Essex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Pilgrims Hatch
We carry out thermal roof surveys in Pilgrims Hatch and the rest of Essex. We survey seven days a week.
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
Thermal roof survey in Pilgrims Hatch
What a thermal camera can show depends a lot on the weather. A sunny day before the survey, a dry roof surface and little wind all help. Rain, a strong wind or heavy cloud can make the images less clear. We’ll discuss the weather with you when booking, and our report notes the conditions and how they affected what we saw. If you are worried about damp patches with no obvious cause and areas of a flat roof that may hold water, we can find out what’s behind it, on commercial roofs, flat roofs and insulated roof spaces alike.
Places like Pilgrims Hatch can be near small airfields or other airspace restrictions, so every drone flight starts with a check of the Drone Safety Map. Open ground can mean stronger wind, which also affects whether a small drone can fly, while thermal imaging also works best with little wind. Neighbours’ privacy is part of planning each flight, along with the airspace and the weather.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Where
- Pilgrims Hatch (CM15, CM14)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
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.
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 it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. A typical survey takes about 1–2 hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Parking around Pilgrims Hatch is normally easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside.
- We talk through the roof, any damp or leaks, and the weather expected on the day.
- We carry out a visual inspection of the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- 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.
- We write up the thermal images alongside ordinary photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
What happens if roof problems are left?
Trapped water can harm decks, timbers and ceilings the longer it stays. Surveying sooner gives you more choice about what to do. Blocked gutters on homes around Pilgrims Hatch overflow and soak walls, especially where trees overhang. It’s easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
What you get with us
- 20+ years’ experience
- Photos and a written report every time
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Flying and imaging in Pilgrims Hatch
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you look after a building such as Larchwood Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. Ingatestone Hall, about 4.6 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Pilgrims Hatch. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. If you live in an older home near Saint George's church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view by drone or thermal camera helps.
Pilgrims Hatch is about 1 mile north-west of Brentwood, in Essex. Pilgrims Hatch is one of many places we visit across Essex, for homes and businesses alike. Our Essex coverage includes Pilgrims Hatch. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Thermal roof surveys in CM15 and CM14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Streets in the area include Ongar Road, Hatch Road and Green Lane, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Crow Green (1 mile north), South Weald (1 mile south-west), Coxtie Green (1 mile west), Bentley (1 mile north-west) and Doddinghurst Common (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (11 miles north-east), Basildon (8 miles south-east), Harlow (12 miles north-west), Canvey Island (15 miles south-east), Billericay (6 miles east) and Rayleigh (14 miles east).
Near you in Pilgrims Hatch
We work in homes and buildings around Black Horse Inn, Sawyers Hall College and Weald Country Park and the streets around them. Pilgrims Hatch’s nearest station is Brentwood station, about 1.6 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Brentwood Community Hospital (1.4 miles south-east). Not far away are Thorndon Park.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Keep a record of when stains appear
- File the images with your roof records
- Check outlets after heavy rain
You can pass the report to a roofer so they can see where the problem areas seem to be. Because the images are paired with photos, it’s easy to find each area on the roof.
Keep outlets and gutters clear so water drains off the roof quickly. Less standing water means less chance of it getting under the covering.
Places near Pilgrims Hatch
Other services in Pilgrims Hatch
Pilgrims Hatch: your questions answered
Is Pilgrims Hatch in the area you cover?
Yes, Pilgrims Hatch is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the property.
How do I find out if my home in Pilgrims Hatch is listed?
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.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photographs. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
How do I arrange a thermal roof survey in Pilgrims Hatch?
To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Is thermal imaging useful on pitched 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.
How does a thermal imaging roof survey work?
A thermal camera shows differences in surface temperature. The patterns can suggest wet insulation, gaps in insulation or heat escaping. Findings are checked with moisture readings.
How long does the survey take?
Most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. We will confirm the timing as you book.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which can make access easier.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
What we cannot see
A survey is a proper look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Insulation values or heat loss calculations
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Pilgrims Hatch
- Flat roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Commercial roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Loft conversions
- Pitched roof slopes