Kent · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Hartley, Kent
Wondering about the roof at a property in Hartley? You can book a thermal roof survey in Hartley and across Kent, with plain-English findings.
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Hartley
Thermal imaging is useful when a damp patch has no clear cause. Water can travel some distance under a roof covering before it shows inside, and the camera can show patterns that help us follow it. We combine the images with a visual inspection and moisture readings, so no conclusion rests on one method alone. Common reasons to book are heat escaping through the roof and cold spots on ceilings under the roof, across commercial roofs, flat roofs and pitched roof slopes.
Villages like Hartley often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. High wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Place
- Hartley (TN17)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. Most surveys take between one and two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a small place like Hartley, access is normally 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 go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- 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.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
Preparing for the visit
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Keep pets in another room
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
What else we do in Hartley
What we cannot see
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Hidden layers that need to be opened up to check
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Commercial roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Loft conversions
- Pitched roof slopes
Signs you need a thermal roof survey in Hartley
Some owners book because the rooms under the roof feel cold. Missing or slipped insulation can stand out as temperature differences, particularly when there is a clear difference between inside and outside.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
- Leaks that are hard to trace
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
Scotney Castle, about 4.4 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hartley. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from the ground, and a survey from the air or with a thermal camera does not touch the roof itself.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
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.
Drones, thermal imaging and Hartley roofs
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Across Kent, older roofs are frequently handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like High Weald Academy, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Hartley is about 8 miles south-east of Paddock Wood, in Kent. If you are in Hartley, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Hartley is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover for thermal roof surveys. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Thermal roof surveys in TN17 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on Hartley Road, Campion Crescent and Hartley Court Gardens. We also cover the places around Hartley: Swattenden (1 mile east), Cranbrook (1 mile north-east), Baker's Cross (2 miles north-east), Gill's Green (2 miles south) and Beal's Green (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles west), Tonbridge (13 miles north-west), Kings Hill (14 miles north), Foley Park (14 miles north) and Paddock Wood (8 miles north-west).
Around Hartley
Around Hartley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Crane Valley, among other places. A little further out are Benenden Hospital (4.7 miles east) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.8 miles north-east).
Leave it or get it looked at?
Before replacing a large flat roof, it helps to know how much of it is actually wet. Images backed by moisture readings show where problems seem to be before you spend. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Hartley, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
Why book us in Hartley
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hartley
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Hartley and across Kent can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Common questions in Hartley
How do I find out if my home in Hartley is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Hartley?
Yes, Hartley is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Hartley as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Can a thermal survey trace a roof leak?
It is a useful tool for tracing leaks, but not the only one. The results depend on conditions on the day. If the source can’t be confirmed, we will say what could help next, such as electronic leak detection.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Does thermal imaging work on slate and tile roofs?
On pitched roofs, the camera can point to heat loss and some damp patterns. We explain what the images can and cannot tell you, and back them up with a visual inspection and moisture readings.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to.