Greater London · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Downham, Greater London
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Thermal roof surveys in Downham, with photos and a clear written report.
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
Airspace, weather and Downham roofs
Historic houses such as Bromley Palace, about 1.7 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Downham goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For hotels and guest houses around Downham, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near The Glades, big, flat commercial roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images help most.
Downham is about 2 miles north of Bromley, in Greater London. Downham gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Greater London. There is also a page for London.
Surveys in BR1, SE6 and SE12 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on Shaw Road, Arcus Road and Brook Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Downham include Plaistow (1 mile south), Grove Park (1 mile north-east), Sundridge (1 mile south-east), Chinbrook (1 mile east) and Bellingham (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (7 miles north-west), City of Westminster (9 miles north-west), Marylebone (9 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (9 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (8 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Downham
We work in homes and buildings around Holy Trinity College Bromley, Downham Fields and Bonus Pastor Catholic College and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Grove Park station, about 0.8 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find The Glades (1.6 miles south) and Greenwich Castle (3.6 miles north). For a walk, there is Summer Hill and Downham Woodland Walk.
How a thermal roof survey works in Downham
Thermal imaging works best in the right conditions. It is useful to have a sunny day beforehand, a dry surface and calm air. Rain, wind and cloud can all make the patterns weaker. We talk through the forecast as you book, and the report explains how the conditions on the day affected the results. We survey pitched roof slopes, ceilings below the roof and insulated roof spaces, and common reasons people get in touch are damp patches with no obvious cause and cold areas below the roof.
London airspace is busy and tightly controlled: restriction zones surround Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs have restricted areas of their own. Every address in Downham is checked before any drone flight, and where permission is needed, the flight waits for it.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photograph. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Downham (BR1, SE6, SE12)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Downham
Once a leak has been fixed, people often ask whether the roof is still wet. Thermal images and moisture readings can suggest whether moisture is still trapped, given suitable conditions on the day.
Look out for signs like these:
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
Anyone responsible for a site like Rangefield Primary School will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Before you book anyone
- How soon the report will arrive
- What the survey won’t cover
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether the price includes VAT
Roof by roof
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Because these membranes are thin, patterns from below often show. Reflections from shiny surfaces can affect readings, which we allow for.
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Damp at junctions can be hard to see by eye. We combine a close visual check with the thermal images.
For landlords and managing agents
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
Landlords and agents in Downham book surveys as well as householders. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in Downham
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Downham?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. 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 parking a problem for a survey in Downham?
Sometimes, yes. If Downham has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer, and a driveway is even better.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
How we price thermal roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Height and safe access
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Roof area
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Anything about access we should know
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
The survey, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. In a London conversion, the way into the roof space is often from a communal landing or the top flat. If that applies to your building, it helps to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- We talk through the roof, any damp or leaks, and the weather expected on the day.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe viewpoints.
- Thermal images are taken to show differences in surface temperature.
- Areas that look unusual on the camera are checked with moisture readings where possible.
- You get a report with thermal images, photographs and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Let us know about parking near the property
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
What a thermal roof survey doesn’t cover
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Confirming water without moisture readings
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Downham
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Pitched roof slopes
- Ceilings below the roof