Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Patcham Thermal Roof Survey
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across Patcham, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Water that travels before it shows
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos. As for time on site, it typically takes between one and two hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Homes around Patcham often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- We look over the roof from wherever it is safe.
- We take thermal images of the roof and of the loft where we can reach it.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Book a survey
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
About our thermal roof survey in Patcham
Thermal imaging can also show where a roof is losing heat. 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. Our report points out what the images suggest and where to look more closely. It is not an energy rating or a heat loss calculation. We survey flat roofs, ceilings below the roof and loft conversions, and common reasons people get in touch are areas of a flat roof that may hold water and heat escaping through the roof.
Older cottages and houses around Patcham may have little insulation, and some have extensions with their own roofs. A thermal image can show where heat is escaping or where moisture may be trapped, and drone photos show the roof surfaces themselves. Anything that looks like moisture is checked with a meter. Results depend on the weather, so the visit is planned around the forecast.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Patcham (BN1)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Patcham
What else we do in Patcham
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Roof area
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. It is useful to include:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The property’s address and postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What happens if roof problems are left?
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. Around Patcham, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, and that’s a much bigger job than the original defect.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Patcham
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- 98% customer satisfaction
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
When to book a survey in Patcham
Unexplained damp is one of the main reasons people ask for thermal imaging. Water can travel under a roof covering or along timbers before it shows inside. Temperature patterns can help narrow down where to look.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Water that travels before it shows
- Heat escaping through the roof
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
Take a building like Patcham Infant School: big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
What to check before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether you get a written report with photos
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Flying and imaging in Patcham
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Patcham, and coastal wind can be strong. Calm, dry conditions after a sunny day suit thermal imaging best, so the visit is planned around the forecast. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these.
Preston Manor & Gardens, about 1.5 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Patcham. Aerial photos and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it. For businesses in and around places such as Churchill Square, big, flat commercial roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images help most.
Patcham is about 2 miles north of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. We provide thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Patcham and the surrounding area. Across Brighton and Hove, we cover Patcham.
All of BN1 is covered for thermal roof surveys. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on London Road, Vale Avenue and Eldred Avenue or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Patcham include Waterhall (1 mile north-west), Westdene (1 mile south-west), Hollingbury (1 mile east), Withdean (1 mile south) and Preston (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Carlton Hill (3 miles south), Hanover (3 miles south), Brunswick (3 miles south), Kemptown (4 miles south-east), Whitehawk (3 miles south-east) and Aldrington (3 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Patcham
In Patcham, that means homes and buildings near Withdean Park, Patcham High School and The Dharma Primary School, among other places. The nearest railway station is Preston Park station, about 1.3 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Clayton Castle (3.1 miles north) and Brighton Transport Museum (1.8 miles south). Open spaces near Patcham include Ditchling Beacon and Ladies Mile.
Patcham questions
Is my home in Patcham listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Will you come out to Patcham?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Which survey includes thermal imaging?
It’s part of the Premium Survey, from £400. You also get an in-person consultation and a 12-month follow-up. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size.
How do I book a survey in Patcham?
It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and some details about the roof, and we will take it from there. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Note where damp appears and after what weather
- Clear leaves from outlets and gutters each autumn
- Check from ground level or a window, never by climbing
- Clear a path to the loft hatch before we arrive
Once we have been, the thermal images, photos and readings go into a single report. Each image is explained in plain words, with our recommendations. With a Premium Survey, you get the report the same day.
After repairs or a new covering, a later survey can confirm things are dry, when the conditions are suitable.