Surrey · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Downside, Surrey
We carry out thermal roof surveys in Downside and the rest of Surrey. We survey on any day of the week.
- Heat escaping through the roof
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Water that travels before it shows
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Downside
Thermal imaging works best in the right conditions. A sunny day before the survey, a dry roof surface and little wind all help. Rain, wind and cloud can all make the patterns weaker. We talk through the forecast when you book, and our report notes the conditions and how they affected what we saw. If you’re worried about water getting in at parapets and stacks and wet insulation beneath the membrane, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Downside, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what can’t be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first, and the journey is planned in advance. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Downside (KT11)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Downside
More services for Downside
What we look for on each type of roof
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Junctions where roofs meet walls, parapets and valleys are common places for water to get in. Thermal imaging can help show damp patterns around them.
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.
Common questions in Downside
How do I find out if my home in Downside is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to Downside?
Yes. Downside is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
How long will you be at the property?
Time on site depends on the roof; most visits take between one and two hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. The written report follows by email.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs like deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
What do I do with the report?
The report comes by email, and you decide the next step: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Leave it or get it looked at?
If a big flat roof may need replacing, knowing the wet areas first is useful. Images backed by moisture readings show where problems seem to be before you commit. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and the package you choose.
Why us?
- 20+ years’ experience
- An independent look at the roof
- Package prices that include VAT
- 98% of clients satisfied
See our cost guide or our case studies.
Flying and imaging in Downside
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Byfleet Manor, about 2.7 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Downside. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Michael's Chapel, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that’s where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Downside is about 4 miles west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. Downside is one of many places we visit across Surrey, for homes and businesses alike. Downside is one of the towns and villages in Surrey where we work. You can also see our page for Guildford.
All of KT11 is within our area for thermal roof surveys. Whether your property is on Downside Common, Downsview Close and Deacon Close or anywhere close by, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out thermal roof surveys in Hatchford (1 mile west), Martyr's Green (1 mile south-west), Hatchford End (2 miles west), Whiteley Village (3 miles north) and Wisley (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (8 miles south-west), Woking (7 miles west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (6 miles east), Horley (14 miles south-east) and Redhill (12 miles south-east).
What’s near Downside
Around Downside, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Plough Public House and Parkside School. The closest station to Downside is Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station, roughly 1 mile north-east. Well-known places in the area include Epsom Cottage Hospital (5.1 miles north-east) and Send and Ripley History Society Museum (3.8 miles west). The countryside around Downside includes Jubilee Wood and Boldermere Lake.
When to book a survey in Downside
Unexplained damp is one of the main reasons people ask for thermal imaging. Water can travel under a roof covering or along timbers before it shows inside. The camera helps narrow the search.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Water that travels before it shows
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Cold areas below the roof
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as St Matthew's CofE Aided Infant School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
What to check before booking
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether VAT is added on top
What affects the price in Downside
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- Roof area
- Which survey package you book
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Helping us price your survey
A few details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or email us.
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Around Downside, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First we go over the roof, the problem you’ve noticed and the conditions forecast for the visit.
- We carry out a visual inspection of the roof from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Thermal images are taken to show differences in surface temperature.
- We check the patterns that stand out with moisture readings where there is safe access.
- The report sets out the images, what they suggest and what we recommend.
Before we arrive
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Booking a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before you book.