Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in East Saltdean, Brighton and Hove
Need a thermal roof survey in East Saltdean? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Water that travels before it shows
Checking the roof from ground level
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 part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Thermal roof survey in East Saltdean: what you get
A thermal survey is not a quick fix for every roof problem. Sun, shade, reflective surfaces and wind can all change what the camera shows. That’s why we check findings with moisture readings and a close visual inspection. The report is clear about what the images show and what they don’t. If a finding can’t be confirmed, the report suggests a next step. We’re frequently asked to look into areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions and missing or slipped insulation, on pitched roof slopes, insulated roof spaces and ceilings below the roof.
Places like East Saltdean can be near small airfields or other airspace restrictions, 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.
- Where
- East Saltdean (BN2)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Drones, thermal imaging and East Saltdean roofs
East Saltdean is within about 1 mile of the coast, and coastal wind can be strong. Calm, dry conditions after a sunny day suit thermal imaging best, so the visit is planned around 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. 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.
For an older house near a landmark like St Nicholas, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement. If you look after a building like Saltdean Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
East Saltdean is about 4 miles west of Newhaven, in Brighton and Hove. We provide thermal roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in East Saltdean and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Brighton and Hove.
Every address in BN2 is covered for thermal roof surveys. We cover properties on Wicklands Avenue, Oaklands Avenue and Brambletyne Avenue. If you’re just outside East Saltdean, we cover Saltdean (1 mile west), Telscombe (1 mile east), Rottingdean (2 miles north-west), Ovingdean (2 miles north-west) and Rodmell (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Brighton (5 miles north-west), Brighton and Hove (7 miles west), Hove (7 miles west), Carlton Hill (5 miles west), Hanover (5 miles north-west) and West Hill (5 miles west).
Around East Saltdean
We work in homes and buildings around Beacon Hill, Smugglers Rest pub and Peacehaven Community School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Southease station, about 3.3 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include French Convalescent Home (3.5 miles west) and Planet Earth Museum (3.7 miles east). Open spaces near East Saltdean include Newmarket Hill and Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve.
How the survey changes by roof type
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.
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.
Do you need a thermal roof survey in East Saltdean?
Some owners book because the rooms under the roof feel cold. Missing or slipped insulation can stand out as temperature differences, especially when it is warm inside and cold outside.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Cold areas below the roof
Monk's House, about 3.2 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around East Saltdean. Photos from the air and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Their report turnaround times
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in East Saltdean
Does a conservation area affect roof work in East Saltdean?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is East Saltdean within the area you cover?
Yes, East Saltdean is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
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 every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
How soon will I get the report?
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.
How do I book a survey in East Saltdean?
Simply call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Is thermal imaging included in your surveys?
Thermal imaging is included in our Premium Survey, from £400. That also includes a full inspection, a drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and a same-day report.
What happens if roof problems are left?
The longer moisture sits in a roof, the more it can affect timbers and finishes below. Looking now, while the damage may still be limited, keeps more options open. Around East Saltdean, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
Why book us in East Saltdean
- Package prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent view of the roof
Places near East Saltdean
Also in East Saltdean
What happens on the day
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around East Saltdean, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- We start with the roof, its history and any signs of damp or heat loss.
- The weather and surface conditions are recorded.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- We back up the thermal patterns with moisture readings.
- The Premium report reaches you the same day, and we go through it with you in person.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Read more
What a thermal roof survey does not cover
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- The condition of timbers we cannot see
- A formal energy assessment
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in East Saltdean
- Insulated roof spaces
- Pitched roof slopes
- Ceilings below the roof
- Loft conversions
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs