Kent · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Otford
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across Otford, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Stains that keep coming back
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
Checking the roof from the ground
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
How a thermal roof survey works in Otford
A thermal survey can point to places where heat is escaping through the roof. Gaps in loft insulation and poorly insulated areas can stand out on the images. The difference shows most clearly when it is warm inside and cold outside. The report shows the images and explains what they may mean. We don’t give energy ratings or heat loss calculations. If you are worried about damp around roof outlets and upstands and damp that repairs haven’t cured, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Around Otford, a good many roofs are low enough to see partly from the garden or the street. Chimney tops, valleys and rear slopes are where close-up or thermal images help most. Both depend on the weather on the day, as calm, dry conditions suit both. Close-up images often show wear on ridges, verges and flashings that can’t be judged properly from the ground.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- Otford (TN14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. In a smaller place like Otford, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from ground level, with the loft showing the underside.
- You let us know about the roof and any damp, leaks or cold rooms.
- The weather and surface conditions are recorded.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- We back up the thermal patterns with moisture readings.
- The Premium report reaches you the same day, and we go through it with you in person.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Let us know about parking near the property
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a thermal roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Do not climb onto the roof to look for leaks yourself
- Take photos of stains as they appear, so we can compare
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
Once we have been, the thermal images, photos and readings go into a single report. We explain what each image may mean, alongside what we recommend. With a Premium Survey, you get the report the same day.
Check loft insulation covers the whole area and hasn’t been disturbed. Insulation is frequently moved when people work in the loft space.
Drones, thermal imaging and Otford roofs
With Knole House about 3.2 miles south, Otford sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Across Kent, older roofs are frequently handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Bartholomew, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view by drone or thermal camera helps. If you look after a building like Otford Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Otford is about 2 miles north of Sevenoaks, in Kent. If you are in Otford, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Thermal roof surveys in TN14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We cover properties on Station Road, High Street and Bubblestone Road. Other places close to Otford include Twitton (1 mile west), Shoreham (2 miles north), Sepham Heath (2 miles north-west), Halstead (3 miles north-west) and Badgers Mount (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (15 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (12 miles north-east), Tonbridge (9 miles south-east) and Northfleet (11 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Otford
In Otford, that means homes and buildings near Knole Academy, The Woodman pub and Fackenden Down. There’s a railway station in Otford itself: Otford station. Well-known places in the area include Kemsing Castle Bank (1.7 miles east) and Otford Heritage Centre (less than half a mile south-east). Not far away are Dryhill Nature Reserve.
What else we do in Otford
What happens if roof problems are left?
Repeated repairs that do not 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. Around Otford, leaves and moss in gutters lead to overflowing water and damp walls. Dealing with the cause is simple; drying out a wall is not.
Our price is from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Why book us in Otford
- Prices that include VAT
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
How we price thermal roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- How big the roof is
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
Booking your survey
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- The address and postcode of the property
- When you need the report by
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Otford
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant, which helps when budgeting.
Common questions in Otford
Will you come out to Otford?
Yes, Otford is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Otford?
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.
Does thermal imaging work on slate and tile roofs?
It can show heat loss and some damp, but it has more limits there. Our report is clear about what can be read from them, and back them up with a visual inspection and moisture readings.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We are 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.
When does the report arrive?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.