Kent · London and the South East
Southernden Thermal Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out thermal roof surveys in Southernden, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Patches of heat loss across the roof
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Southernden
A thermal survey can point to places where heat is escaping through the roof. Gaps in loft insulation and poorly insulated areas can stand out on the images. It works best when the building is heated and it’s colder outside. The report shows the images and explains what they may mean. We do not give energy ratings or heat loss calculations. If you’ve noticed moisture around outlets and upstands and missing or slipped insulation, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on ceilings below the roof, insulated roof spaces and commercial roofs alike.
Somewhere as small as Southernden, older roofs are frequently steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you cannot get from ground level. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Southernden (TN27)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Airspace, weather and Southernden roofs
Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help. Headcorn Aerodrome is about 3 miles from Southernden. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
With Leeds Castle about 4.8 miles north, the area around Southernden has a long history. Close-up aerial shots and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
Southernden is about 8 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Southernden can all book thermal roof surveys. Our Kent coverage includes Southernden and the places around it. Maidstone is in our area too.
Every address in TN27 is within our area for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover the places around Southernden: Swift's Green (1 mile south), Smarden Bell (2 miles south), Headcorn (2 miles south-west), Hearnden Green (2 miles west) and Biddenden Green (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (8 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (11 miles north), Faversham (13 miles north-east), Kings Hill (13 miles north-west) and Davington (13 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Southernden
Southernden’s nearest station is Headcorn station, about 2.1 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Coldbridge Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (3.8 miles south-west).
Tips from our surveys
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Let us know where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
- Clear leaves from outlets and gutters each autumn
- Leave the roof to people with safe access
If the images suggest moisture that cannot be confirmed, we will say what would help next, such as electronic leak detection or opening up a small area.
Have small defects in the covering fixed early. Once water gets under a membrane, it can travel far before it appears inside.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Southernden
Once insulation under a membrane is wet, it tends to stay wet. Over time, it insulates less well and can harm the deck. Finding them early can mean a smaller job. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Why us?
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- PI and public liability insurance
How the survey changes by roof type
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.
Loft insulation
Loft insulation is easily disturbed when people store things or run cables. The camera can show where it no longer covers the ceiling.
Do you need a thermal roof survey in Southernden?
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.
Problems we come across often include:
- Cold spots on ceilings under the roof
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
- Wet areas near outlets and upstands
Around Southernden, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will the report include photos?
- What follow-up you get after the report
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older roofs in small places like Southernden can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- You let us know about the roof and any damp, leaks or cold rooms.
- We check the conditions and note how they may affect the images.
- We inspect the roof and take thermal images during the same visit.
- We back up the thermal patterns with moisture readings.
- You get the report the same day, with an in-person consultation to follow.
How to prepare
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Booking a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Read more
Towns and villages near Southernden
What else we do in Southernden
Questions from Southernden
Is drone flying allowed in Southernden?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Southernden is about 3 miles from Headcorn Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Do you cover smaller places like Southernden?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Is thermal imaging good for finding leaks?
It’s a useful tool for tracing leaks, but not the only one. The results depend on conditions on the day. Where it can’t be pinned down, the report suggests a next step, such as electronic leak detection.
What happens next?
You will receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
How long will you be at the property?
Most surveys take about one to two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. The report follows by email.
What does a thermal roof survey show?
A thermal camera shows differences in surface temperature. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat loss. Findings are checked with moisture readings.
What affects the cost of thermal roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Which survey package you book
- Roof area
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What we need to know
These details help when you contact us:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Prices start from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.