Kent · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in East Malling
A careful look at the roof at your property in East Malling, and put it all in a report with photos.
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in East Malling
A thermal survey can point to places where heat is escaping through the roof. Missing or slipped insulation and gaps at the eaves often show up as temperature differences. 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. It isn’t an energy rating or a heat loss calculation. If you’ve noticed leaks far from where the stain appears and water getting in at parapets and stacks, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Older cottages and houses around East Malling may have little insulation, and some have extensions with their own roofs. Thermal patterns and close-up photos together give a fuller picture of the roof. Anything that looks like moisture is checked with a meter. Calm, dry weather suits both methods, so the date is set with the forecast in mind.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- East Malling (ME19)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in East Malling
Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Many roofs like these cannot be judged properly from the pavement, and that’s where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place. Within a mile and a half or so of East Malling there are several hotels, and like offices and blocks, hotels often sit under flat roofs. If you look after one, a large roof can be surveyed without guests having anyone working above them.
Anyone responsible for a site like St James the Great Academy will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. For hotels and guest houses around East Malling, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it pays to find faults before guests do. Starkey Castle, about 4.9 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around East Malling. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
East Malling is about 4 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. We carry out thermal roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in East Malling. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
Here we cover the ME19 postcode area for thermal roof surveys. Whether your property is on High Street, Chapman Way and Lister Close or anywhere close by, we can help. Other places close to East Malling include Well Street (1 mile south), Ditton (1 mile east), West Malling (1 mile west), Aylesford (2 miles east) and Kings Hill (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (4 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (13 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (11 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north).
What’s near East Malling
Around East Malling, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Rising Sun pub, Ditton Quarry and The Malling School. East Malling’s nearest station is East Malling station, roughly 0.7 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Leybourne Castle (0.9 miles north-west) and Fremlin Walk (3.9 miles east). The countryside around East Malling includes Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
Why act early in East Malling
Before replacing a large flat roof, it’s useful to know how much of it is actually wet. Thermal imaging, checked with moisture readings, gives a clearer picture before you spend. On a bungalow or cottage around East Malling, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Catching the cause first saves redecorating as well.
Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in East Malling
- 20+ years’ experience
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photographs, sent to you by email. On timing, it typically takes an hour or two at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to East Malling is booked with the forecast in mind: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- Thermal images are taken across the roof and, where there’s safe access, in the loft.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Advice
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The condition of timbers we cannot see
- A formal energy assessment
- Proving moisture from the images alone
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Ceilings below the roof
- Insulated roof spaces
- Pitched roof slopes
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in East Malling
Do you cover East Malling?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and East Malling is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in East Malling?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
Will the survey show heat loss through my roof?
It can show temperature patterns that point to missing or thin insulation. The difference is clearest when the building is heated and it’s colder outside. Where we can reach the loft safely, we check there too.
Does the weather affect a thermal survey?
Conditions on the day affect the results. A sunny day beforehand, a dry surface and calm air all help. Rain and strong wind can make the images less clear, so we talk through the forecast when you book.
Which survey includes thermal imaging?
It’s part of the Premium Survey, from £400. An in-person consultation and a follow-up 12 months later are included too. For bigger commercial roofs, we quote on size.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Prices for thermal roof surveys in East Malling
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The size of the roof
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
What we need to know
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Nearby places to East Malling
Other services in East Malling
Checking the roof from ground level
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Roof by roof
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Water often gets in where roofs meet walls, parapets or valley gutters. The camera can help show damp around these junctions.
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Single-ply PVC, TPO and EPDM roofs are frequently laid over insulation boards. Wet boards can show as temperature differences on the images.