Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Kencot Thermal Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out thermal roof surveys in Kencot, with photos and a clear written report.
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit usually takes about one to two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Rural addresses near Kencot can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- We take thermal images of the roof and of the loft where we can reach it.
- We take moisture readings where the images suggest a problem.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets in another room
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £400, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
How a thermal roof survey works in Kencot
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 usually tell from the surface. Moisture readings are then used to check what the camera suggests. We survey pitched roof slopes, commercial roofs and insulated roof spaces, and people most often book us about areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions and stains that keep coming back.
Some older homes in villages like Kencot are listed or in a conservation area. A look from above or with a thermal imager doesn’t 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.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Kencot (OX18)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Also in Kencot
FAQs for Kencot
Is my home in Kencot listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is drone flying allowed in Kencot?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Kencot is about 2 miles from RAF Brize Norton, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Is thermal imaging good for finding leaks?
It can help narrow down where water may be getting in. Water can travel under a covering before it shows inside, and temperature patterns can help follow it. We combine it with a visual inspection and moisture readings, as the camera alone cannot prove a leak.
Roof by roof
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Many single-ply and EPDM roofs sit on insulation boards. Wet boards can show as temperature differences on the images.
GRP fibreglass roofs
GRP surfaces can be shiny, which affects thermal readings. We allow for reflections and confirm findings with moisture readings.
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- An energy rating for the building
- Confirming water without moisture readings
- Readings unaffected by sun, shade or reflections
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
- Loft conversions
Thermal roof surveys around Kencot
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that’s where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place. Kencot is about 2 miles from RAF Brize Norton. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Kelmscott Manor, about 4 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Kencot. Aerial photos and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it. Anyone responsible for a site like St Peter's Church of England School will know that big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once.
Kencot is about 2 miles south-west of Carterton, in Oxfordshire. We cover Kencot and the rest of Oxfordshire. Kencot is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
Postcode districts we cover here for thermal roof surveys: OX18. Neighbouring places we cover for thermal roof surveys include Alvescot (1 mile south-east), Shilton (2 miles north) and Bradwell (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles east), Witney (6 miles north-east), Wantage (13 miles south-east), Grove (12 miles south-east), Faringdon (6 miles south) and Kidlington (15 miles east).
What’s near Kencot
In Kencot, that means homes and buildings near The Plough pub and Carterton Community College, among other places. A little further out are Swinford Museum (1.9 miles west) and Longworth Hospital (5.9 miles south).
Common roof problems in Kencot
Building owners and managing agents use thermal surveys to plan work on larger flat roofs. Patterns can point to wet areas and show which parts look sound, so moisture readings can be targeted.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Patches of heat loss across the roof
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
Take an older house close to Church of St Peter: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What exactly goes into their report
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Keep the heating on as usual before a heat loss survey
- Check outlets after heavy rain
- Leave the roof to people with safe access
- Keep dated photos of any marks on ceilings
We note the weather and surface conditions, and how they may have affected the results. It helps you judge how firm each finding is.
Keep an eye on ceilings under the roof for new stains. Early action keeps insulation from staying wet.