Kent · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Luddesdown
Thermal roof surveys across Luddesdown, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
Thermal roof survey in Luddesdown: what you get
Wet insulation under a flat roof covering holds heat for longer than dry. That means a wet area can show up as a different temperature from the rest of the roof. This can give an idea of how far water has travelled beneath the membrane, which is hard to judge by eye. We then check those areas with moisture readings. If you’ve noticed areas of a flat roof that may hold water and missing or slipped insulation, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Luddesdown, older roofs are frequently steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you can’t get from ground level. Weather and airspace are looked at ahead of the visit. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Luddesdown (DA13)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Luddesdown often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We start by discussing the roof, any signs of damp and how the weather may affect the images.
- We carry out a visual inspection of the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We take thermal images of the roof to pick up temperature patterns.
- We check the patterns that stand out with moisture readings where there’s safe access.
- You get a report with thermal images, photographs and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for the job before booking, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Take photos of stains as they appear, so we can compare
- Leave the roof to people with safe access
- Clear a path to the loft hatch before we arrive
- Let us know where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
We note the weather and surface conditions, and how they may have affected the results. It helps you judge how firm each finding is.
After repairs or a new covering, a later survey can confirm things are dry in suitable weather.
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Luddesdown
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from ground level, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you look after a building like Meopham School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
Luddesdown is about 4 miles south of Gravesend, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Luddesdown can all book thermal roof surveys. Luddesdown is one of the places in Kent where we work. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Every address in DA13 is within our area for thermal roof surveys. If you’re just outside Luddesdown, we cover Henley Street (1 mile north), Gold Street (1 mile north-west), Foxendown (1 mile west), Sole Street (1 mile north-west) and Round Street (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (9 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (11 miles south-west), Gravesend (4 miles north) and Tonbridge (13 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Luddesdown
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Golden Lion pub and Camer Park Country Park, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Sole Street station, roughly 1.2 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include French Hospital (4.7 miles east) and Rochester Castle (4.6 miles east). Open spaces near Luddesdown include Ranscombe Farm and Gad's Hill.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Luddesdown
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Signs you need a thermal roof survey in Luddesdown
Not every roof problem shows on the surface. Wet insulation, gaps in insulation and heat loss are frequently invisible from outside. A thermal camera adds another way of finding them.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Moisture around outlets and upstands
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Missing or slipped insulation
Cobham College, about 1.2 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Luddesdown. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from above or with a thermal imager doesn’t touch the roof itself.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What exactly goes into their report
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
How we price thermal roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
Booking your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Nearby places to Luddesdown
Other services in Luddesdown
Leave it or get it looked at?
Without thermal imaging, the only way to see how far water has spread is often to open up the roof. That helps you and your roofer decide what really needs replacing. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Prices start from £400, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
What you get with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
FAQs for Luddesdown
Do you cover smaller places like Luddesdown?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How do I find out if my home in Luddesdown is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Will the survey show heat loss through my roof?
Gaps and thin areas of insulation can show up on the camera. It shows most clearly when it is warm inside and cold outside. We look from the loft as well, where there is safe access.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take between one and two hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. You’ll then get the report by email.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
How much does a thermal roof survey cost?
It comes with our Premium Survey, which starts from £400. That also includes a full inspection, a drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and a same-day report.
What does a thermal roof survey show?
The camera records how the surface temperature varies. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat loss. Findings are checked with moisture readings.