West Sussex · London and the South East
Shoreham-by-Sea Thermal Roof Survey
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof in Shoreham-by-Sea, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
When to book a survey in Shoreham-by-Sea
Some buyers want extra detail before they commit to a purchase. The Premium Survey brings thermal imaging and a drone inspection where it applies, with a report the same day, which helps when timescales are tight.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Heat escaping through the roof
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Cold areas below the roof
If you look after a building like Buckingham Park Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Before booking anyone
- What experience they bring
- What happens after the report arrives
- Will the report include photos?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
How a thermal roof survey works in Shoreham-by-Sea
Thermal imaging is useful when a damp patch has no clear cause. Water can travel some distance under a roof covering before it shows inside, and the camera can show patterns that help us follow it. The images are used alongside a visual inspection and moisture readings, so no conclusion rests on one method alone. We survey insulated roof spaces, flat roofs and pitched roof slopes, and common reasons people get in touch are patches of heat loss across the roof and damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys.
Before any drone flight in a town like Shoreham-by-Sea, the airspace is checked on the Drone Safety Map, which shows restriction zones around airports and prisons. Our drone weighs under 250g, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Neighbours’ privacy is part of planning every flight. Flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight, as the open category requires.
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
- Shoreham-by-Sea (BN43, BN15, BN42)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a thermal roof survey doesn’t cover
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Proving moisture from the images alone
- Readings unaffected by sun, shade or reflections
- Insulation values or heat loss calculations
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Pitched roof slopes
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Loft conversions
- Flat roofs
Thermal roof surveys in Shoreham-by-Sea: local notes
Shoreham-by-Sea is within about 1 mile of the coast, and coastal wind can be strong. Clear thermal results need a dry roof and little wind after a sunny day, so the date depends on the forecast. About 2.3 miles east lies Portslade Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Shoreham-by-Sea has been built on. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take an older house close to St Mary de Haura Church: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Shoreham-by-Sea is about 4 miles west of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. We carry out thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Shoreham-by-Sea. Across West Sussex, we cover Shoreham-by-Sea and the places around it. There is also a page for Brighton.
All of BN43, BN15 and BN42 is within our area for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Adelaide Square, High Street and Rainbow Square and the roads around them. With the A27 and A259 close by, Shoreham-by-Sea is easy for us to reach for thermal roof surveys. We also cover Old Shoreham (1 mile west), Kingston by Sea (1 mile east), Adur (1 mile north-west), Southwick (2 miles east) and Portslade (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (6 miles west), Haywards Heath (14 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles north-east), Littlehampton (12 miles west), Rustington (11 miles west) and Storrington (10 miles north-west).
Around Shoreham-by-Sea
Typical jobs here are in homes near Shoreham College, The Crabtree pub and Shoreham Academy and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Shoreham-by-Sea itself: Shoreham-By-Sea station. A little further out are Southlands Hospital (0.6 miles north-east). The countryside around Shoreham-by-Sea includes Thundersbarrow Hill and Shoreham Beach.
Different roofs, different checks
Loft insulation
From inside the loft, thermal imaging can show gaps in insulation and cold spots. We inspect the loft where it can be reached safely.
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Junctions where roofs meet walls, parapets and valleys are common places for water to get in. The camera can help show damp around these junctions.
Common questions in Shoreham-by-Sea
Is drone flying allowed in Shoreham-by-Sea?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Brighton City (Shoreham) Airport is about 2 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Do you cover Shoreham-by-Sea?
Yes, Shoreham-by-Sea is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Will thermal imaging find my leak?
It’s a useful tool for tracing leaks, but not the only one. The results depend on conditions on the day. If the source can’t be confirmed, we’ll say what could help next, like electronic leak detection.
Will the camera show exactly where the water is?
No, not on its own. It shows surface temperature, and wet areas can show up because they hold heat differently. We confirm what it suggests with moisture readings.
Is thermal imaging useful on pitched roofs?
It can show heat loss and some damp, but it has more limits there. We explain what the images can and can’t tell you, and back them up with a visual inspection and moisture readings.
How the survey works
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Parking in a town like Shoreham-by-Sea is typically simple, but tell us if there is a driveway or any restrictions. We look at the roof from ground level and from windows, then from the loft where there’s safe access, and from the roof itself where it is safe.
- We start by discussing the roof, any signs of damp and how the weather may affect the images.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows and from the roof itself where it’s safe.
- A thermal camera records how the surface temperature varies across the roof.
- Any patterns of interest are checked with moisture readings where we can reach them.
- We write up the thermal images alongside ordinary photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Read more
Nearby places to Shoreham-by-Sea
Also in Shoreham-by-Sea
Landlords, agents and block managers in Shoreham-by-Sea
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If a big flat roof may need replacing, knowing the wet areas first is useful. Images backed by moisture readings show where problems seem to be before you spend. In a family home in Shoreham-by-Sea, a small roof fault lets water into places you cannot see, soaking loft insulation, wall tops and timbers. By the time it shows inside, the job has grown.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Prices that include VAT
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Plain-English reports with photos