Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Preston, Brighton and Hove
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof for Preston, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Water that travels before it shows
- Missing or slipped insulation
Thermal roof survey in Preston
Thermal imaging is useful when a damp patch has no clear cause. Water can travel some distance under a roof covering before it shows inside, and temperature patterns can help us trace where it may have come from. The images are used alongside a visual inspection and moisture readings, so no conclusion rests on one method alone. Typical surveys look at damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys and cold spots on ceilings under the roof, on loft conversions, insulated roof spaces and commercial roofs.
In smaller places like Preston, many homes are bungalows and houses with roofs you can partly see from the ground. The parts you can’t see, such as rear slopes, valleys and chimney tops, are where a drone or thermal camera adds detail. 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.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Place
- Preston (BN1, BN3, BN88)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Keep a record of when stains appear
- Take photos of stains as they appear, so we can compare
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
Once we’ve 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.
FAQs for Preston
Is Preston within the area you cover?
Yes, Preston is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
How do I find out if my home in Preston is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is 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.
Can a thermal survey trace a roof leak?
Thermal imaging can help, alongside other checks. The results depend on conditions on the day. Where it can’t be pinned down, the report suggests a next step, such as electronic leak detection.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
What’s the best way to book?
Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
How long does the survey take?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take about 1–2 hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The report is sent afterwards by email.
When to book a survey in Preston
People often book a thermal survey when a damp patch has no obvious cause. Water can travel under a roof covering or along timbers before it shows inside. Temperature patterns can help narrow down where to look.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
Historic houses such as Preston Manor & Gardens, about 0.2 miles south, show how far back building around Preston goes. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
What a thermal roof survey does not cover
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Insulation values or heat loss calculations
- The condition of timbers we cannot see
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
- Insulated roof spaces
- Loft conversions
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
How the survey changes by roof type
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Many single-ply and EPDM roofs sit on insulation boards. Wet boards can show as temperature differences on the images.
Loft insulation
In the roof space, the camera can pick up gaps and thin areas of insulation. We inspect the loft where it can be reached safely.
Drones, thermal imaging and Preston roofs
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Preston, and coastal wind can be strong. Clear thermal results need a dry roof and little wind after a sunny day, so the date depends on the forecast. There are several hotels within about a mile and a half of Preston, and like offices and blocks, hotels often sit under flat roofs. For hotels and other commercial buildings, large roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
Anyone responsible for a site like St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School will know that 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 Preston, a roof problem can mean rooms out of use, so it’s worth knowing the roof’s condition.
Preston is about 1 mile north-west of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. We carry out thermal roof surveys in Preston for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Across Brighton and Hove, we cover Preston and the places around it.
Every address in BN1, BN3 and BN88 is covered for thermal roof surveys. You will find streets like Home Road, Bates Road and Loder Road. With the A23 close by, Preston is easy for us to reach for thermal roof surveys. If you’re just outside Preston, we cover Withdean (1 mile north), Prestonville (1 mile south), Hollingdean (1 mile east), Seven Dials (1 mile south) and West Hill (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Saltdean (6 miles south-east), East Saltdean (6 miles south-east), Roedean (3 miles south-east), Rottingdean (4 miles south-east) and Ovingdean (4 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Preston
In Preston, that means homes and buildings near Preston Park, The Crown and Anchor Inn and Varndean College, among other places. Preston has its own railway station: Preston Park station. Well-known places in the area include Churchill Square (1.5 miles south) and Brighton Transport Museum (0.5 miles south). The countryside around Preston includes Newmarket Hill and Ladies Mile.
How it works
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes about one to two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Being in a smaller place like Preston does not change how the visit works: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- You tell us about the roof and any damp, leaks or cold rooms.
- The weather and surface conditions are recorded.
- We inspect the roof and take thermal images during the same visit.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Prices for thermal roof surveys in Preston
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- House, block, shop or office
- How big the roof is
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
Every price we give includes VAT. Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The address and postcode of the property
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
For a price for thermal roof surveys in Preston, call 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.