Kent · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Nettlestead, Kent
Thermal roof surveys in Nettlestead and the rest of Kent. We survey on any day of the week.
- Wet areas near outlets and upstands
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
What happens on the day
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a hamlet or village like Nettlestead, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First we go over the roof, the problem you’ve noticed and the conditions forecast for the visit.
- We check the roof from the ground, from windows and from the roof itself where it’s 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.
- The report sets out the images, what they suggest and what we recommend.
Before the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
How a thermal roof survey works in Nettlestead
Our thermal survey records how the surface temperature varies across your roof. The patterns can suggest wet insulation, gaps in insulation or places where heat is getting out. The camera does not see water itself, so we check what it shows with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is included in our Premium Survey, from £400. The report also notes the conditions on the day, since they affect what the camera can show. We survey insulated roof spaces, pitched roof slopes and loft conversions, and common reasons people get in touch are damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys and areas of a flat roof that may hold water.
Somewhere as small as Nettlestead, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you can’t get from the ground. Weather and airspace are looked at ahead of the visit. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Nettlestead (ME18)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Airspace, weather and Nettlestead roofs
About 4.3 miles west lies Old Soar Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Nettlestead has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help.
For an older house near a landmark such as St Mary's Church, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image. If you look after a building like Wateringbury Church of England Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Nettlestead is about 5 miles west of Maidstone, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Nettlestead can all book thermal roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our Kent coverage includes Nettlestead.
Surveys in ME18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Henrys Close, Glenleigh Road and Orchard Crescent. If you are just outside Nettlestead, we cover Wateringbury (1 mile north-east), Red Hill (1 mile north-east), Teston (1 mile north-east), Nettlestead Green (1 mile south) and West Farleigh (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Maidstone (5 miles east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (10 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (10 miles south-west), Gravesend (13 miles north) and Tonbridge (7 miles south-west).
Around Nettlestead
We work in homes and buildings around The Railway pub, among other places. Nettlestead has its own railway station: Wateringbury station. Well-known places in the area include Teapot Island (1.9 miles south) and Leybourne Castle (3.8 miles north).
Why act early in Nettlestead
Before replacing a large flat roof, it is useful to know how much of it is actually wet. Images backed by moisture readings show where problems seem to be before you spend. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What you get with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Useful tips for Nettlestead property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Use the report as a baseline for later checks
- Tell us where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
- Keep the heating on as usual before a heat loss survey
- Check outlets after heavy rain
We note the weather and surface conditions, and how they may have affected the results. That way you know how much weight to give each finding.
Check that loft insulation is laid evenly and hasn’t been pushed aside. Gaps often appear after work in the loft.
What a thermal roof survey doesn’t cover
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
- Readings unaffected by sun, shade or reflections
- The condition of timbers we cannot see
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Loft conversions
- Pitched roof slopes
- Flat roofs
- Commercial roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Insulated roof spaces
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Different roofs, different checks
GRP fibreglass roofs
Cracks in GRP can let water into the boards beneath. We combine a visual check of cracks with the thermal images around them.
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
On larger commercial single-ply roofs, thermal imaging can help target moisture readings. It focuses the survey on the areas that matter.
Also near Nettlestead
Also in Nettlestead
Questions from Nettlestead
Is my home in Nettlestead listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Nettlestead?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what you need to know. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Does thermal imaging work on slate and tile roofs?
On pitched roofs, the camera can point to heat loss and some damp patterns. We explain what the images can and cannot tell you, and back them up with a visual inspection and moisture readings.