Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Cottered, Hertfordshire
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across Cottered, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Gaps in loft insulation
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Cottered
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. This can give an idea of how far water has travelled beneath the membrane, which is hard to judge by eye. Moisture readings are then used to check what the camera suggests. We survey ceilings below the roof, pitched roof slopes and flat roofs, and people most frequently book us about stains that keep coming back and water getting in at parapets and stacks.
Some older homes in villages like Cottered are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it’s a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof, before anyone decides what work it needs. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Cottered (SG9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Drones, thermal imaging and Cottered roofs
If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that is where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Parish Church of St John the Baptist, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Cottered is about 5 miles north-east of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Cottered, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Cottered is one of the places in Hertfordshire where we work. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We work across the SG9 postcode area for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets such as Peasecroft, The Crescent and Warren Lane, all of which we cover. Other places close to Cottered include Throcking (1 mile north-east), Rushden (2 miles north-west), Chipping (2 miles north-east), Buntingford (2 miles east) and Aspenden (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Stevenage (5 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (11 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south-west), Harpenden (15 miles south-west), Hitchin (8 miles west) and Hoddesdon (13 miles south).
Near you in Cottered
We work in homes and buildings around The Bull Public House. Other landmarks nearby include Clothall Castle (3.5 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Hawkins Wood.
Other services in Cottered
How we price thermal roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Which survey package you book
- House, block, shop or office
- The shape of the roof and its details
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
What we need to know
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Cottered
The longer moisture sits in a roof, the more it can affect timbers and finishes below. Surveying sooner gives you more choice about what to do. Outbuildings and barns around Cottered are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all including VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in Cottered
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Plain-English reports with photos
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Common questions in Cottered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cottered?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is Cottered within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
How quickly is the report sent?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Does thermal imaging detect leaks directly?
The camera doesn’t see water itself. Wet insulation holds heat longer than dry, so it can stand out, and moisture readings are used to check it.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photographs, explaining the condition of the roof, any defects and our recommendations, in order of urgency where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Tell us about it as you book and we will explain what’s needed.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
When to book a survey in Cottered
After a repair, some owners want to know whether the roof has dried out. A thermal survey with moisture readings can show whether wet areas remain, given suitable conditions on the day.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
Take a building like Freman College: a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What they won’t be able to tell you
What this survey cannot tell you
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- An energy rating for the building
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Loft conversions
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Pitched roof slopes
- Ceilings below the roof
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit typically takes about one to two hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Older rural homes like those around Cottered can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You let us know about the roof and any damp, leaks or cold rooms.
- We check the conditions and note how they may affect the images.
- We inspect the roof and take thermal images during the same visit.
- We back up the thermal patterns with moisture readings.
- The Premium report reaches you the same day, and we go through it with you in person.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £400, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.