Kent · London and the South East
Smarden Thermal Roof Survey
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof in Smarden, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Wet areas near outlets and upstands
- Stains that keep coming back
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
Why act early in Smarden
Heat lost through a roof costs money every winter. Thermal images can show where insulation is missing or has slipped, so improvements can go where they’re needed. Around Smarden, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
How a thermal roof survey works in Smarden
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 will discuss the weather with you when booking, and the report explains how the conditions on the day affected the results. Typical surveys look at wet insulation beneath the membrane and damp around chimneys and parapets, on flat roofs, insulated roof spaces and pitched roof slopes.
In a small place like Smarden, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. 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.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Smarden (TN27)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Smarden
Are there drone restrictions around Smarden?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Smarden is about 3 miles from Headcorn Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
Do you cover smaller places like Smarden?
Yes, Smarden is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is thermal imaging included in your surveys?
Our Premium Survey, from £400, includes thermal imaging. An in-person consultation and a follow-up 12 months later are included too. For bigger commercial roofs, we quote on size.
Does thermal imaging work on slate and tile roofs?
On pitched roofs, the camera can point to heat loss and some damp patterns. Our report is clear about what can be read from them, and back them up with a visual inspection and moisture readings.
Does the weather affect a thermal survey?
Conditions on the day affect the results. It works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind. Rain, wind and heavy cloud can weaken the patterns, so we talk through the forecast when booking.
When does the report arrive?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Visible signs like deflection or sagging are recorded, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Roof by roof
GRP fibreglass roofs
GRP roofs are laid over timber boards, so trapped moisture can affect the deck. Thermal imaging can suggest where that may be happening.
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
Many single-ply and EPDM roofs sit on insulation boards. Wet boards can show as temperature differences on the images.
Drones, thermal imaging and Smarden roofs
Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you look after a building like Smarden Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Smarden is about 8 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. In Smarden, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Smarden is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
We survey roofs across TN27 for thermal roof surveys. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on The Street, The Acorns and Water Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Smarden include Biddenden Green (1 mile north-east), Smarden Bell (1 mile north-west), Monk's Hill (1 mile south-west), Swift's Green (1 mile north-west) and Standen (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Smarden
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Chequers Inn and the streets around them. Smarden’s nearest station is Pluckley station, roughly 2.6 miles east. A little further out are Romden Castle (1 mile east) and Benenden Hospital (5.3 miles south-west).
Prices for thermal roof surveys in Smarden
We confirm the price for your roof before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- The roof’s overall size
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Basic, Standard or Premium
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Booking your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- When you need the report by
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
How it works
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a small place like Smarden, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- We look over the roof from wherever it is safe.
- We take thermal images of the roof and of the loft where we can reach it.
- 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
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, tell us about the property and we will recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Smarden
Other services in Smarden
Common roof problems in Smarden
Buyers sometimes want more than a visual look at the roof. A Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and a same-day report, which helps when timescales are tight.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Cold areas below the roof
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Stains that keep coming back
The streets around a church like Church of St Michael are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What insurance they carry
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Take photos of stains as they appear, so we can compare
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Check outlets after heavy rain
- Keep the report to compare against after any repair
After the visit, we put the thermal images, photographs and moisture readings into one report. We explain what each image may mean, alongside what we recommend. Premium reports are sent the same day.
Keep an eye on ceilings under the roof for new stains. Early action keeps insulation from staying wet.