West Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Chelwood Common, West Sussex
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof for Chelwood Common and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Water that travels before it shows
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Moisture around outlets and upstands
Thermal roof survey in Chelwood Common: what you get
Wet insulation under a flat roof covering holds heat for longer than dry. That means a wet area can show up as a different temperature from the rest of the roof. This can give an idea of how far water has travelled beneath the membrane, which is hard to judge by eye. We then check those areas with moisture readings. We are often asked to look into damp around roof outlets and upstands and heat escaping through the roof, across insulated roof spaces, pitched roof slopes and commercial roofs.
In a village or hamlet like Chelwood Common, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what cannot be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first, and the journey is planned ahead of time. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Chelwood Common (RH17)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Chelwood Common
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Take an older house close to Chelwood Gate Church: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image. Take a building like Danehill Church of England Primary School: thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Chelwood Common is about 6 miles north-east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. If you’re in Chelwood Common, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Chelwood Common is one of the places in West Sussex where we work. There’s also a page for Crawley.
We cover every part of the RH17 postcode area for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Baxters Lane, Tanyard Lane and Box's Lane. Other places close to Chelwood Common include Chelwood Gate (1 mile north), Danehill (1 mile south-west), Birchgrove (1 mile north-west), Furner's Green (2 miles south) and Nutley (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Crawley (10 miles north-west), Horsham (15 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (9 miles south-west), East Grinstead (6 miles north) and Broadfield (10 miles west).
Around Chelwood Common
Other landmarks nearby include Waterbury Castle (2.3 miles west) and Heaven Farm Museum (1.6 miles south). The countryside around Chelwood Common includes Brickfield Meadow.
Common roof problems in Chelwood Common
Flat roofs that have leaked for a while can have wet insulation under the covering. Knowing how much of the roof is affected helps decide between a local repair and more. Thermal images and moisture readings together can show the likely extent.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
Priest House lies about 3.9 miles north-west, so building around Chelwood Common goes back a long way. For older roofs nearby, a look by drone or thermal camera is a hands-off way to check condition.
What to check before booking
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Also near Chelwood Common
What else we do in Chelwood Common
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Cottages and farmhouses around Chelwood Common frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First we go over the roof, the problem you’ve noticed and the conditions forecast for the visit.
- We check the roof from the ground, from windows and from the roof itself where it is safe.
- A thermal camera records how the surface temperature varies across the roof.
- Areas that look unusual on the camera are checked with moisture readings where possible.
- The report sets out the images, what they suggest and what we recommend.
Before we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Getting a price
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Read more
Different roofs, different checks
Pitched slate and tile roofs
Inside the loft space, thermal images can help with damp around stacks, valleys and roof windows. We check any patterns with moisture readings.
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Junctions where roofs meet walls, parapets and valleys are common places for water to get in. Thermal imaging can help show damp patterns around them.
Practical tips
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Do not climb onto the roof to look for leaks yourself
- Tell us where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
- Don’t switch the heating off ahead of the visit
- Remember the conditions on the day affect the results
After the visit, we put the thermal images, photos and moisture readings into one report. Each image is explained in plain words, with our recommendations. Premium reports are sent the same day.
Check loft insulation covers the whole area and hasn’t been disturbed. Insulation is often moved when people work in the roof space.
Can I check my roof myself?
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.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Why get it checked now?
Trapped water can harm decks, timbers and ceilings the longer it stays. Surveying sooner gives you more choice about what to do. In a small place like Chelwood Common, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £400, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Why book us in Chelwood Common
- Every finding written up with photos
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Chelwood Common questions
How do I find out if my home in Chelwood Common is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Chelwood Common?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and Chelwood Common is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property.
Will the survey show heat loss through my roof?
The camera can point to heat loss and gaps in insulation. The survey isn’t an energy rating or a heat loss calculation, but the report shows where to look more closely.
Is thermal imaging good for finding leaks?
It often helps show where to look. Water can travel under a covering before it shows inside, and temperature patterns can help follow it. We combine it with a visual inspection and moisture readings, as the camera alone can’t prove a leak.
When does the report arrive?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, like an exchange date, tell us when booking.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
What happens next?
You will receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.