Essex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Shalford, Essex
Need a thermal roof survey in Shalford? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Cold areas below the roof
Checking the roof from the ground
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
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.
About our thermal roof survey in Shalford
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, wind and cloud can all make the patterns weaker. We talk through the forecast when booking, and the report explains how the conditions on the day affected the results. Common reasons to book are wet areas near outlets and upstands and heat escaping through the roof, across commercial roofs, flat roofs and insulated roof spaces.
In a small place like Shalford, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Shalford (CM7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Shalford
Other services in Shalford
Different roofs, different checks
Felt and asphalt flat roofs
On felt and asphalt flat roofs, wet insulation can show as a temperature difference across the surface. Moisture readings are used to check them.
Pitched slate and tile roofs
Inside the roof space, thermal images can help with damp around stacks, valleys and roof windows. Findings are checked with moisture readings.
Shalford questions
How do I find out if my home in Shalford is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Shalford?
Yes, Shalford is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where it applies, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photographs, covering the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, with the most urgent first where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
What happens after the survey?
You’ll get the report by email. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Why act early in Shalford
A damp patch that keeps coming back normally has a cause that hasn’t been found. Thermal imaging with moisture readings can help narrow it down, instead of trying repair after repair. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Shalford, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why book us in Shalford
- Package prices that include VAT
- A report with photographs
- Surveys seven days a week
- 98% of customers satisfied
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Reliable images in rain, strong wind or on a wet roof surface
- Hidden layers that need to be opened up to check
- Insulation values or heat loss calculations
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
- Loft conversions
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Shalford
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you live in an older home near Parish Church of St Andrew, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps. Anyone responsible for a site like Shalford Primary School will know that a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Shalford is about 5 miles north-west of Braintree, in Essex. Shalford is one of many places we visit across Essex. Shalford is one of the places in Essex where we work for thermal roof surveys. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
We work across the CM7 postcode area for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on The Street, Wethersfield Road and Braintree Road. Nearby, we also carry out thermal roof surveys in Sand Hill (1 mile north), Church End (1 mile south), Beazley End (1 mile south-east), Almshouse Green (3 miles north-east) and Bocking Churchstreet (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (14 miles south), Braintree (5 miles south-east), Witham (11 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (12 miles north-west), Halstead (6 miles east) and Great Dunmow (7 miles south-west).
Near you in Shalford
In Shalford, that means homes and buildings near The George Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Braintree station, roughly 4.9 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Braintree Community Hospital (4.2 miles south).
Surveys for landlords and agents in Shalford
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Let us know about it when you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes between one and two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. In a small place like Shalford, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- We look over the roof from wherever it’s 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.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
Preparing for the visit
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.