Essex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Shelley
Wondering about the roof at a property in Shelley? We carry out thermal roof surveys in Shelley and across Essex.
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
Thermal roof survey in Shelley: what you get
A thermal imaging roof survey uses a thermal camera to show differences in surface temperature across a roof. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat escaping. The camera does not see water itself, so we check what it shows with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is included in our Premium Survey, from £400. Conditions on the day affect the results, and the report explains how. We’re often asked to look into damp around roof outlets and upstands and damp that repairs haven’t cured, across insulated roof spaces, loft conversions and ceilings below the roof.
Villages like Shelley often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. Strong wind or a downpour 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. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Shelley (CM5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Around Shelley, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- Thermal images are taken across the roof and, where there is safe access, in the loft.
- We take moisture readings where the images suggest a problem.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
Before the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Leave a clear route to the loft
How to book
Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Felt and asphalt flat roofs
Water under felt or asphalt can stay hidden for years. The camera can give clues to where it is sitting, when the conditions allow.
Loft insulation
Insulation often gets moved during work in the loft. Thermal images can show where it has been pushed aside.
What we cannot see
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The condition of timbers we cannot see
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Seeing water directly, as the camera shows temperature, not moisture
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Loft conversions
- Flat roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Commercial roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Pitched roof slopes
Nearby places to Shelley
More services for Shelley
What a survey costs
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- How big the roof is
- Height and safe access
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
What we are asked to look at in Shelley
Unexplained damp is one of the main reasons people ask for thermal imaging. Water can travel under a roof covering or along timbers before it shows inside. Temperature patterns can help narrow down where to look.
Problems we come across often include:
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Peter, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- When you will get the report
- Are they insured for the work?
- What the survey will not cover
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Shelley
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Hill Hall, about 4.8 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shelley. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you look after a building such as Ongar Primary School, big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once.
Shelley is about 7 miles south-east of Harlow, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Shelley can all book thermal roof surveys. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Thermal roof surveys in CM5 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets like St Peter's Avenue, Bewlay Close and Queensway, all of which we cover. Other places close to Shelley include Chipping Ongar (1 mile south), Greensted (1 mile south-west), High Ongar (1 mile south-east), Bobbingworth (1 mile north-west) and Greensted Green (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns like Chelmsford (11 miles east), Basildon (14 miles south-east), Harlow (7 miles north-west), Brentwood (7 miles south-east), Billericay (10 miles south-east) and Loughton (9 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Shelley
In Shelley, that means homes and buildings near The Ongar Academy and The Cock Tavern. Other landmarks nearby include Willingale Doe (4 miles north-east) and St. Margaret's Hospital (5.1 miles west). Not far away are Gernon Bushes.
Shelley questions
Will you come out to Shelley?
Yes, Shelley is covered. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you cover Shelley?
Yes, Shelley is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Does thermal imaging work on slate and tile roofs?
It can be useful, though pitched roofs are typically harder to read. The air space under slates and tiles can hide patterns, so we combine it with an inspection from the loft where there’s safe access.
What can thermal imaging tell me about my roof?
The camera records how the surface temperature varies. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat loss. Findings are checked with moisture readings.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.