East Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Rotherfield
Thermal roof surveys in Rotherfield and the rest of East Sussex. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
- Stains that keep coming back
How a thermal roof survey works in Rotherfield
Thermal imaging is frequently most useful on flat roofs, from small extensions to large commercial roofs. Patterns can suggest where water is trapped under the covering. Pitched roofs with slates or tiles are often harder to read, because of the air space beneath, so we also look from the loft where we can reach it safely. We survey insulated roof spaces, commercial roofs and pitched roof slopes, and common reasons people get in touch are thin or uneven insulation in the roof and leaks far from where the stain appears.
In a village or hamlet like Rotherfield, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you cannot get from ground level. Weather and airspace are checked ahead of the visit. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
After the visit, you get a report with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Rotherfield (TN6)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Places near Rotherfield
Other services in Rotherfield
Common questions in Rotherfield
Is my home in Rotherfield 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. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Rotherfield?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Is thermal imaging included in your surveys?
It comes with our Premium Survey, which starts from £400. The Premium Survey also covers a full inspection, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and a report on the same day.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding.
Does thermal imaging detect leaks directly?
No, not on its own. It shows surface temperature, and wet areas can show up because they hold heat differently. That’s why we check any patterns with moisture readings.
Airspace, weather and Rotherfield roofs
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help.
The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Denys are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Rotherfield is about 2 miles east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Anywhere in Rotherfield, we can carry out thermal roof surveys at your property. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Crawley.
Every address in TN6 is within our area for thermal roof surveys. Whether your property is on Church Road, Station Road and Church Walk or anywhere close by, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in High Cross (1 mile south-east), Town Row (1 mile north-east), Argos Hill (1 mile south-east), Mark Cross (2 miles north-east) and Woolbridge (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Lewes (15 miles south-west), Hailsham (13 miles south), Uckfield (7 miles south-west), South Malling (15 miles south-west), Heathfield (6 miles south) and Southover (15 miles south-west).
What’s near Rotherfield
Around Rotherfield, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Beacon Academy, The King's Arms Public House and St Joseph Seminary and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Crowborough station, about 1.3 miles west. Nearby you will also find Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (2.7 miles west). The countryside around Rotherfield includes Crowborough Country Park.
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Cottages and farmhouses around Rotherfield often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with the roof, its history and any signs of damp or heat loss.
- The weather and surface conditions are recorded.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- Moisture readings are used to check what the camera shows.
- You get the report the same day, with an in-person consultation to follow.
How to prepare
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
When you need someone else
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- A formal energy assessment
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Hidden layers that need to be opened up to check
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Ceilings below the roof
- Commercial roofs
- Loft conversions
- Flat roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Pitched roof slopes
What we are asked to look at in Rotherfield
Some owners book because the rooms under the roof feel cold. Missing or slipped insulation can stand out as temperature differences, particularly when there’s a clear difference between inside and outside.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Leaks that are hard to trace
- Heat escaping through the roof
- Cold areas below the roof
- Stains that keep coming back
If you look after a building such as Rotherfield Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
What to check before booking
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether VAT is added on top
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Heat the home normally on the days before
- Use the report as a baseline for later checks
- Note where damp appears and after what weather
- Check outlets after heavy rain
If you’re buying, the report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. What you do with it is up to you, whether you ask for work before completion or discuss the price.
Keep outlets and gutters clear so water drains off the roof quickly. The less water sits, the less can find its way beneath.
Roof by roof
Pitched slate and tile roofs
Slate and tile roofs are frequently harder to read with a thermal camera, because of the air space beneath. We combine the images with an inspection from the loft where there’s safe access.
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Damp at junctions can be hard to see by eye. We combine a close visual check with the thermal images.