Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Digswell
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof in Digswell. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Gaps in loft insulation
The survey, step by step
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes about one to two hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a smaller place like Digswell, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside.
- We go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- 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.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
How a thermal roof survey works in Digswell
A thermal survey can point to places where heat is escaping through the roof. Gaps in loft insulation and poorly insulated areas can stand out on the images. The difference shows most clearly when it is warm inside and cold outside. Our report points out what the images suggest and where to look more closely. We do not give energy ratings or heat loss calculations. If you’ve noticed missing or slipped insulation and damp around chimneys and parapets, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on flat roofs, pitched roof slopes and ceilings below the roof alike.
Even in a smaller place like Digswell, there may be airfields or restrictions nearby, so every drone flight starts with a check of the Drone Safety Map. Open ground can mean stronger wind, which also affects whether a small drone can fly, while thermal imaging also works best with little wind. Each flight is planned with neighbours’ privacy in mind, as well as the airspace and the wind.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Digswell (AL8, AL7, AL6)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Which survey package you book
- Building height and the viewpoints available
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
What you can safely check yourself
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.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Useful tips for Digswell property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Don’t switch the heating off before the visit
- Let us know where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
- Clear a path to the loft hatch before we arrive
- Remember the conditions on the day affect the results
If you’re buying, the report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. What you do with it is up to you, whether you ask for work before completion or discuss the price.
Have small defects in the covering fixed early. Once water gets under a membrane, it can travel far before it appears inside.
Roof by roof
GRP fibreglass roofs
Glossy GRP can reflect heat. We allow for reflections and confirm findings with moisture readings.
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Junctions where roofs meet walls, parapets and valleys are common places for water to get in. The camera can help show damp around these junctions.
Airspace, weather and Digswell roofs
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. 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.
Shop and office owners around Howard Centre may find that big, flat commercial roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images help most. Take an older house close to Digswell Village Church: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Digswell is about 1 mile north of Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. Digswell is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Digswell. London is in our area too.
Every address in AL8, AL7 and AL6 is within our area for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on Adele Avenue, Station Road and Hertford Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Digswell: Haldens (1 mile south-east), Harmer Green (1 mile north-east), Burnham Green (2 miles north-east), Oaklands (2 miles north) and Tewin (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Watford (14 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (12 miles west), Stevenage (6 miles north), St Albans (7 miles south-west), Harpenden (6 miles west) and Hitchin (10 miles north).
Local landmarks in Digswell
Typical jobs here are in homes near Hedgehog pub, Monk's Walk School and Danesbury Park. Digswell has its own railway station: Welwyn North station. Other landmarks nearby include Howard Centre (1.3 miles south) and Datchworth Museum (2.6 miles north-east). For a walk, there is Tewin Orchard and Hopkyns Wood.
When to book a survey in Digswell
Buyers sometimes want more than a visual look at the roof. The Premium Survey brings thermal imaging and a drone inspection where applicable, with a report the same day, which helps when timescales are tight.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Leaks that are hard to trace
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Stains that keep coming back
If you look after a building such as Harwood Hill Junior Mixed Infant and Nursery School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What exactly goes into their report
Nearby places to Digswell
Also in Digswell
Questions from Digswell
Do you carry out roof surveys in Digswell?
Yes, Digswell is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Digswell as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is Digswell within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
Does thermal imaging work on slate and tile roofs?
It can be useful, though pitched roofs are normally harder to read. The air space under slates and tiles can hide patterns, so we combine it with an inspection from the loft where there is safe access.