Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Thermal imaging roof survey in Widford, Hertfordshire
Thermal imaging to find moisture and heat loss patterns in a roof across Widford, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Stains that keep coming back
- Possible trapped moisture under a flat roof covering
- Leaks far from where the stain appears
Thermal roof survey in Widford: what you get
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. Moisture readings are then used to check what the camera suggests. We are frequently asked to look into damp that repairs haven’t cured and water that travels before it shows, on loft conversions, ceilings below the roof and insulated roof spaces.
In a small place like Widford, 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.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Widford (SG12)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a thermal roof survey in Widford
Once a leak has been fixed, people often ask whether the roof is still wet. Thermal images and moisture readings can suggest whether moisture is still trapped when the conditions on the day are suitable.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Missing or slipped insulation
- Damp patches with no obvious cause
- Wet insulation beneath the membrane
- Heat escaping through the roof
With Much Hadham Palace about 2.6 miles north, the area around Widford has a long history. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Are they insured for the work?
- What experience they bring
- Whether the price includes VAT
What a thermal roof survey does not cover
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Whether the deck or roof structure is strong enough
- Hidden layers that need to be opened up to check
- Proving moisture from the images alone
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs
- Commercial roofs
- Insulated roof spaces
- Loft conversions
- Ceilings below the roof
- Pitched roof slopes
Useful tips for Widford property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Use the report as a baseline for later checks
- Check outlets after heavy rain
- Talk to us about the weather when booking
We note the weather and surface conditions, and how they may have affected the results. It helps you judge how firm each finding is.
Clear outlets and gutters regularly, so water does not sit on the roof. The less water sits, the less can find its way beneath.
Places near Widford
Also in Widford
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around Widford often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We go through the roof, the problem and the weather expected on the day.
- We look over the roof from wherever it is safe.
- Thermal images are taken across the roof and, where there is safe access, in the loft.
- Patterns that stand out are checked with moisture readings.
- The report pairs each thermal image with a photo and explains what it suggests.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Tell us about parking before the day
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
For landlords and managing agents
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
Widford questions
Do you carry out roof surveys in Widford?
Yes, Widford is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Widford listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Does thermal imaging work on slate and tile roofs?
It can show heat loss and some damp, but it has more limits there. Our report is clear about what can be read from them, and we check them with a visual inspection and moisture readings.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Thermal roof surveys in Widford: local notes
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these.
Take a building like Widford School: a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of St John the Baptist, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Widford is about 4 miles east of Ware, in Hertfordshire. Anywhere in Widford, we can carry out thermal roof surveys at your property. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for thermal roof surveys: SG12. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Bell Lane and Priory Farm Yard and the roads around them. We also cover Nether Street (1 mile north-east), Hunsdon (1 mile south), Hunsdonbury (1 mile south), Wareside (1 mile west) and Babbs Green (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Stevenage (12 miles north-west), Bishop's Stortford (5 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles west), Hoddesdon (6 miles south-west), Cheshunt (9 miles south-west) and Hatfield (13 miles west).
Near you in Widford
In Widford, that means homes and buildings near The Bell Inn On The Corner Of Bell Lane. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Town station, roughly 3.2 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Princess Alexandra Hospital (3.7 miles south) and Harlow Mill (3.7 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Hunsdon Mead.
Different roofs, different checks
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.
Loft insulation
Heat loss shows most clearly when it is warm inside and colder outside. Our report notes how the conditions affected the images.