West Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Southgate, West Sussex
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a thermal roof survey in Southgate and across West Sussex.
- Water that travels before it shows
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
FAQs for Southgate
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Southgate?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. The flight restriction zone around Gatwick Airport covers Southgate, or comes right up to its edge. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Will you come out to Southgate?
Yes. Southgate is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
How long does the survey take?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
When does the report arrive?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, let us know when you book.
Can a thermal camera see water?
Not directly. It shows temperature, and wet materials often behave differently from dry ones. We confirm what it suggests with moisture readings.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.
How a thermal roof survey works in Southgate
Thermal imaging is often most useful on flat roofs, from small extensions to large commercial roofs. Patterns can suggest where water is trapped under the covering. On pitched roofs, slates and tiles over a ventilated space can hide what’s below, so we also look from the loft where we can reach it safely. If you’ve noticed possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering and thin or uneven insulation in the roof, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat roofs, commercial roofs and pitched roof slopes alike.
Around Southgate, lots of roofs are low enough to see partly from the garden or the street. The parts you can’t see, like rear slopes, valleys and chimney tops, are where a drone or thermal camera adds detail. The forecast decides the day. Close-up images often show wear on ridges, verges and flashings that cannot be judged properly from the ground.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Southgate (RH10, RH11)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Buyers get extra information from thermal images that the eye can miss. Hidden problems found before exchange can be raised with the seller or agent. Around Southgate, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, and that is a much bigger job than the original defect.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in Southgate
- Prices that include VAT
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It typically takes an hour or two at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a smaller place like Southgate, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from the ground and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- You tell us about the roof and any damp, leaks or cold rooms.
- We check the conditions and note how they may affect the images.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- Moisture readings are used to check what the camera shows.
- You get the report the same day, with an in-person consultation to follow.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we will suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Towns and villages near Southgate
Other services in Southgate
Signs you need a thermal roof survey in Southgate
People frequently book a thermal survey when a damp patch has no obvious cause. A leak may start well away from where the stain appears. Temperature patterns can help narrow down where to look.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Wet areas near outlets and upstands
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
- Heat escaping through the roof
Shop and office owners around County Mall may find that thermal images can show trapped moisture across a wide commercial roof.
What to check before booking
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What the survey will not cover
- Their insurance cover
What a thermal roof survey looks like in Southgate
Southgate is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Gatwick Airport. Where the drone is part of the survey, we ask the airport for permission first, and only fly if it’s given. Historic houses such as Tyes Place, about 5 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Southgate goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take a building like Southgate Primary: a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Mary's, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Southgate is about 1 mile south-west of Crawley, in West Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Southgate, we can survey the roof. Southgate is one of the places in West Sussex where we work.
Every address in RH10 and RH11 is within our area for thermal roof surveys. If you need a thermal roof survey at a property on Oak Road, Cook Road and Colet Road or a nearby road, we can help. With the A2004 and A2219 close by, Southgate is simple for us to get to for thermal roof surveys. We also cover the places around Southgate: Crawley (1 mile north-east), Tilgate (1 mile east), West Green (1 mile north), Three Bridges (1 mile north-east) and Langley Green (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Horsham (6 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south), East Grinstead (8 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (5 miles south-west).
Around Southgate
We work in homes and buildings around Three Bridges Junior School, St Wilfrid's Catholic School and Tilgate Park, among other places. Southgate has its own railway station: Crawley station. A little further out are Crawley Museum (0.7 miles north) and County Mall (0.5 miles north-east). The countryside around Southgate includes Tilgate Lake.
What we look for on each type of roof
Parapets, valleys and junctions
Problems where roof slopes and walls meet are often hidden. A careful visual inspection goes alongside the images.
Pitched slate and tile roofs
On pitched roofs, slates and tiles over a ventilated space can mask what’s happening underneath. We back up what the camera shows with a look in the loft where we can.
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Don’t switch the heating off before the visit
- Check the loft can be reached safely
- Don’t climb onto the roof to look for leaks yourself
- Keep outlets and gutters clear to stop water sitting
Buyers can use the findings when talking to the seller or agent. It is your decision how to use it, whether you ask for work before completion or discuss the price.
Deal with small splits and lifted seams promptly. Water that gets under a covering can spread a long way before it shows.