Essex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Fordham, Essex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Fordham. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Cold areas below the roof
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
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.
Thermal roof survey in Fordham: what you get
A thermal imaging roof survey uses a thermal camera to show differences in surface temperature across a roof. The patterns can suggest wet insulation, gaps in insulation or places where heat is getting out. The camera does not see water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is included in our Premium Survey, from £400. The report also notes the conditions on the day, since they affect what the camera can show. We survey insulated roof spaces, ceilings below the roof and pitched roof slopes, and people most often book us about stains that keep coming back and water getting in at parapets and stacks.
Older buildings in small places like Fordham may be listed or in a conservation area. A look from above or with a thermal imager doesn’t touch the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care, before anyone decides what work it needs. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Fordham (CO6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Fordham
What else we do in Fordham
Why get it checked now?
Trapped water can harm decks, timbers and ceilings the longer it stays. Surveying sooner gives you more choice about what to do. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Fordham, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Fordham
- Over 20 years’ experience
- An independent look at the roof
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- PI and public liability insurance
Do you need a thermal roof survey in Fordham?
Some defects simply can’t be seen with the eye. Trapped moisture, missing insulation and hidden heat loss are three examples. A thermal camera adds another way of finding them.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Heat escaping through the roof
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
For an older house near a landmark like Church of All Saints, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Flying and imaging in Fordham
Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
In and around Fordham, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early.
Fordham is about 5 miles north-west of Colchester, in Essex. We cover Fordham and the rest of Essex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Fordham is one of the places in Essex where we work. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in CO6 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Church Road, Herring's Way and Sunnyside Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Fordham Heath (1 mile south), Gallows Green (1 mile south), Wormingford (2 miles north), West Bergholt (2 miles east) and Little Horkesley (3 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Colchester (5 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles west), Maldon (14 miles south), Witham (11 miles south-west), Camulodunum (4 miles south-east) and Halstead (7 miles west).
What’s near Fordham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Three Horseshoes Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Chappel & Wakes Colne station, about 1.9 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Severalls Hospital (3.9 miles east) and Mount Bures (2.9 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Sergeants Orchard.
How the survey works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Fordham frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- 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 is safe access, in the loft.
- We take moisture readings where the images suggest a problem.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Getting a price
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Related advice
What affects the price in Fordham
We confirm the exact price before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How big the roof is
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- The property’s address and postcode
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- What’s prompted the survey
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- What’s inside walls or under coverings, without opening up
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Loft conversions
- Flat roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
Questions from Fordham
Is my home in Fordham listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you cover smaller places like Fordham?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Can you do a thermal survey in any weather?
The results depend on the weather. Dry, calm weather after some sun gives the best chance of clear images. Our report notes the conditions and how they affected the findings.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
What can thermal imaging tell me about my roof?
The images show how warm or cool each part of the surface is. Differences can suggest wet areas, missing insulation or heat loss, and we check them with moisture readings.
Is thermal imaging good for finding leaks?
Thermal imaging can help, alongside other checks. The results depend on conditions on the day. Where it can’t be pinned down, the report suggests a next step, such as electronic leak detection.