Essex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Foster Street
Wondering about the roof at a property in Foster Street? We carry out thermal roof surveys in Foster Street and across Essex.
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
About our thermal roof survey in Foster Street
Your report sets out the thermal images alongside ordinary photos, making it clear where on the roof each pattern is. We explain what each pattern may mean, what the moisture readings found and what we recommend. With a Premium Survey, the report reaches you the same day. If you have questions, the in-person consultation gives you time to go through them. There’s a 12-month follow-up as well. If you’ve noticed areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions and wet insulation beneath the membrane, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on loft conversions, commercial roofs and pitched roof slopes alike.
In a village or hamlet like Foster Street, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what cannot be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Place
- Foster Street (CM17)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
How the survey works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey usually takes about one to two hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Older roofs in small places like Foster Street can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- We look over the roof from wherever it’s safe.
- Thermal images are taken across the roof and, where there is 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.
How to prepare
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Questions from Foster Street
Is my home in Foster Street listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Foster Street?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Foster Street is about 3 miles from North Weald Airfield, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Is thermal imaging included in your surveys?
It is part of the Premium Survey, from £400. An in-person consultation and a follow-up 12 months later are included too. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size.
How do I arrange a thermal roof survey in Foster Street?
It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Let us know the address and a little about the roof. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
How does a thermal imaging roof survey work?
The images show how warm or cool each part of the surface is. Unusual patterns can point to trapped water, gaps in insulation or heat escaping, which we then check with moisture readings.
Is thermal imaging good for finding leaks?
It can help narrow down where water may be getting in. Patterns can suggest where trapped water has spread. We combine it with a visual inspection and moisture readings because the camera can’t confirm water on its own.
What a thermal roof survey does not cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- What’s inside walls or under coverings, without opening up
- An energy rating for the building
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Commercial roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
Thermal roof surveys around Foster Street
Foster Street is part of Harlow, one of the post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. Low-pitched roofs can be hard to see from the street, which is where a drone or thermal camera helps. Foster Street is about 3 miles from North Weald Airfield. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you live in an older home near Church of All Saints, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Foster Street is about 2 miles east of Harlow, in Essex. We cover Foster Street and the rest of Essex, as part of our work across London and South East England. Foster Street is one of the places in Essex where we work. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CM17 postcode area for thermal roof surveys. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on Foster Street, Highfield Close and Hastingwood Park or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for thermal roof surveys include Hastingwood (1 mile south), Newhall (1 mile north-west), Latton (1 mile west), Magdalen Laver (1 mile east) and Housham Tye (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (14 miles east), Brentwood (11 miles south-east), Billericay (15 miles south-east), Loughton (9 miles south-west), Waltham Abbey (8 miles south-west) and Great Dunmow (12 miles north-east).
Around Foster Street
Around Foster Street, our work takes us to homes and buildings near John Barleycorn Public House, Passmores Academy and Brays Grove. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Mill station, roughly 2.3 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Princess Alexandra Hospital (3 miles west) and Harlow Mill (2.4 miles north-west). Open spaces near Foster Street include Gernon Bushes.
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in Foster Street and across Essex can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
What affects the price in Foster Street
To price your survey, we check:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How big the roof is
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What we need to know
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- What’s prompted the survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
When to book a survey in Foster Street
Buyers sometimes want more than a visual look at the roof. The Premium Survey brings thermal imaging and a drone inspection where applicable, with a report the same day, which helps when timescales are tight.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Patches of heat loss across the roof
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Henry Moore Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
What to check before booking
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What they will not be able to tell you