West Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Portfield, West Sussex
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. Thermal roof surveys in Portfield, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Wet areas near outlets and upstands
Thermal roof survey in Portfield
A thermal imaging roof survey uses a thermal camera to show differences in surface temperature across a roof. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat escaping. It’s important to know that the camera shows temperature, not water, so we check what it shows with moisture readings. It comes as part of our Premium Survey, from £400. The report also notes the conditions on the day, since they affect what the camera can show. We are often asked to look into damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys and wet areas near outlets and upstands, on pitched roof slopes, commercial roofs and loft conversions.
Around Portfield, older homes can have thin loft insulation and later additions with roofs of their own. A thermal image can show where heat is escaping or where moisture may be trapped, and drone photos show the roof surfaces themselves. Findings are checked with moisture readings where needed. Results depend on the weather, so the visit is planned around the forecast.
It is not only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Portfield (PO19, PO20, PO18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Getting the most from a thermal roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Use the report as a baseline for later checks
- Clear a path to the loft hatch before we arrive
- Note where damp appears and after what weather
- Do not switch the heating off before the visit
You also get an in-person consultation with a Premium Survey, so you can go through the images with us. A follow-up 12 months later is included as well.
Have small defects in the covering fixed early. Once water gets under a membrane, it can travel far before it appears inside.
Your questions about thermal roof surveys in Portfield
Are there drone restrictions around Portfield?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Portfield is about 2 miles from Goodwood Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
Is Portfield within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
How do I book a survey in Portfield?
Just phone 07833 053749 or email us. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Does thermal imaging detect leaks directly?
The camera does not see water itself. Because wet insulation holds heat for longer, it can show as a different temperature, but we check each finding with moisture readings.
Nearby places to Portfield
Other services in Portfield
Roof by roof
Pitched slate and tile roofs
From inside the loft, the camera can help with damp around chimneys, valleys and roof windows. Findings are checked with moisture readings.
Loft insulation
From inside the loft, thermal imaging can show gaps in insulation and cold spots. We inspect the loft where it can be reached safely.
What this survey cannot tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Seeing water directly, as the camera shows temperature, not moisture
- Readings unaffected by sun, shade or reflections
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Insulated roof spaces
- Ceilings below the roof
- Loft conversions
- Pitched roof slopes
- Flat roofs
- Commercial roofs
Drones, thermal imaging and Portfield roofs
Portfield is within about 5 miles of the coast, and wind off the sea 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. Portfield is about 2 miles from Goodwood Aerodrome. If the drone is used for your survey, the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions first.
Hotels and guest houses near Portfield cannot easily close rooms for a leak, so it’s worth knowing the roof’s condition. If you look after a building such as Portfield Primary Academy, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once. With Goodwood House about 2.5 miles north, the area around Portfield has a long history. Close-up aerial shots and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
Portfield is about 1 mile east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Portfield and the rest of West Sussex. Our West Sussex coverage includes Portfield. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Surveys in PO19, PO20 and PO18 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include Kent Road, York Road and Spur Road. Main roads around Portfield include the A259 and A285. Other places close to Portfield include Chichester (1 mile west), Westhampnett (1 mile north-east), Shopwyke (1 mile east), Maudlin (1 mile north-east) and North Mundham (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (5 miles south-east), Selsey (7 miles south), Littlehampton (10 miles east), Emsworth (8 miles west), Rustington (11 miles east) and Storrington (15 miles north-east).
Near you in Portfield
We work in homes and buildings around The Prebendal School, The East Gate Public House and Chichester High School For Girls, among other places. The nearest railway station is Chichester station, roughly 0.9 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include The Chichester City Museum (0.6 miles west) and Chichester Castle (0.6 miles west). Not far away are Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and Stoke Down.
The survey, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take about one to two hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Being in a smaller place like Portfield does not change how the visit works: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- We look over the roof from wherever it is safe.
- Thermal images are taken across the roof and, where there is safe access, in the loft.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Before we arrive
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
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. In a smaller place like Portfield, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing doesn’t stay loose for long. Each storm lifts it a little further.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Portfield
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- 98% of customers satisfied
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.