Kent · London and the South East
Lenham Forstal Thermal Roof Survey
Wondering about the roof at a property in Lenham Forstal? We carry out thermal roof surveys in Lenham Forstal and across Kent.
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Cold areas below the roof
How a thermal roof survey works in Lenham Forstal
Thermal imaging is often most useful on flat roofs, from small extensions to large commercial roofs. 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 combine the camera with an inspection from the loft where there’s safe access. If you’ve noticed leaks far from where the stain appears and gaps in loft insulation, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Villages like Lenham Forstal often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Lenham Forstal (ME17)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Airspace, weather and Lenham Forstal roofs
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up aerial photos and thermal images help.
Anyone responsible for a site like The Lenham School will know that big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
Lenham Forstal is about 8 miles north-west of Ashford, in Kent. If you are in Lenham Forstal, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Lenham Forstal is one of the places in Kent where we work. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
All of ME17 is covered for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on The Forstal, Mount Castle Lane and Burgess Fields and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for thermal roof surveys include Lenham Heath (1 mile south-east), Charing Heath (1 mile south-east), Stonebridge Green (1 mile south), Leadingcross Green (2 miles north-west) and Lenham (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (10 miles west), Ashford (8 miles south-east), Canterbury (15 miles east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north), Faversham (9 miles north-east) and Minster (14 miles north).
What’s near Lenham Forstal
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Kiln Wood. The closest station to Lenham Forstal is Lenham station, roughly 1.7 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Coldbridge Castle (2.3 miles south-west).
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Leave it or get it looked at?
If a big flat roof may need replacing, knowing the wet areas first is useful. Thermal imaging, checked with moisture readings, gives a clearer picture before you spend. Older cottages and farmhouses around Lenham Forstal can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the exact price before you book.
What you get with us
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Visits on any day of the week
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Plain-English reports with photos
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Common roof problems in Lenham Forstal
People often book a thermal survey when a damp patch has no obvious cause. Water can travel under a roof covering or along timbers before it shows inside. The camera helps narrow the search.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
The streets around a church such as Church of the Holy Trinity are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Before booking anyone
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What the survey will not cover
Lenham Forstal questions
Will you come out to Lenham Forstal?
Yes. Lenham Forstal is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Lenham Forstal?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Lenham Forstal is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
Does thermal imaging work on slate and tile roofs?
It can show heat loss and some damp, but it has more limits there. Our report is clear about what can be read from them, and back them up with a visual inspection and moisture readings.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access; we’ll agree the details when you book.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see each point for yourself.
How do I arrange a thermal roof survey in Lenham Forstal?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
When does the report arrive?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps when budgeting.
How it works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Older roofs in small places like Lenham Forstal can have low, tight loft 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.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- We look over the roof from wherever it is safe.
- Thermal images are taken across the roof and, where there is safe access, in the loft.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or email us when you’re ready.
Related advice
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Leave the roof to people with safe access
- Note where damp appears and after what weather
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
- Photograph damp patches with the date
Once we have been, the thermal images, photos and readings go into a single report. We explain what each image may mean, alongside what we recommend. Premium reports are sent 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.