East Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Firle, East Sussex
Thermal roof surveys in Firle from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Water that travels before it shows
Leave it or get it looked at?
Without thermal imaging, the only way to see how far water has spread is often to open up the roof. That helps you and your roofer decide what really needs replacing. Outbuildings and barns around Firle are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why book with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- A written report with photos
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Firle
Our Premium Survey, from £400, brings together a full roof inspection and thermal imaging. You also get a drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and a report on the same day. An in-person consultation and a 12-month follow-up are included too. To book, just ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’ve noticed. For big commercial roofs, we quote on size and access. We survey ceilings below the roof, pitched roof slopes and loft conversions, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are areas of a flat roof that may hold water and moisture around outlets and upstands.
Some older homes in villages like Firle are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Firle (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Firle
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Firle, and coastal wind can be strong. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind, so the date is chosen with the forecast in mind. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you look after a building like Firle Church of England Primary School, big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Peter: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Firle is about 4 miles south-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Firle, the roof can be surveyed. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
Surveys in BN8 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets such as The Street, Bostal Road and Firle Bostal. Other places close to Firle include Glynde (1 mile north-west), Glyndebourne (2 miles north-west), Ashton Green (3 miles north), South Heighton (3 miles south) and Ringmer (3 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (10 miles south-east), Seaford (5 miles south), Lewes (4 miles north-west), Hailsham (8 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north) and Uckfield (8 miles north).
Around Firle
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Lewes and Laughton Levels, The Ram Inn and Science and Technology Policy Research and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Glynde station, roughly 1 mile north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Lewes Castle (3.8 miles north-west) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3.2 miles north). Open spaces near Firle include Southerham Farm and Firle Beacon.
Firle: your questions answered
Will you come out to Firle?
Yes, Firle is covered. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Firle?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take an hour or two at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. You’ll then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Will thermal imaging find my leak?
Thermal imaging can help, alongside other checks. The results depend on conditions on the day. If the source cannot be confirmed, we will say what could help next, such as electronic leak detection.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
What this survey can’t tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- An energy rating for the building
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
- Readings unaffected by sun, shade or reflections
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Firle
- Flat roofs
- Pitched roof slopes
- Loft conversions
- Insulated roof spaces
- Ceilings below the roof
- Commercial roofs
What we do, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Rural addresses near Firle can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- We take thermal images of the roof and of the loft where we can reach it.
- We take moisture readings where the images suggest a problem.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Let us know about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
Our price is from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Read more
Different roofs, different checks
GRP fibreglass roofs
GRP surfaces can be shiny, which affects thermal readings. We allow for reflections and confirm findings with moisture readings.
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
On big single-ply roofs, the camera helps show where to take readings. It focuses the survey on the areas that matter.
Towns and villages near Firle
More services for Firle
What we’re asked to look at in Firle
Some defects simply cannot be seen with the eye. Trapped moisture, missing insulation and hidden heat loss are three examples. Thermal imaging gives us another way to look for them.
Problems we come across often include:
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Leaks that are hard to trace
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
- Missing or slipped insulation
With Firle Place about 0.4 miles south-east, the area around Firle has a long history. For older roofs nearby, a look from the air or with a thermal camera is a hands-off way to check condition.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
How we price thermal roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Which survey package you book
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
What to tell us when you get in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Anything about access we should know
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.