Greater London · London and the South East
London Thermal Roof Survey
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof for London, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Heat escaping through the roof
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Gaps in loft insulation
How a thermal roof survey works in London
Thermal imaging is frequently 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 also look from the loft where we can reach it safely. Common reasons to book are patches of heat loss across the roof and areas of a flat roof that may hold water, on loft conversions, insulated roof spaces and ceilings below the roof.
Conditions on the day matter: a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal images are clearest after a sunny day, on a dry roof, with little wind. For a roof in London, the day is chosen with the forecast in mind, and it can move if conditions change. A look inside the roof space can go ahead whatever the forecast.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- London (CR0, E14, CR4, SW11)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Insulation values or heat loss calculations
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
- Hidden layers that need to be opened up to check
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in London
- Flat roofs
- Pitched roof slopes
- Loft conversions
- Commercial roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Ceilings below the roof
Practical tips
Getting the most from a thermal roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Use the report as a baseline for later checks
- Heat the home normally on the days before
- Keep outlets and gutters clear to stop water sitting
- Keep a record of when stains appear
Premium Surveys include an in-person consultation, so you can go through the images with us. There is a 12-month follow-up too.
Deal with small splits and lifted seams promptly. Water that gets under a covering can spread a long way before it shows.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Landlord and commercial surveys in London
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
London: your questions answered
Can you fly a drone over a roof in London?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea comes within about 2 miles of London. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. The restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 2 miles from London. We check whether the address falls inside it, and if it does we apply for permission, which is not always 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. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in London?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photos are part of every report, so you can see each point for yourself.
Is thermal imaging good for finding leaks?
It’s a useful tool for tracing leaks, but not the only one. What it shows depends on the weather and the roof. Where it can’t be pinned down, the report suggests a next step, such as electronic leak detection.
Can a thermal camera see water?
Thermal imaging shows temperature rather than water. Because wet insulation holds heat for longer, it can show as a different temperature, and moisture readings are used to check it.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Thermal roof surveys in London: local notes
London is about 2 miles from the restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS. If your survey includes the drone, we check whether the address falls inside it before flying. The flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea comes within about 2 miles of London. If your survey includes the drone, the exact boundary is checked for the address first.
For hotels and guest houses around London, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it pays to find faults before guests do. With Mansion House about 1 mile north, the area around London has a long history. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from the air or with a thermal camera does not touch the roof itself.
London is in Greater London. Whether the building in London is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Our Greater London coverage includes London.
Every address in CR0, E14, CR4 and SW11 is covered for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Walcot Square, Surrey Square and Sutherland Square. London sits on or near the A2 and A10, which makes travel easy. We also cover Walworth (1 mile south), Bermondsey (1 mile east), Camberwell (2 miles south), South Bermondsey (2 miles south-east) and Surrey Canal (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include City of Westminster (3 miles west), Marylebone (3 miles north-west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west) and Ruislip (14 miles west). As one of the bigger places in Greater London, London has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
What’s near London
Around London, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Newington Gardens, Trinity Arms Public House and London School of Musical Theatre, among other places. Also close by are St Mary-at-Hill (0.9 miles north-east), Ark Globe Academy (less than half a mile south) and The BFI Reuben Library (1 mile north-west). London has its own railway station: Elephant & Castle station. A little further out are Surrey Dispensary (less than half a mile south-east) and Baynard's Castle (0.9 miles north). Not far away are Bellenden Road Nature Garden and St. James's Park Lake.
The survey, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take between one and two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Where a building in London has a manager or access rules, those are sorted out before the day. At home, it’s useful to clear a route to the loft and point out any stains or leaks. You then get a photo-illustrated written report.
- 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’s safe access, in the loft.
- We take moisture readings where the images suggest a problem.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us a few details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Do you need a thermal roof survey in London?
Building owners and managing agents use thermal surveys to plan work on larger flat roofs. It can suggest which areas may be wet and which seem dry, so moisture readings can be targeted.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Water that travels before it shows
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
If you live in an older home near St George the Martyr, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What the survey won’t cover
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof