Essex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Great Baddow, Essex
An experienced roof surveyor for thermal roof surveys in Great Baddow. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Moisture around outlets and upstands
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Great Baddow
Thermal imaging works best in the right conditions. A sunny day before the survey, a dry roof surface and little wind all help. Rain, a strong wind or heavy cloud can make the images less clear. We talk through the forecast as you book, and the report explains how the conditions on the day affected the results. We survey pitched roof slopes, flat roofs and commercial roofs, and people most often book us about damp that repairs haven’t cured and heat escaping through the roof.
Around Great Baddow, a good many roofs are low enough to see partly from the garden or the street. Chimney tops, valleys and rear slopes are where close-up or thermal images help most. Both depend on the weather on the day, as calm, dry conditions suit both. Even so, a close-up image often shows wear on ridges and flashings that a view from ground level misses.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Great Baddow (CM2)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we’re asked to look at in Great Baddow
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.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Stains that keep coming back
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Cold areas below the roof
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
How the survey works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes between one and two hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. In a smaller place like Great Baddow, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- We go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- We look over the roof from wherever it is safe.
- 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.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Preparing for the visit
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Tell us where we can park nearby
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
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Leave it or get it looked at?
Trapped water can harm decks, timbers and ceilings the longer it stays. Surveying sooner gives you more choice about what to do. Blocked gutters on homes around Great Baddow overflow and soak walls, especially where trees overhang. Dealing with the cause is simple; drying out a wall is not.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What you get with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Prices that include VAT
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in Great Baddow
Is my home in Great Baddow 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 is worth checking before planning any.
Do you cover Great Baddow?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and Great Baddow is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, which makes the report easy to follow.
What can thermal imaging tell me about my roof?
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.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put by urgency where it matters.
What conditions are best for thermal imaging?
Conditions on the day affect the results. It works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind. Rain and strong wind can make the images less clear, so we talk through the forecast when you book.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That is where a survey comes in.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Places near Great Baddow
What else we do in Great Baddow
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Take photos of stains as they appear, so we can compare
- Note where damp appears and after what weather
- Keep the heating on as usual before a heat loss survey
- Check the loft can be reached safely
We note the weather and surface conditions, and how they may have affected the results. That way you know how much weight to give each finding.
Check that loft insulation is laid evenly and hasn’t been pushed aside. Gaps frequently appear after work in the loft.
Thermal roof surveys in Great Baddow: local notes
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Many roofs like these cannot be judged properly from the pavement, and that’s where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
Take a building like Baddow Hall Infant School: big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once. For businesses in and around places such as Bond Street Chelmsford, big, flat commercial roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images help most.
Great Baddow is about 2 miles south-east of Chelmsford, in Essex. In Great Baddow, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Essex.
Every address in CM2 is covered for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on New Road, High Street and Colley Road or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for thermal roof surveys include Sandon (1 mile east), Butt's Green (2 miles south-east), Springfield (2 miles north), Little Baddow (3 miles north-east) and Boreham (4 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Basildon (10 miles south), Braintree (12 miles north), Brentwood (10 miles south-west), Maldon (8 miles east), Canvey Island (14 miles south) and Billericay (7 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Great Baddow
Around Great Baddow, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Oaklands Park, White Horse Inn and The Sandon School. Great Baddow’s nearest station is Chelmsford station, about 2 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Bond Street Chelmsford (1.6 miles north-west) and Baddow Hospital (0.6 miles south). Open spaces near Great Baddow include Newland Grove.
When you need someone else
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Hidden layers that need to be opened up to check
- An energy rating for the building
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Pitched roof slopes
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Loft conversions
- Ceilings below the roof
- Flat roofs