Essex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in High Garrett, Essex
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out thermal roof surveys in High Garrett.
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in High Garrett
Flat roofs over extensions, garages, flats and commercial buildings are where thermal imaging often helps most. It can show patterns that point to trapped moisture under the membrane. On pitched roofs, slates and tiles over a ventilated space can hide what’s below, so we also look from the loft where we can reach it safely. We survey insulated roof spaces, pitched roof slopes and loft conversions, and people most often book us about heat escaping through the roof and leaks far from where the stain appears.
Somewhere as small as High Garrett, older roofs are frequently steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what can’t be reached safely. 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.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- High Garrett (CM7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Clear a path to the loft hatch before we arrive
- Ask us about the forecast if rain is expected
- Keep dated photos of any marks on ceilings
- Check from ground level or a window, never by climbing
Once we’ve been, the thermal images, photos and readings go into a single report. We explain what each image may mean, alongside what we recommend. With a Premium Survey, you get the report the same day.
Keep outlets and gutters clear so water drains off the roof quickly. The less water sits, the less can find its way beneath.
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in High Garrett
Does a conservation area affect roof work in High Garrett?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover High Garrett?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and High Garrett is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does the weather affect a thermal survey?
Conditions on the day affect the results. A sunny day beforehand, a dry surface and calm air all help. Rain and strong wind can make the images less clear, so we talk through the forecast when you book.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
How long does the survey take?
It usually takes about 1–2 hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
What affects the cost of thermal roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How big the roof is
Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
What to tell us when you contact us
We’ll normally ask about:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
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.
What a thermal roof survey doesn’t cover
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- What’s inside walls or under coverings, without opening up
- Insulation values or heat loss calculations
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Insulated roof spaces
- Ceilings below the roof
- Loft conversions
- Pitched roof slopes
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
Flying and imaging in High Garrett
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Bocking Church Street Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
High Garrett is about 2 miles north of Braintree, in Essex. In High Garrett, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small. Chelmsford is in our area too.
We survey roofs across the CM7 postcode area for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on High Garrett, Grove Field and Sunnyfields Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. If you’re just outside High Garrett, we cover Bocking Churchstreet (1 mile south-west), Gosfield (2 miles north), Beazley End (2 miles north-west), Church End (3 miles west) and Shalford (4 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (14 miles east), Chelmsford (13 miles south), Maldon (13 miles south), Witham (8 miles south), Camulodunum (13 miles east) and Halstead (3 miles north-east).
Landmarks near High Garrett
In High Garrett, that means homes and buildings near Tabor Academy and Bocking Blackwater and the streets around them. High Garrett’s nearest station is Braintree station, about 2.6 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (1.7 miles south-west) and Braintree Community Hospital (2.6 miles south-west). The countryside around High Garrett includes Belcher's and Broadfield Woods.
Do you need a thermal roof survey in High Garrett?
Flat roofs that have leaked for a while can have wet insulation under the covering. Knowing how much of the roof is affected helps decide between a local repair and more. A thermal survey, checked with moisture readings, can give a much clearer picture.
Look out for signs like these:
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
Whatever the street in High Garrett, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
Before you book anyone
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Their insurance cover
- When you will get the report
- What the survey will not cover
What happens on the day
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. Around High Garrett, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- We start by discussing the roof, any signs of damp and how the weather may affect the images.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows and from the roof itself where it is safe.
- Thermal images are taken to show differences in surface temperature.
- We check the patterns that stand out with moisture readings where there is safe access.
- We write up the thermal images alongside ordinary photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Getting a price
Prices start from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.