Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Lyford, Oxfordshire
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Lyford, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Gaps in loft insulation
- Patches of heat loss across the roof
Thermal roof survey in Lyford: what you get
We present each thermal image next to a normal photo of the same area, so it is easy to see which part of the roof each one shows. Each one comes with an explanation, the moisture readings and our recommendation. Premium reports are sent the same day. You can talk the findings through with us at the in-person consultation. A follow-up 12 months later is included too. If you are worried about gaps in loft insulation and areas of a flat roof that may hold water, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Villages like Lyford frequently stand in open country, where wind can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Lyford (OX12)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Lyford
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Steep or complicated roofs are frequently hard to see from the ground, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Lyford is about 4 miles north of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in Lyford, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Lyford. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
We cover every part of OX12 for thermal roof surveys. Other places close to Lyford include Charney Bassett (1 mile west), West Hanney (1 mile south-east), Denchworth (2 miles south), Kingston Bagpuize (3 miles north) and Pusey (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Oxford (11 miles north-east), Didcot (8 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles east), Witney (10 miles north), Carterton (11 miles north-west) and Wantage (4 miles south).
Local landmarks in Lyford
Around Lyford, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Chequers pub and the streets around them. Well-known places in the area include Abingdon Community Hospital (6 miles east) and Hinton Waldrist Castle (3.1 miles north). The countryside around Lyford includes Hitchcopse Pit and Chain Hill.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Lyford
Repeated repairs that don’t stop a leak are a sign the source hasn’t been traced. Combining the camera with moisture readings can help find it, instead of trying repair after repair. Older and listed buildings around Lyford may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- An independent look at the roof
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
The survey, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes between one and two hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Around Lyford, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- First we go over the roof, the problem you’ve noticed and the conditions forecast for the visit.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe viewpoints.
- A thermal camera records how the surface temperature varies across the roof.
- Any patterns of interest are checked with moisture readings where we can reach them.
- We write up the thermal images alongside ordinary photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Booking a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
What this survey cannot tell you
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
- An energy rating for the building
- Proving moisture from the images alone
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs
- Pitched roof slopes
- Ceilings below the roof
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Loft conversions
Prices for thermal roof surveys in Lyford
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- The size of the roof
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Basic, Standard or Premium
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
What we’re asked to look at in Lyford
Cold rooms under a roof, or high heating bills, lead some people to ask about heat loss. Gaps in loft insulation and poorly insulated roof areas can show up on the camera, especially when it’s warm inside and cold outside.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Gaps in loft insulation
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
Longworth House, about 3.2 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Lyford. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What insurance they carry
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What the survey won’t cover
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Note where damp appears and after what weather
- Do not climb onto the roof to look for leaks yourself
- Check outlets after heavy rain
- Don’t switch the heating off ahead of the visit
The report explains the conditions on the day and how they affected the images. That way you know how much weight to give each finding.
Check that loft insulation is laid evenly and hasn’t been pushed aside. Insulation is often moved when people work in the roof space.
What else we do in Lyford
Lyford questions
Is Lyford in the area you cover?
Yes, Lyford is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Lyford as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Lyford listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will the camera show exactly where the water is?
Not directly. It shows surface temperature, and wet areas can show up because they hold heat differently. That’s why we check any patterns with moisture readings.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
What does a thermal roof survey show?
It records surface temperature across the roof. Unusual patterns can point to trapped water, gaps in insulation or heat escaping, which we then check with moisture readings.