Greater London · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Kensington
Thermal roof surveys in Kensington and the rest of Greater London. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
- Gaps in loft insulation
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
Roof by roof
Pitched slate and tile roofs
On pitched roofs, slates and tiles over a ventilated space can mask what’s happening underneath. We combine the images with an inspection from the loft where there’s safe access.
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Thin membranes can show patterns from the layers beneath. Shiny surfaces can reflect heat, so we take care reading the images.
About our thermal roof survey in Kensington
A thermal survey isn’t a quick fix for every roof problem. Sun, shade, reflective surfaces and wind can all change what the camera shows. We back up the images with moisture readings and a careful look at the roof. The report is clear about what the images show and what they don’t. If a finding can’t be confirmed, the report suggests a next step. We’re often asked to look into water that travels before it shows and areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions, across ceilings below the roof, insulated roof spaces and flat roofs.
London airspace is busy and tightly controlled: there are flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Before a drone goes up in Kensington, the address is checked against all of them, and permission is never taken for granted.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Kensington (W11, W8, W14, SW7)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Places near Kensington
Also in Kensington
Why it’s worth a survey now in Kensington
A poorly insulated roof loses heat year after year. The camera can point to gaps and thin areas in the insulation, so improvements can go where they’re needed. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: a blocked parapet gutter or slipped slate can let water into the flat below or the house next door. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
For a price for your roof in Kensington, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Kensington
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
FAQs for Kensington
How do I find out if my home in Kensington is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is drone flying allowed in Kensington?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Kensington is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea. We ask the heliport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it is given. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
Can thermal imaging show missing insulation?
It can show temperature patterns that point to missing or thin insulation. It shows most clearly when it’s warm inside and cold outside. We look from the loft as well, where there is safe access.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you want to find out. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photos are part of every report.
How long is the visit?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take about one to two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. The written report follows by email.
Airspace, weather and Kensington roofs
Kensington has a number of hotels within about a mile and a half, and like offices and blocks, hotels frequently sit under flat roofs. If you look after one, a large roof can be surveyed without guests having anyone working above them. Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Kensington Arcade, large commercial roofs are often easiest to see from the air or with a thermal camera. Leighton House, about 0.1 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Kensington. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from above or with a thermal imager does not touch the roof itself. Kensington is in London, so parking needs planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway as you book, as a space near the door cannot be promised.
Kensington is about 5 miles west of London, in Greater London. Bookings from Kensington are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
We cover every part of the W11, W8, W14 and SW7 postcode area for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include Kensington High Street, Edwardes Square and Somerset Square, all of which we cover. Main roads around Kensington include the A402 and B316. We also cover the places around Kensington: Holland Park (1 mile north), Notting Hill (1 mile north), Shepherd's Bush (1 mile west), Notting Dale (1 mile north) and White City (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (5 miles east), Marylebone (3 miles north-east), St Pancras (4 miles north-east), Shoreditch (6 miles east), Walthamstow (10 miles north-east) and Hoxton (6 miles north-east). Kensington is among the bigger towns we cover in Greater London.
Landmarks near Kensington
In Kensington, that means homes and buildings near Holland Park, Scarsdale Tavern and Holland Park School. Nearby too are Kensington School (0.5 miles east) and Abdus Salam Library (1 mile east). There is a railway station in Kensington itself: Kensington Olympia station. Well-known places in the area include Kensington Arcade (under half a mile east) and London Museum (0.7 miles north-east). Not far away are WWT London Wetland Centre and The Long Water.
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, tell us when you book.
- First we go over the roof, the problem you’ve noticed and the conditions forecast for the visit.
- We look at the roof from the ground, from windows and from the roof itself where it is safe.
- A thermal camera records how the surface temperature varies across the roof.
- Areas that look unusual on the camera are checked with moisture readings where possible.
- We write up the thermal images alongside ordinary photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Honest limits
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Readings unaffected by sun, shade or reflections
- A formal energy assessment
- What’s inside walls or under coverings, without opening up
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Kensington
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Loft conversions
- Insulated roof spaces
- Pitched roof slopes
Landlord and commercial surveys in Kensington
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.