Essex · London and the South East
Hobbs Cross Thermal Roof Survey
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof for Hobbs Cross, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
About our thermal roof survey in Hobbs Cross
Our thermal survey records how the surface temperature varies across your roof. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat escaping. The camera doesn’t see water itself, so we check what it shows with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is included in our Premium Survey, from £400. Conditions on the day affect the results, and the report explains how. We are frequently asked to look into damp around chimneys and parapets and stains that keep coming back, across flat roofs, ceilings below the roof and insulated roof spaces.
Older buildings in small places like Hobbs Cross may be listed or in a conservation area. A look from above or with a thermal imager does not touch the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Hobbs Cross (CM16)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
Buyers get extra information from thermal images that the eye can miss. Hidden problems found before exchange can be raised with the seller or agent. For older village homes like those around Hobbs Cross, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book us in Hobbs Cross
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Package prices that include VAT
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Use the report as a baseline for later checks
- Don’t switch the heating off before the visit
- Clear leaves from outlets and gutters each autumn
- Photograph damp patches with the date
You also get an in-person consultation with a Premium Survey, giving you the chance to talk through the images and findings. A follow-up 12 months later is included as well.
Watch for new damp patches on ceilings beneath the roof. Early action keeps insulation from staying wet.
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older roofs in small places like Hobbs Cross can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We talk through the roof, any damp or leaks, and the weather expected on the day.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe viewpoints.
- We take thermal images of the roof to pick up temperature patterns.
- 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
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Hobbs Cross
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from the ground, drone photos and thermal images add detail. Stapleford Aerodrome is about 2 miles from Hobbs Cross. If your survey includes the drone, the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions first.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled School, big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of All Saints, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view by drone or thermal camera helps. Hill Hall, about 0.9 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hobbs Cross. Aerial photos and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
Hobbs Cross is about 3 miles north-east of Loughton, in Essex. We carry out thermal roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Hobbs Cross. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. London is in our area too.
We work across CM16 for thermal roof surveys. If you are just outside Hobbs Cross, we cover Theydon Garnon (1 mile west), Steward's Green (1 mile north), Fiddlers Hamlet (1 mile north), Abridge (2 miles south) and Ivy Chimneys (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Harlow (7 miles north), Brentwood (8 miles south-east), Billericay (13 miles east), Loughton (3 miles south-west), Waltham Abbey (5 miles west) and Harold Wood (7 miles south-east).
What’s near Hobbs Cross
Well-known places in the area include St. Margaret's Hospital (2.3 miles north) and Epping Signalling Museum (1.7 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Gernon Bushes.
Questions from Hobbs Cross
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Hobbs Cross?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Hobbs Cross is about 2 miles from Stapleford Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
Will you come out to Hobbs Cross?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
Does thermal imaging detect leaks directly?
Thermal imaging shows temperature rather than water. Because wet insulation holds heat for longer, it can show as a different temperature, but we check each finding with moisture readings.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take about one to two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. The written report follows by email.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photos. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
What we look for on each type of roof
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Many single-ply and EPDM roofs sit on insulation boards. If water gets under them, thermal imaging can suggest which boards are wet.
Felt and asphalt flat roofs
Built-up felt and asphalt roofs can hide trapped water for a long time. The camera can give clues to where it’s sitting, when the conditions allow.
When you need someone else
We only report what can safely be seen on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
- Proving moisture from the images alone
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Commercial roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Insulated roof spaces
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
- Pitched roof slopes