West Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Donnington, West Sussex
We carry out thermal roof surveys in Donnington and the rest of West Sussex. We survey seven days a week.
- Stains that keep coming back
- Cold areas below the roof
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
What happens on the day
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. Most visits take between one and two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Around Donnington, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We talk through the roof, any damp or leaks, and the weather expected on the day.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe viewpoints.
- We take thermal images of the roof to pick up temperature patterns.
- We check the patterns that stand out with moisture readings where there’s safe access.
- We write up the thermal images alongside ordinary photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Book a survey
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Advice
How a thermal roof survey works in Donnington
A thermal survey isn’t 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. The report is clear about what the images show and what they don’t. Where something can’t be confirmed, we say what would help next. If you’ve noticed gaps in loft insulation and ceilings that feel colder in places, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a village or hamlet like Donnington, 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. Weather and airspace are looked at ahead of the visit. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Donnington (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Common roof problems in Donnington
People frequently book a thermal survey when a damp patch has no obvious cause. Water can travel under a roof covering or along timbers before it shows inside. The camera helps narrow the search.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Leaks that are hard to trace
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St George, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Drones, thermal imaging and Donnington roofs
Donnington lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and wind off the sea can be strong. Clear thermal results need a dry roof and little wind after a sunny day, so the date depends on the forecast. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from the ground, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
Anyone responsible for a site like Chichester High School For Girls will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it. Goodwood House lies about 4.8 miles north-east, so building around Donnington goes back a long way. Photos from the air and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
Donnington is about 2 miles south of Chichester, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Donnington and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. Donnington is one of the places in West Sussex we cover. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Every address in PO20 is covered for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Being close to the B2201, Donnington is easy for us to reach. Neighbouring places we cover for thermal roof surveys include Hunston (1 mile east), North Mundham (1 mile east), Runcton (2 miles east), Chichester (2 miles north) and Portfield (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Selsey (5 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west), Rustington (12 miles east) and Angmering (14 miles east).
Around Donnington
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Blacksmith's Arms Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, roughly 1.6 miles north. A little further out are Chichester Cathedral Treasury (1.8 miles north) and St Richard's Hospital (2.5 miles north). Open spaces near Donnington include Nutborne Marshes.
What a thermal roof survey does not cover
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Proving moisture from the images alone
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
- An energy rating for the building
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Ceilings below the roof
- Loft conversions
- Commercial roofs
- Pitched roof slopes
- Insulated roof spaces
- Flat roofs
How the survey changes by roof type
Loft insulation
In the roof space, the camera can pick up gaps and thin areas of insulation. We inspect the loft where it can be reached safely.
GRP fibreglass roofs
Water can get through cracked GRP into the deck. We combine a visual check of cracks with the thermal images around them.
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in Donnington
Do you carry out roof surveys in Donnington?
Yes, Donnington is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you cover smaller places like Donnington?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Does thermal imaging detect leaks directly?
Not directly. It shows temperature, and wet materials often behave differently from dry ones. We confirm what it suggests with moisture readings.
Does the weather affect a thermal survey?
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.
What can thermal imaging tell me about my roof?
The images show how warm or cool each part of the surface is. Differences can suggest wet areas, missing insulation or heat loss, and we check them with moisture readings.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Towns and villages near Donnington
More services for Donnington
Checking the roof from ground level
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in.