Essex · London and the South East
Runwell Thermal Roof Survey
Independent thermal roof surveys in Runwell. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Cold areas below the roof
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Heat escaping through the roof
Thermal roof survey in Runwell: what you get
What a thermal camera can show depends a lot on the weather. It is useful to have a sunny day beforehand, a dry surface and calm air. Rain, a strong wind or heavy cloud can make the images less clear. We talk through the forecast when booking, and the report explains how the conditions on the day affected the results. We survey ceilings below the roof, commercial roofs and flat roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are cold areas below the roof and wet insulation beneath the membrane.
Even in a smaller place like Runwell, there may be airfields or restrictions nearby, 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. Neighbours’ privacy is part of planning each flight, along with the airspace and the weather.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Location
- Runwell (SS11)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Drones, thermal imaging and Runwell roofs
England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your 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, so the council is the place to ask. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from ground level, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help. If you look after a building such as Runwell Community Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Runwell is about 1 mile north of Wickford, in Essex. We provide thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Runwell and nearby. Our Essex coverage includes Runwell and the places around it. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
We survey roofs across SS11 for thermal roof surveys. Local streets include Church End Lane, Viking Way and Canewdon Gardens, and we cover them all. If you are just outside Runwell, we cover Wickford (1 mile south), Brock Hill (1 mile north-west), Shotgate (2 miles south-east), Battlesbridge (2 miles east) and South Hanningfield (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (8 miles north), Basildon (5 miles south-west), Brentwood (9 miles west), Maldon (10 miles north-east), Canvey Island (7 miles south) and Billericay (4 miles west).
Around Runwell
We work in homes and buildings around Beauchamps High School and Quart Pot pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Wickford station, about 0.7 miles south-west. Nearby you will also find Rayleigh Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum (1.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Shotgate Thickets.
How the survey changes by roof type
GRP fibreglass roofs
Glossy GRP can reflect heat. We allow for reflections and confirm findings with moisture readings.
Pitched slate and tile roofs
From inside the loft, the camera can help with damp around chimneys, valleys and roof windows. We check any patterns with moisture readings.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book and it will help the survey.
Places near Runwell
Also in Runwell
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Homes around Runwell frequently 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 cannot get to. Inside, the loft is checked where it can be reached safely.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Booking a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Leave the roof to people with safe access
- Remember the conditions on the day affect the results
- Keep the heating on as usual before a heat loss survey
- Keep a record of when stains appear
Buyers can use the findings when talking to the seller or agent. It’s your decision how to use it, whether that’s asking for work or discussing the price.
Make sure loft insulation covers the whole area and hasn’t been disturbed. Insulation is often moved when people work in the roof space.
Questions from Runwell
Is Runwell in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you cover smaller places like Runwell?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
How long does the survey take?
It normally takes about 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. You will then get the report by email.
Is thermal imaging included in your surveys?
It is part of the Premium Survey, from £400. An in-person consultation and a follow-up 12 months later are included too. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
How do I arrange a thermal roof survey in Runwell?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
Why act early in Runwell
Without thermal imaging, the only way to see how far water has spread is frequently to open up the roof. It helps when deciding whether to patch an area or replace the roof. Blocked gutters on homes around Runwell overflow and soak walls, particularly where trees overhang. It’s easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why book us in Runwell
- Visits on any day of the week
- A report with photographs
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
- Confirming water without moisture readings
- An energy rating for the building
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Runwell
- Loft conversions
- Flat roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Pitched roof slopes