Essex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in The Common
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in The Common. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Areas losing heat at the eaves and junctions
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
- Stains that keep coming back
Thermal roof survey in The Common
On a flat roof, wet insulation holds heat longer than dry insulation. So a wet patch can show as a warmer or cooler area on the camera. This can give an idea of how far water has travelled beneath the membrane, something you can’t usually tell from the surface. We then check those areas with moisture readings. We are often asked to look into areas of a flat roof that may hold water and moisture around outlets and upstands, across ceilings below the roof, flat roofs and commercial roofs.
Older buildings in small places like The Common may be listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it is a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- The Common (CB10)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for The Common
Is my home in The Common listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you carry out roof surveys in The Common?
Yes, The Common is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in The Common as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Can thermal imaging show missing insulation?
It can show temperature patterns that point to missing or thin insulation. The difference is clearest when the building is heated and it’s colder outside. Where we can reach the loft safely, we check there too.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photographs, explaining the condition of the roof, any defects and our recommendations, in order of urgency where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Which survey includes thermal imaging?
It comes with our Premium Survey, which starts from £400. The Premium Survey also covers a full inspection, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and a report on the same day.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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.
Airspace, weather and The Common roofs
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
The Common is about 4 miles east of Saffron Walden, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in The Common can all book thermal roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our Essex coverage includes The Common and the places around it. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We work across the CB10 postcode area for thermal roof surveys and the streets around it. Close by, we survey roofs in Radwinter (1 mile south), Maple End (1 mile south-west), Wimbish (2 miles south-west), Hempstead (2 miles east) and Church End (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Braintree (13 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (4 miles west), Halstead (14 miles south-east), Great Dunmow (10 miles south), Stansted Mountfitchet (10 miles south-west) and Great Notley (14 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in The Common
Other landmarks nearby include Castle Camps (2.8 miles north-east) and Saffron Walden Community Hospital (3.5 miles west). Open spaces near The Common include Hales and Shadwell Woods.
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Don’t climb onto the roof to look for leaks yourself
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
- Use the report as a baseline for later checks
- Clear leaves from outlets and gutters each autumn
You can pass the report to a roofer so they can see where the problem areas seem to be. Each thermal image is matched to a normal photo, so the areas are easy to locate.
Deal with small splits and lifted seams promptly. Once water gets under a membrane, it can travel far before it appears inside.
What happens on the day
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours at a house, including the thermal images, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Around The Common, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you are ready.
Advice
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- A formal energy assessment
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
- A structural engineer’s assessment
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
- Insulated roof spaces
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
Common roof problems in The Common
After a repair, some owners want to know whether the roof has dried out. A thermal survey with moisture readings can show whether wet areas remain when the conditions on the day are suitable.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Water that travels before it shows
- Water getting in at parapets and stacks
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Cold areas below the roof
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Radwinter Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
What to check before booking
- Their insurance cover
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Towns and villages near The Common
What else we do in The Common
Prices for thermal roof surveys in The Common
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
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.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Why get it checked now?
Repeated repairs that do not stop a leak are a sign the source hasn’t been traced. Thermal imaging with moisture readings can help narrow it down, instead of trying repair after repair. For older village homes like those around The Common, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why book us in The Common
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Photos and a written report every time
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.