Essex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Takeley
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof in Takeley, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Thin or uneven insulation in the roof
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
How a thermal roof survey works in Takeley
A thermal imaging roof survey uses a thermal camera to show differences in surface temperature across a roof. Those patterns can point to trapped moisture, missing insulation or heat escaping. The camera doesn’t see water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is included in our Premium Survey, from £400. Conditions on the day affect the results, and the report explains how. We survey commercial roofs, flat roofs and ceilings below the roof, and common reasons people get in touch are patches of heat loss across the roof and thin or uneven insulation in the roof.
In a small place like Takeley, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Location
- Takeley (CM22)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Drones, thermal imaging and Takeley roofs
Historic houses like Barrington Hall, about 2.4 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Takeley goes. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Roseacres Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Takeley is about 5 miles east of Bishop's Stortford, in Essex. We provide thermal roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Takeley and the surrounding area. Our Essex coverage includes Takeley and the places around it. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of CM22 is within our area for thermal roof surveys. Whether your property is on Station Road, Dunmow Road and The Pastures or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Takeley include Takeley Street (1 mile west), Smith's Green (1 mile east), Hope End Green (1 mile south-east), Little Canfield (1 mile east) and Puttock's End (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (13 miles south-east), Braintree (13 miles east), Harlow (9 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (11 miles north), Great Dunmow (4 miles east) and Epping (13 miles south-west).
Near you in Takeley
In Takeley, that means homes and buildings near The Four Ashes pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Stansted Airport station, about 1.4 miles north. A little further out are Little Easton Moat (3.2 miles north-east) and Herts and Essex Hospital (3.8 miles west). Open spaces near Takeley include Portingbury Hills and Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
Nearby places to Takeley
What else we do in Takeley
Why it is worth a survey now in Takeley
Once insulation under a membrane is wet, it tends to stay wet. In time, it stops insulating properly and can damage the deck. Finding the wet areas sooner keeps the work smaller. For an older or listed building in a place like Takeley, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why book us in Takeley
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- An independent look at the roof
See our cost guide or two real surveys.
Common roof problems in Takeley
Some owners book because the rooms under the roof feel cold. Missing or slipped insulation can stand out as temperature differences, especially when it’s warm inside and cold outside.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Damp around roof outlets and upstands
- Damp that repairs haven’t cured
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Leaks that are hard to trace
Take an older house close to Church of the Holy Trinity: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view by drone or thermal camera helps.
Questions to ask before you book
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How soon the report will arrive
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their track record with similar roofs
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Remember the conditions on the day affect the results
- Keep a record of when stains appear
- Make sure the loft can be reached safely
- Photograph damp patches with the date
Many people send the report to roofers, who can then quote for the areas shown. Each thermal image is matched to a normal photo, so the areas are easy to locate.
Watch for new damp patches on ceilings beneath the roof. Catching a leak early stops insulation getting soaked.
When you need someone else
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- The condition of timbers we can’t see
- Confirming water without moisture readings
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Insulated roof spaces
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Ceilings below the roof
- Loft conversions
- Pitched roof slopes
How the survey changes by roof type
GRP fibreglass roofs
GRP surfaces can be shiny, which affects thermal readings. We allow for reflections and confirm findings with moisture readings.
Felt and asphalt flat roofs
Felt and asphalt sit tight to the layers below, which frequently helps the camera pick up differences. Any patterns are checked with moisture readings.
How the survey works
We’ll ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes an hour or two for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. Somewhere like Takeley needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- First we discuss the roof, any damp and the forecast for the visit.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe positions.
- We take thermal images of the roof and of the loft where we can reach it.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- Each image is set beside a normal photo and explained in the report.
Before the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Booking a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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FAQs for Takeley
Do you cover smaller places like Takeley?
Yes. Takeley is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Is drone flying allowed in Takeley?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. The flight restriction zone around Stansted Airport covers Takeley, or comes right up to its edge. Before any flight there, we ask the airport for permission, and the flight only goes ahead if it is given. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Is thermal imaging useful on pitched roofs?
It can be useful, though pitched roofs are typically harder to read. The air space under slates and tiles can hide patterns, so we combine it with an inspection from the loft where there’s safe access.
What does a thermal roof survey show?
It records surface temperature across the roof. Differences can suggest wet areas, missing insulation or heat loss, which we then check with moisture readings.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.