West Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Colwood, West Sussex
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a thermal roof survey in Colwood and across West Sussex.
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
- Gaps in loft insulation
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
How a thermal roof survey works in Colwood
A thermal survey is not a quick fix for every roof problem. It shows surface temperature, and things like sun, shade, reflections and wind all affect the readings. We back up the images with moisture readings and a careful look at the roof. Our report says plainly what the camera picked up and how sure we can be. Where something cannot be confirmed, we say what would help next. We are often asked to look into wet areas near outlets and upstands and damp patches with no obvious cause, across commercial roofs, pitched roof slopes and ceilings below the roof.
Somewhere as small as Colwood, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what can’t be reached safely. Weather and airspace are checked ahead of the visit, and the journey is planned beforehand. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Colwood (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
It is useful to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- What’s inside walls or under coverings, without opening up
- Seeing water directly, as the camera shows temperature, not moisture
- A formal energy assessment
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
- Commercial roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
- Insulated roof spaces
What else we do in Colwood
Flying and imaging in Colwood
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from ground level, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For any home in Colwood, it is the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right. With Tyes Place about 3.4 miles north-east, the area around Colwood has a long history. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from the ground, and a survey from above or with a thermal imager doesn’t touch the roof itself.
Colwood is about 5 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Roofs in Colwood get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Sussex. Our West Sussex coverage includes Colwood. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
Thermal roof surveys in RH17 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Earwig Lane and Cross Colwood Lane or a nearby road, we can help. If you’re just outside Colwood, we cover Crabtree (1 mile north-west), Lower Beeding (2 miles north-west), Slaugham (3 miles north), Plummers Plain (3 miles north) and Monk's Gate (3 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (6 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (6 miles east), Burgess Hill (5 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (13 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Colwood
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Leonardslee. A little further out are The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (3.7 miles east). Not far away are Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Roof by roof
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Damp at junctions can be hard to see by eye. A careful visual inspection goes alongside the images.
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.
Colwood questions
Is Colwood within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Colwood?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
What does the report include?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. Points are put by urgency where it matters.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, 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 don’t sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
How long does the survey take?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. The written report follows by email.
What conditions are best for thermal imaging?
The results depend on the weather. A dry surface, little wind and a sunny spell beforehand help most. We record the conditions in the report, so you know how much weight to give the images.
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit usually takes between one and two hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Somewhere like Colwood needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- We take thermal images of the roof and of the loft where we can reach it.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
Before the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
How to book
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Why get it checked now?
Wet insulation under a flat roof does not dry out on its own while the covering stays on. In time, it stops insulating properly and can damage the deck. Finding the wet areas sooner keeps the work smaller. For an older or listed building in a place like Colwood, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why us?
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- 98% of customers satisfied
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Visits on any day of the week
Tips that help
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Keep the report to compare against after any repair
- Let us know where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
- Clear leaves from outlets and gutters each autumn
- Heat the home normally on the days before
The report explains the conditions on the day and how they affected the images. It helps you judge how firm each finding is.
Watch for new damp patches on ceilings beneath the roof. Early action keeps insulation from staying wet.