Kent · London and the South East
Sheldwich Lees Thermal Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a thermal roof survey in Sheldwich Lees and across Kent, with plain-English findings.
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Cold areas below the roof
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
Thermal roof surveys in Sheldwich Lees: local notes
Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Steep or complicated roofs are frequently hard to see from the ground, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. Historic houses like Belmont House and Gardens, about 1.7 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Sheldwich Lees goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St James, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Sheldwich Lees is about 3 miles south of Faversham, in Kent. We cover Sheldwich Lees and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and the South East. Sheldwich Lees is one of the places in Kent where we work. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across the ME13 postcode area for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. If you are just outside Sheldwich Lees, we cover Sheldwich (1 mile north-west), Badlesmere (1 mile south), North Street (1 mile north), Throwley (1 mile west) and Throwley Forstal (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (9 miles south), Canterbury (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (8 miles north-west), Whitstable (8 miles north-east), Faversham (3 miles north) and Herne Bay (13 miles north-east).
Near you in Sheldwich Lees
The closest station to Sheldwich Lees is Selling station, about 2.4 miles east. A little further out are Tower keep castle at Chilham (3.7 miles south-east).
Thermal roof survey in Sheldwich Lees
Thermal imaging can also show where a roof is losing heat. Gaps in loft insulation and poorly insulated areas can stand out on the images. The difference shows most clearly when it is warm inside and cold outside. The report shows the images and explains what they may mean. It is not an energy rating or a heat loss calculation. If you’ve noticed wet insulation beneath the membrane and areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Villages like Sheldwich Lees frequently stand in open country, where wind can be strong. High wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Sheldwich Lees (ME13)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Sheldwich Lees: your questions answered
Is Sheldwich Lees in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Sheldwich Lees is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
What does a thermal roof survey show?
It records surface temperature across the roof. Unusual patterns can point to trapped water, gaps in insulation or heat escaping, which we then check with moisture readings.
Can you use a thermal camera on a sloping roof?
It can help, but the results are often less clear than on a flat roof. Slates and tiles over a ventilated space can mask what’s below, so we combine it with an inspection from the loft where there is safe access.
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
- Keep the heating on as usual before a heat loss survey
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Keep outlets and gutters clear to stop water sitting
The report explains the conditions on the day and how they affected the images. It helps you judge how firm each finding is.
Watch for new damp patches on ceilings beneath the roof. Catching a leak early stops insulation getting soaked.
How it works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Rural addresses near Sheldwich Lees can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start by discussing the roof, any signs of damp and how the weather may affect the images.
- We carry out a visual inspection of the roof from wherever it can be seen safely.
- A thermal camera records how the surface temperature varies across the roof.
- Areas that look unusual on the camera are checked with moisture readings where possible.
- The report sets out the images, what they suggest and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
To get a price for thermal roof surveys in Sheldwich Lees, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
What a survey costs
We confirm the exact price before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Roof area
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Our price is from £400, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Getting in touch
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- The address and postcode of the property
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before you book.
When to book a survey in Sheldwich Lees
Building owners and managing agents use thermal surveys to plan work on larger flat roofs. It can suggest which areas may be wet and which seem dry, so we know where to take moisture readings.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Stains that keep coming back
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Cold areas below the roof
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Sheldwich Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
For landlords and managing agents
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.