Southampton · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Northam
Thermal roof surveys across Northam, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Leaks that are hard to trace
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In a smaller place like Northam, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We start with the roof, its history and any signs of damp or heat loss.
- We check the conditions and note how they may affect the images.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- Moisture readings are used to check what the camera shows.
- The Premium report reaches you the same day, and we go through it with you in person.
Before we arrive
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Let us know about parking near the property
Arrange a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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How a thermal roof survey works in Northam
Flat roofs over extensions, garages, flats and commercial buildings are where thermal imaging frequently helps most. It can show patterns that point to trapped moisture under the membrane. Pitched roofs with slates or tiles are often harder to read, because of the air space beneath, so we also look from the loft where we can reach it safely. If you’ve noticed damp patches with no obvious cause and thin or uneven insulation in the roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Older cottages and houses around Northam may have little insulation, and some have extensions with their own roofs. Thermal patterns and close-up photos together give a fuller picture of the roof. Findings are checked with moisture readings where needed. Results depend on the weather, so the visit is planned around the forecast.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Northam (SO14, SO19, SO18)
- Region
- Southampton
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Northam
Northam lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal wind can be strong. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind, so the date is chosen with the forecast in mind. Northam has a number of hotels within about a mile and a half, and hotels, like offices and blocks of flats, frequently have flat roofs. If you look after one, a large roof can be surveyed without guests having anyone working above them.
Shop and office owners around Marlands Shopping Centre may find that big, flat commercial roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images help most. If you look after a building such as Bitterne Manor Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. If you run a hotel or guest house in or near Northam, a roof problem can mean rooms out of use, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Northam is about 1 mile south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. Northam gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Across Southampton, we cover Northam and the places around it.
Every address in SO14, SO19 and SO18 is covered for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets such as Sea Road, Lumpy Lane and Cross Road, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Peartree Green (1 mile south), Bitterne Manor (1 mile north), Itchen (1 mile south-east), St Mary's (1 mile south-west) and Bitterne (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns like Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (3 miles north-west), Coxford (3 miles north-west), Lordswood (3 miles north-west), Eling (5 miles west) and Rownhams (4 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Northam
Typical jobs here are in homes near Inspire Enterprise Academy, East Park and The Engineers Arms, among other places. Northam’s nearest station is Bitterne station, roughly 0.6 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.8 miles east) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.2 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Netley Common.
Towns and villages near Northam
Also in Northam
What we cannot see
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Seeing water directly, as the camera shows temperature, not moisture
- An energy rating for the building
- The condition of timbers we can’t see
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Loft conversions
- Ceilings below the roof
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Pitched roof slopes
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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 part is for a survey.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Tips that help
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Clear a path to the loft hatch before we arrive
- Keep outlets and gutters clear to stop water sitting
- Leave the roof to people with safe access
- Keep the report to compare against after any repair
Premium Surveys include an in-person consultation, giving you the chance to talk through the images and findings. A follow-up 12 months later is included as well.
Keep outlets and gutters clear so water drains off the roof quickly. Less standing water means less chance of it getting under the covering.
What we look for on each type of roof
GRP fibreglass roofs
Glossy GRP can reflect heat. We allow for reflections and confirm findings with moisture readings.
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Damp at junctions can be hard to see by eye. We combine a close visual check with the thermal images.
Questions from Northam
How do I find out if my home in Northam is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Northam?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. The flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport covers Northam, or comes right up to its edge. Before any flight there, we ask the airport for permission, and the flight only goes ahead if it is given. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Can a thermal camera see water?
Thermal imaging shows temperature rather than water. Wet insulation holds heat longer than dry, so it can stand out, but we check each finding with moisture readings.
Can thermal imaging show missing insulation?
Thermal images can suggest where heat is escaping and where insulation may be missing. We do not give energy ratings or heat loss calculations, but the images show where improvements may help.
What conditions are best for thermal imaging?
The results depend on the weather. Dry, calm weather after some sun gives the best chance of clear images. Our report notes the conditions and how they affected the findings.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Can a thermal survey trace a roof leak?
Thermal imaging can help, alongside other checks. What it shows depends on the weather and the roof. Where it can’t be pinned down, the report suggests a next step, like electronic leak detection.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.