Essex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Great Bardfield
Thermal roof surveys across Great Bardfield, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Cold areas below the roof
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
Thermal roof survey in Great Bardfield
Wet insulation under a flat roof covering holds heat for longer than dry. So a wet patch can show as a warmer or cooler area on the camera. This can give an idea of how far water has travelled beneath the membrane, something you cannot normally tell from the surface. We then check those areas with moisture readings. If you’ve noticed leaks far from where the stain appears and cold spots on ceilings under the roof, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Great Bardfield, older roofs are frequently steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you can’t get from ground level. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first, and the journey is planned ahead of time. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
Where we can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Great Bardfield (CM7)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Pitched slate and tile roofs
On pitched roofs, slates and tiles over a ventilated space can mask what’s happening underneath. We back up what the camera shows with a look in the loft where we can.
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Because these membranes are thin, patterns from below often show. Shiny surfaces can reflect heat, so we take care reading the images.
Places near Great Bardfield
Also in Great Bardfield
The survey, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, it typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Older roofs in small places like Great Bardfield 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.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- We take thermal images of the roof and of the loft where we can reach it.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
How to prepare
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Great Bardfield
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Common roof problems in Great Bardfield
After a long-running leak, insulation under a flat roof can stay wet. Owners want to know how far it has spread before deciding what to do. A thermal survey, checked with moisture readings, can give a much clearer picture.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Moisture around outlets and upstands
- Gaps in loft insulation
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
- Water that travels before it shows
If you look after a building such as Great Bardfield Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
Flying and imaging in Great Bardfield
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Great Bardfield is about 7 miles north-west of Braintree, in Essex. We carry out thermal roof surveys in Great Bardfield for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across Essex, large and small. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for thermal roof surveys: CM7. Whether your property is on High Street, The Corniche and Vine Street or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for thermal roof surveys include Little Bardfield (1 mile west), Finchingfield (1 mile north-east), Bardfield Saling (2 miles south-east), Wethersfield (2 miles east) and Crow's Green (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (15 miles south), Braintree (7 miles south-east), Witham (13 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (10 miles north-west), Halstead (9 miles east) and Great Dunmow (6 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Great Bardfield
In Great Bardfield, that means homes and buildings near The Vine pub and the streets around them. Open spaces near Great Bardfield include West Wood.
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Common questions in Great Bardfield
Do you cover Great Bardfield?
Yes, Great Bardfield is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is Great Bardfield within the area you cover?
Yes. Great Bardfield is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see each point for yourself.
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, and we check them with moisture readings.
How long is the visit?
It usually takes between one and two hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. You’ll then get the report by email.
Can you use a thermal camera on a sloping roof?
It can show heat loss and some damp, but it has more limits there. Our report is clear about what can be read from them, and we check them with a visual inspection and moisture readings.
What insurance do you have?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
What affects the price in Great Bardfield
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The kind of building and roof involved
For a price for thermal roof surveys in Great Bardfield, phone 07833 053749 or email us. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.