chells (SG2, SG1)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. A visit to a smaller place like Chells is no different on the day: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- We start with the roof, its history and any signs of damp or heat loss.
- The weather and surface conditions are recorded.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- Moisture readings are used to check what the camera shows.
- The Premium report reaches you the same day, and we go through it with you in person.
Preparing for the visit
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Keep a record of when stains appear
- Ask us about the forecast if rain is expected
- Check from the ground or a window, never by climbing
- File the images with your roof records
You also get an in-person consultation with a Premium Survey, so you can go through the images with us. A follow-up 12 months later is included as well.
Consider a repeat survey after major work on the roof, when the conditions are suitable.
What we can’t see
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
- What’s inside walls or under coverings, without opening up
- Readings unaffected by sun, shade or reflections
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Pitched roof slopes
- Commercial roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Insulated roof spaces
- Loft conversions
- Flat roofs
Common roof problems in Chells
Building owners and managing agents use thermal surveys to plan work on larger flat roofs. It can suggest which areas may be wet and which seem dry, so we know where to take moisture readings.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Water that travels before it shows
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Stains that keep coming back
For site and facilities teams at buildings like The Nobel School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
What to check before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
What we look for on each type of roof
Loft insulation
The difference is clearest when the home is heated and it is cold out. We explain in the report how the conditions on the day affected what we saw.
GRP fibreglass roofs
GRP surfaces can be shiny, which affects thermal readings. We allow for reflections and confirm findings with moisture readings.
Drones, thermal imaging and Chells roofs
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from the ground, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. Chells is part of Stevenage, one of the post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. Low pitches and flat-roofed additions are hard to see from the ground, so aerial and thermal views add detail.
The streets around a church such as St Hugh & St John are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image. Historic houses such as Aston Bury, about 2.4 miles south, show how far back building around Chells goes. Close-up aerial shots and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
Chells is about 1 mile east of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Wherever you are in Chells, we can carry out thermal roof surveys at your property. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Chells and the places around it. Our Milton Keynes page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in SG2 and SG1 is within our area for thermal roof surveys. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on Scott Road, Eliot Road and Newton Road or anywhere close by, we can help. If you are just outside Chells, we cover Stevenage (1 mile west), St Nicholas (1 mile north-west), Pin Green (1 mile west), Aston End (1 mile south-east) and Bedwell (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover St Albans (13 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (14 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles south), Harpenden (10 miles south-west), Hitchin (5 miles north-west) and Hoddesdon (13 miles south-east).
What’s near Chells
We work in homes and buildings around Lodge Farm Primary School, among other places. Chells’s nearest station is Stevenage station, about 1.8 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Lister Hospital (2.1 miles north-west) and Benington Castle (2.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Chells includes Pryor's Wood.
Why act early in Chells
For buyers, a thermal survey adds detail that a visual inspection cannot give. Finding hidden moisture before exchange gives you facts to raise with the seller. Around Chells, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, and that’s a much bigger job than the original defect.
All our prices include VAT. Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why us?
- Prices that include VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Nearby places to Chells
More services for Chells
Chells questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chells?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to Chells?
Yes, Chells is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed as you book.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.