Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Thermal Roof Survey in West Hill
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across West Hill, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Stains that keep coming back
- Areas of a flat roof that may hold water
- Missing or slipped insulation
How a thermal roof survey works in West Hill
Thermal imaging is a useful tool, but it has limits. It shows surface temperature, and things like sun, shade, reflections and wind all affect the readings. We back up the images with moisture readings and a careful look at the roof. The report is clear about what the images show and what they do not. If a finding cannot be confirmed, the report suggests a next step. If you’ve noticed leaks that are hard to trace and thin or uneven insulation in the roof, we can find out what’s behind it.
In smaller places like West Hill, many homes are bungalows and houses with roofs you can partly see from the ground. The parts you can’t see, such as rear slopes, valleys and chimney tops, are where a drone or thermal camera adds detail. The forecast decides the day, as calm, dry conditions suit both. Close-up images often show wear on ridges, verges and flashings that cannot be judged properly from ground level.
It isn’t only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- West Hill (BN1, BN3, BN2)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Pitched slate and tile roofs
Thermal images of a pitched roof can still show heat loss patterns and some damp areas. The report explains what the images can tell you and what they can’t.
GRP fibreglass roofs
GRP roofs are laid over timber boards, so trapped moisture can affect the deck. The camera can help show where to look.
Why act early in West Hill
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. Homes in smaller places like West Hill can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Each storm lifts it a little further, and water follows.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
What you get with us
- A written report with photos
- An independent look at the roof
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: 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 normally takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, plus time to check any thermal findings with moisture readings. A visit to a smaller place like West Hill is no different on the day: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We start with the roof, its history and any signs of damp or heat loss.
- We check the conditions and note how they may affect the images.
- A full inspection and thermal imaging are carried out together.
- We back up the thermal patterns with moisture readings.
- You get the report the same day, with an in-person consultation to follow.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Book a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
What a thermal roof survey looks like in West Hill
The coast is about 1 mile or less from West Hill, and wind off the sea can be strong. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind, so the date is chosen with the forecast in mind. West Hill has a number of hotels within about a mile and a half, and like offices and blocks, hotels often sit under flat roofs. For hotels and other commercial buildings, large roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once.
Royal Pavilion, about 0.6 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around West Hill. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. For hotels and guest houses around West Hill, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it is worth knowing the roof’s condition.
West Hill is about 1 mile west of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Roofs in West Hill get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Brighton and Hove. West Hill is one of the towns and villages in Brighton and Hove we cover for thermal roof surveys.
Thermal roof surveys in BN1, BN3 and BN2 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer thermal roof surveys to properties on Powis Road, North Road and York Avenue. West Hill is on the A2010, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover Seven Dials (1 mile north-west), Brunswick (1 mile south-west), Prestonville (1 mile north-west), Brighton (1 mile east) and Carlton Hill (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Hangleton (3 miles north-west), Saltdean (5 miles east), East Saltdean (5 miles east), Rottingdean (4 miles east) and Ovingdean (3 miles east). West Hill is among the bigger towns we cover in Brighton and Hove.
Near you in West Hill
In West Hill, that means homes and buildings near Brighton Girls, The Cow pub and Academy of Creative Training, among other places. West Hill has its own railway station: Brighton station. Nearby you will also find Churchill Square (0.5 miles south) and Montefiore Hospital (0.5 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Whitehawk Hill and Newmarket Hill.
When to book a survey in West Hill
People often book a thermal survey when a damp patch has no obvious cause. A leak may start well away from where the stain appears. The camera helps narrow the search.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Gaps in loft insulation
- Damp where roofs meet walls and chimneys
- Moisture around outlets and upstands
Anyone responsible for a site like St Paul's CofE Primary School and Nursery will know that a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Questions to ask before booking
- What exactly goes into their report
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What experience they bring
FAQs for West Hill
How do I find out if my home in West Hill is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is West Hill within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Will the survey show heat loss through my roof?
The camera can point to heat loss and gaps in insulation. We do not give energy ratings or heat loss calculations, but the report shows where to look more closely.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Does the weather affect a thermal survey?
Conditions on the day have a big effect on what the camera can show. Dry, calm weather after some sun gives the best chance of clear images. We record the conditions in the report, so you know how much weight to give the images.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
Also near West Hill
More services for West Hill
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
- Tell us where and when you’ve seen damp or stains
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Use the report as a baseline for later checks
The report explains the conditions on the day and how they affected the images. That way you know how much weight to give each finding.
Watch for new damp patches on ceilings beneath the roof. Catching a leak early stops insulation getting soaked.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Seeing water directly, as the camera shows temperature, not moisture
- A formal energy assessment
- Clear results when the conditions on the day are poor
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in West Hill
- Ceilings below the roof
- Flat roofs
- Loft conversions
- Insulated roof spaces
- Pitched roof slopes
- Commercial roofs