Kent · London and the South East
Shipbourne Thermal Roof Survey
Thermal roof surveys in Shipbourne from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
Thermal roof surveys around Shipbourne
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. About 1.1 miles north-west lies Ightham Mote, a reminder of how long the area around Shipbourne has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take an older house close to Church of St Giles: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Shipbourne is about 3 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. We survey roofs in Shipbourne and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Kent coverage includes Shipbourne and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
Postcode districts we cover here for thermal roof surveys: TN11. That includes homes and businesses on Upper Green Road, Upper Green Lane and Back Lane and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Budds (1 mile west), Yopps Green (1 mile north), Sheet Hill (2 miles north), Ivy Hatch (2 miles north) and Coldharbour (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (11 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles south), Gravesend (13 miles north) and Tonbridge (3 miles south).
What’s near Shipbourne
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Ivy Hatch Nature Reserve, Hugh Christie Technology College and The Chaser Public House. Shipbourne’s nearest station is Borough Green & Wrotham station, roughly 3.3 miles north. Nearby you’ll also find Ightham Court (3.3 miles north) and Hadlow Tower museum (2.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Shipbourne includes Barden Lake.
Thermal roof survey in Shipbourne
Flat roofs over extensions, garages, flats and commercial buildings are where thermal imaging often helps most. 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 combine the camera with an inspection from the loft where there is safe access. We survey loft conversions, insulated roof spaces and ceilings below the roof, and people most often book us about wet areas near outlets and upstands and cold spots on ceilings under the roof.
Somewhere as small as Shipbourne, older roofs are frequently steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what cannot be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Shipbourne (TN11)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Shipbourne
How do I find out if my home in Shipbourne is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover Shipbourne?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. The report is emailed to you.
How do I arrange a thermal roof survey in Shipbourne?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you need to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Why act early in Shipbourne
Repeated repairs that don’t stop a leak are a sign the source hasn’t been traced. Combining the camera with moisture readings can help find it, instead of trying repair after repair. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
What you get with us
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Prices that include VAT
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent view of the roof
See our cost guide or two real surveys.
What this survey cannot tell you
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
- A formal energy assessment
- Hidden layers that need to be opened up to check
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Ceilings below the roof
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Pitched roof slopes
- Loft conversions
Towns and villages near Shipbourne
Other services in Shipbourne
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photos, emailed to you. As for time on site, it typically takes an hour or two at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Rural addresses near Shipbourne 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. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the roof, its history and any signs of damp or heat loss.
- We check the conditions and note how they may affect the images.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- We back up the thermal patterns with moisture readings.
- You get the report the same day, with an in-person consultation to follow.
Before the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Landlords and letting agents in Shipbourne book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos.
When to book a survey in Shipbourne
Not every roof problem shows on the surface. Trapped moisture, missing insulation and hidden heat loss are three examples. A thermal camera adds another way of finding them.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Patches of heat loss across the roof
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
If you look after a building such as Shipbourne School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Which limits apply to the survey
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.