West Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Ford, West Sussex
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across Ford, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Water that travels before it shows
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
Signs you need a thermal roof survey in Ford
Flat roofs that have leaked for a while can have wet insulation under the covering. Owners want to know how far it has spread before deciding what to do. Thermal images and moisture readings together can show the likely extent.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Cold areas below the roof
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Patches of heat loss across the roof
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
If you look after a building such as The Littlehampton Academy, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
What to check before booking
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Will the report include photos?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
Thermal roof survey in Ford
Thermal imaging is useful when a damp patch has no clear cause. Leaks often run along a roof before they appear on a ceiling, and the camera can show patterns that help us follow it. We combine the images with a visual inspection and moisture readings, so no conclusion rests on one method alone. If you’re worried about areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions and water getting in at parapets and stacks, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a small place like Ford, open ground can mean strong wind. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Ford (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Ford
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Ford. Clear thermal results need a dry roof and little wind after a sunny day, so the date depends on 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. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help.
Ecclesden Manor, about 4.8 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ford. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. The streets around a church like The Parish Church of St Andrew are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Ford is about 2 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Surveys in Ford work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
All of BN18 is covered for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Station Road, Ford Road and Rodney Crescent, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for thermal roof surveys include Tortington (1 mile north), Horsemere Green (1 mile south), Climping (1 mile south), Wick (1 mile east) and Lyminster (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (8 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (9 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles east) and Lancing (11 miles east).
Around Ford
In Ford, that means homes and buildings near The Arundel Arms Public House At Ford Station and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Ford itself: Ford station. A little further out are Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles north) and Rustington Museum (3.5 miles east). Green spaces nearby include WWT Arundel.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Ford
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Different roofs, different checks
Loft insulation
Heat loss shows most clearly when it is warm inside and colder outside. Our report notes how the conditions affected the images.
GRP fibreglass roofs
Water under a GRP roof can reach the timber deck. The camera can help show where to look.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Ford
Repeated repairs that don’t stop a leak are a sign the source hasn’t been traced. Thermal imaging with moisture readings can help narrow it down, rather than more guesswork. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Ford, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- An independent view of the roof
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
FAQs for Ford
Is my home in Ford listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Ford?
Yes, Ford is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
How do I book a survey in Ford?
To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what you’d like to know. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only if it is safe. We inspect everything that’s safely in view: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Can a thermal camera see water?
Thermal imaging shows temperature rather than water. Wet insulation holds heat longer than dry, so it can stand out, and moisture readings are used to check it.
Will the survey show heat loss through my roof?
Thermal images can suggest where heat is escaping and where insulation may be missing. The survey isn’t an energy rating or a heat loss calculation, but the report shows where to look more closely.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report, so you can see each point for yourself.
More services for Ford
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes between one and two hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around Ford can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with the roof, its history and any signs of damp or heat loss.
- We check the conditions and note how they may affect the images.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- We back up the thermal patterns with moisture readings.
- You get the report the same day, with an in-person consultation to follow.
Preparing for the visit
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
How to book
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.