West Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Handcross, West Sussex
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across Handcross, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
What a thermal roof survey doesn’t cover
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- A formal energy assessment
- Seeing water directly, as the camera shows temperature, not moisture
- The condition of timbers we can’t see
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Pitched roof slopes
- Ceilings below the roof
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
About our thermal roof survey in Handcross
Flat roofs over extensions, garages, flats and commercial buildings are where thermal imaging often helps most. Patterns can suggest where water is trapped under the covering. Pitched roofs with slates or tiles are often harder to read, because of the air space beneath, so we also look from the loft where we can reach it safely. We survey commercial roofs, insulated roof spaces and flat roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are water getting in at parapets and stacks and possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering.
Villages like Handcross often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Handcross (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Handcross
What else we do in Handcross
Handcross: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Handcross?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Handcross is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Handcross is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. The report will say if you need an engineer.
What does a thermal roof survey show?
A thermal camera shows differences in surface temperature. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat loss. We check what it shows with moisture readings.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes about one to two hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a small place like Handcross, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
- Moisture readings are used to check what the camera shows.
- You get the report the same day, with an in-person consultation to follow.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Useful tips for Handcross property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Clear a path to the loft hatch before we arrive
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Remember the conditions on the day affect the results
- Tell us where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
After the visit, we put the thermal images, photographs and moisture readings into one report. We explain what each image may mean, with our recommendations. With a Premium Survey, you get the report the same day.
Watch for new damp patches on ceilings beneath the roof. Catching a leak early stops insulation getting soaked.
Why get it checked now?
Repeated repairs that do not stop a leak are a sign the source hasn’t been traced. Thermal imaging with moisture readings can help narrow it down, instead of trying repair after repair. In a place like Handcross, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Handcross
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 20+ years’ experience
See our cost guide or our case studies.
Checking the roof from ground level
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Drones, thermal imaging and Handcross roofs
In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these. Tyes Place, about 1.9 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Handcross. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to All Saints: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. If you look after a building such as Handcross Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Handcross is about 4 miles south of Crawley, in West Sussex. Handcross is one of many places we visit across West Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Across West Sussex, we cover Handcross and the places around it.
We survey roofs across RH17 for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, London Road and Windmill Platt. We also cover the places around Handcross: Slaugham (1 mile south), Plummers Plain (2 miles south-west), Colgate (3 miles north-west), Broadfield (3 miles north) and Lower Beeding (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (4 miles north), Horsham (5 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-east), East Grinstead (10 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles south).
Landmarks near Handcross
In Handcross, that means homes and buildings near The Royal Oak Public House and Handcross Park School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Balcombe station, about 2.8 miles east. Well-known places in the area include Crawley Hospital (4.3 miles north). The countryside around Handcross includes Tilgate Lake and Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Roof by roof
GRP fibreglass roofs
Glossy GRP can reflect heat. We take that into account and check findings with moisture readings.
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Problems where roof slopes and walls meet are often hidden. A careful visual inspection goes alongside the images.