West Sussex · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in Watersfield
Thermal roof surveys for homes and businesses in Watersfield. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Heat escaping through the roof
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Damp around chimneys and parapets
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
How a thermal roof survey works in Watersfield
Thermal imaging is useful when a damp patch has no clear cause. Water can travel some distance under a roof covering before it shows inside, and temperature patterns can help us trace where it may have come from. The images are used alongside a visual inspection and moisture readings, so no conclusion rests on one method alone. If you are worried about areas of a flat roof that may hold water and stains that keep coming back, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Villages like Watersfield often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Watersfield (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Airspace, weather and Watersfield roofs
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Historic houses such as Bignor Roman Villa, about 1.8 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Watersfield goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Giles, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Watersfield is about 8 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We cover Watersfield and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in RH20 is within our area for thermal roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on London Road, Chapel Close and River Lane or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Watersfield: Coldwaltham (1 mile north-east), Lower Horncroft (1 mile north), West Burton (1 mile south-west), Coates (2 miles north-west) and Bury (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (14 miles north-east), Worthing (10 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (8 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-east).
What’s near Watersfield
Typical jobs here are in homes near St James' CofE Primary School and The Labouring Man pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Watersfield is Pulborough station, roughly 2.5 miles north-east. A little further out are Amberley Museum (2.5 miles south) and Coates Castle (1.8 miles north-west). Not far away are Bignor Hill and Amberley Wild Brooks.
Why it is worth a survey now in Watersfield
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. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Watersfield, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Thermal roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Why book us in Watersfield
- 20+ years’ experience
- Surveys seven days a week
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
What a thermal roof survey does not cover
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Seeing water directly, as the camera shows temperature, not moisture
- Hidden layers that need to be opened up to check
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Insulated roof spaces
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
- Loft conversions
- Commercial roofs
- Flat roofs
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Tell us where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
- Heat the home normally on the days before
- Leave the roof to people with safe access
- File the images with your roof records
After the visit, we put the thermal images, photos and moisture readings into one report. We explain what each image may mean, alongside what we recommend. With a Premium Survey, you get the report the same day.
Keep outlets and gutters clear so water drains off the roof quickly. Less standing water means less chance of it getting under the covering.
How it works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take an hour or two at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Somewhere as small as Watersfield, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We talk through the roof, any damp or leaks, and the weather expected on the day.
- The roof is inspected visually from safe viewpoints.
- A thermal camera records how the surface temperature varies across the roof.
- We check the patterns that stand out with moisture readings where there is safe access.
- We write up the thermal images alongside ordinary photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Keep pets in another room
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
How to book
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Places near Watersfield
Other services in Watersfield
Surveys for landlords and agents in Watersfield
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Watersfield questions
How do I find out if my home in Watersfield is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover smaller places like Watersfield?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Can thermal imaging show missing insulation?
Gaps and thin areas of insulation can show up on the camera. The difference is clearest when the building is heated and it is colder outside. Where we can reach the loft safely, we check there too.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Can a thermal survey trace a roof leak?
It can help narrow down where water may be getting in. Patterns can suggest where trapped water has spread. We combine it with a visual inspection and moisture readings, as the camera alone cannot prove a leak.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.