Greater London · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in St Paul's Cray
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out thermal roof surveys in St Paul's Cray and across Greater London.
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Heat escaping through the roof
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the survey around it.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
How a thermal roof survey works in St Paul's Cray
Our thermal survey records how the surface temperature varies across your roof. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat escaping. The camera doesn’t see water itself, so we check what it shows with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is included in our Premium Survey, from £400. The report also notes the conditions on the day, since they affect what the camera can show. If you’ve noticed gaps in loft insulation and areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions, we can find out what’s behind it, on commercial roofs, flat roofs and pitched roof slopes alike.
London airspace is busy and tightly controlled: there are flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Before a drone goes up in St Paul's Cray, the address is checked against all of them, and permission is never taken for granted.
After the visit, you get a written report with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- St Paul's Cray (BR5, BR7)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near St Paul's Cray
What else we do in St Paul's Cray
Airspace, weather and St Paul's Cray roofs
About 3.7 miles west lies Bromley Palace, a reminder of how long the area around St Paul's Cray has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often 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. Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that is where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for St Paul's Cray, along with any off-street space. For an older house near a landmark such as St Barnabas, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
St Paul's Cray is about 1 mile north of Orpington, in Greater London. We survey roofs in St Paul's Cray and the rest of Greater London. Across Greater London, we cover St Paul's Cray. We also survey roofs in London.
We work across BR5 and BR7 for thermal roof surveys. Whether your property is on Main Road, Murray Road and Rushet Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around St Paul's Cray: St Mary Cray (1 mile south), Poverest (1 mile south), Derry Downs (1 mile south), Orpington (1 mile south) and Kevington (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include London (11 miles north-west), City of Westminster (14 miles north-west), Marylebone (14 miles north-west), Kensington (15 miles north-west), St Pancras (13 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (12 miles north-west).
Landmarks near St Paul's Cray
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Kemnal Technology College, The Blue Anchor Public House and Walsingham School. There is a railway station in St Paul's Cray itself: St Mary Cray station. A little further out are Lullingstone Castle (4.8 miles south-east) and London Borough of Bromley Museum (1.5 miles south). For a walk, there is The Warren and Summer Hill.
When to book a survey in St Paul's Cray
On big commercial and residential flat roofs, thermal imaging helps owners plan. Patterns can point to wet areas and show which parts look sound, so moisture readings can be targeted.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Water that travels before it shows
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Ceilings that feel colder in places
- Wet areas near outlets and upstands
Take a building like Leesons Primary School: a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
What to check before booking
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
FAQs for St Paul's Cray
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in St Paul's Cray?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway when you book. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Are there drone restrictions around St Paul's Cray?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Does thermal imaging detect leaks directly?
Thermal imaging shows temperature rather than water. Because wet insulation holds heat for longer, it can show as a different temperature, but we check each finding with moisture readings.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How quickly is the report sent?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
Will the survey show heat loss through my roof?
It can show temperature patterns that point to missing or thin insulation. It shows most clearly when it’s warm inside and cold outside. We look from the loft as well, where there is safe access.
How it works
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take about one to two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so in St Paul's Cray we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Tell us who holds the keys.
- You tell us about the roof and any damp, leaks or cold rooms.
- The weather and surface conditions are recorded.
- We inspect the roof and take thermal images during the same visit.
- 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
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
How to book
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Read more
Why act early in St Paul's Cray
Once insulation under a membrane is wet, it tends to stay wet. Over time, it insulates less well and can harm the deck. Finding the wet areas sooner keeps the work smaller. Behind a London parapet, a blocked gutter can sit full of water without anyone seeing it. By the time a ceiling stains, the timbers underneath may have been wet for a while.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- 20+ years’ experience
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 98% customer satisfaction
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
What we look for on each type of roof
Single-ply and EPDM roofs
On big single-ply roofs, the camera helps show where to take readings. That makes the survey more focused.
GRP fibreglass roofs
Cracks in GRP can let water into the boards beneath. We combine a visual check of cracks with the thermal images around them.
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Keep dated photos of any marks on ceilings
- Tell us where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
- Keep outlets and gutters clear to stop water sitting
- Ask us about the forecast if rain is expected
Many people send the report to roofers, who can then quote for the areas shown. Because the images are paired with photos, it’s easy to find each area on the roof.
Clear outlets and gutters regularly, so water does not sit on the roof. Less standing water means less chance of it getting under the covering.