Flat roof surveys
Get accurate, high-resolution drone surveys of flat roofs to identify defects, assess condition, and support maintenance planning safely and efficiently.
Available Files: RGB Imagery, Annotated Roof Images, PDF Reports, Orthomosaics, Measured Survey and Thermal Outputs.
4K
Imagery
None
Access Required
Condition Report
0
Days of Scaffold
Thermal Flat Roof Surveys
Flat roofs are especially prone to water ingress. Once water gets under the membrane it can spread through the insulation, saturating it and causing structural damage and energy loss long before a leak appears inside.
A thermal flat roof survey finds this trapped moisture without opening up the roof. We capture high-resolution RGB imagery during the day, then return after sunset to capture thermal imagery by drone, when wet areas hold their heat.
Our BINDT Level 2 qualified thermographers analyse and tune the images, and provide a written report showing exactly where the problems are, so repairs can be targeted and costly replacements avoided.
Example Image Quality
Click each image to view example image quality
What Your Flat Roof Survey Includes
Every flat roof survey combines daytime RGB and after-dark thermal imagery, delivered through our online client portal.
| Deliverable | What it is | Included |
|---|---|---|
| RGB roof imagery | High-resolution daytime images of the whole roof, showing visible defects and giving context to the thermal data. | Standard |
| Thermal roof imagery | Radiometric images captured around two hours after sunset, when trapped moisture holds its heat. | Standard |
| Thermally tuned images | Images rebalanced by our thermographer to bring out moisture anomalies clearly. | Standard |
| Thermographer’s report | Written findings from our BINDT Level 2 qualified thermographer, with problem areas marked. | Standard |
| Online client portal | Review RGB and thermal imagery side by side, without large file transfers. | Standard |
| Moisture map | Wet areas marked on a plan of the roof, ready for your roofing contractor. | Optional |
| White-label portal | Our delivery portal with your own branding, for surveyors and consultants. | Optional |
Surveys need a dry, sunny day followed by a clear evening, so we monitor the forecast and confirm your date once conditions are right.
At a Glance
Capture
RGB + thermal
Access required
Usually none
Thermal capture
After sunset
Analysed by
Thermographer
Scaffold needed
None
Coverage
Mainland UK
Get a Quote
Send us an address. We will come back the same working day with a price and a scope.
What a Flat Roof Survey Can Find
Most flat roof problems start out of sight, under the membrane. A thermal survey can show:
Left unchecked, trapped moisture leads to structural damage, higher energy bills and eventually full roof replacement. Finding it early means you only repair the areas that need it.
The result?
A clear map of where water is getting in, so you repair only the areas that need it instead of replacing the whole roof.
__ Our method
How we find trapped moisture
During the day, the sun heats the roof and any moisture trapped beneath the membrane. After sunset, dry areas cool quickly, but saturated insulation holds its heat for longer.
We capture RGB imagery in daylight, then return around two hours after sunset to capture thermal imagery by drone. Our thermographers tune and compare the two datasets to pinpoint exactly where the moisture is.
Daylight RGB plus after-dark thermal, for results you can act on.
CAA
CAA Operational Authorisation 11363
Fully insured, with £10m public liability and specialist UAV cover
__ Why drones
Why use a drone for your flat roof survey?
Walking a flat roof with a handheld camera is slow, risky and gives a limited view. A drone captures the whole roof from above in a single flight, with no one working at height.
- No one on the roof. We survey without ladders, scaffolding or foot traffic on a damaged membrane.
- Non-invasive. Moisture is found without cutting into the roof.
- The whole roof at once. Large commercial roofs are covered quickly, with nothing missed.
- Cost-effective prevention. Target repairs early and avoid a full replacement.
- Easy to share. RGB and thermal images delivered through our online portal.
Trapped moisture mapped across the roof, with no one working at height.
Sectors We Cover
Flat roof surveys for commercial & residential buildings
We survey flat roofs on offices, warehouses, schools, hospitals, housing blocks and homes across the UK, from single extensions to large commercial roofs.
Our service is suitable for
- ›Offices and commercial premises
- ›Warehouses, factories and industrial buildings
- ›Retail units, shopping centres and retail parks
- ›Residential apartment blocks and housing developments
- ›Housing association and social housing properties
- ›Schools, colleges, universities and education estates
- ›Hospitals, clinics and other healthcare buildings
- ›Local authority and public-sector buildings
- ›Historic, heritage and listed buildings
- ›Hotels, leisure centres and hospitality properties
- ›Care homes and assisted-living facilities
- ›Distribution centres and logistics hubs
- ›Churches and places of worship
- ›Agricultural and rural buildings
- ›MOD, defence and secure estate buildings
- ›Prisons and custodial facilities
- ›Construction sites and newly completed developments
- ›Multi-site commercial and residential property portfolios
For clients with assets spread over large areas, we build a consistent visual library of the external envelope of every asset, helping teams compare condition and prioritise maintenance.
__ Why choose us
Why choose Drone Site Surveys?
Drone Site Surveys specialises in professional survey and inspection data capture rather than general aerial photography.
Our pilots work specifically across commercial and domestic properties, as well as building, construction and land surveying environments. With experience in roof and façade inspections, they understand how to capture clear, relevant imagery that supports practical condition assessment, defect identification and informed decision-making.
Clients choose Drone Site Surveys for our specialist experience, professional standards and independent approach:
__ How it works
Our thermal flat roof survey process
From first enquiry to secure delivery, every survey follows the same six steps, so you always know what happens next and when.
Tell us about the property
Email us the address with postcode, roughly how big the roof is, and whether you have a known leak. We’ll come back with the options available.
Planning and quote
We carry out a desktop assessment of the property and the surrounding airspace, check the survey against current UK drone regulations, and prepare your quote. You receive it by email with no obligation, along with the airspace map for your site and an example delivery so you can see exactly what you’ll be getting.
Booking your date
Once you’re happy with the quote we add your job to the schedule and start monitoring the Met Office forecast. In the meantime we prepare the pre-flight paperwork, including our risk assessment and method statement (RAMS), which we can send over for your records. As soon as we have a clear weather window and pilot availability, we confirm your attendance date. You don’t normally need to be on site.
The survey
Our CAA approved pilot captures RGB imagery during the day, then returns around two hours after sunset to capture the thermal imagery.
Processing
Every image is checked and organised into colour-coded folders. Any thermal analysis or reporting you’ve asked for is completed at this stage.
Delivery
We email you a link to our secure online portal, where your imagery, reports and any other agreed outputs are ready to view, download and share with your team or contractors. Alongside the deliverables you’ll find a folder containing the pre-flight paperwork, a copy of the drone airspace map for your site and any other relevant documents, so everything from the survey is in one place.
__ Request a Quote
Request a thermal flat roof survey quote
Whether you have an active leak or want to check the condition of an ageing roof, we can tailor the survey to your roof and your requirements.
Send us the address and a brief description of what you need, and we will come back with clear pricing and deliverable options.
Prefer to Speak to Us?
If you’d rather speak to one of the team, that’s no problem. Simply call the number below and one of our team will be more than happy to help.
Get a Quote
__ In The Know
Frequently Asked
Questions
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about thermal flat roof surveys. If yours is not covered here, give us a call.
What is a thermal flat roof survey?
It’s a non-invasive survey that uses thermal imaging to find moisture trapped under a flat roof membrane. We combine daytime RGB imagery with thermal imagery captured by drone after sunset, when wet areas hold their heat.
Why is the survey done after sunset?
During the day the sun heats the roof. After sunset, dry areas cool quickly while saturated insulation stays warm for longer, so the difference shows up clearly on the thermal images. We usually capture about two hours after sunset.
What weather do you need?
A dry, sunny day to warm the roof, followed by a clear, dry evening with little wind. The roof surface needs to be dry, so we monitor the forecast and confirm the date when conditions are right.
Which types of flat roof can you survey?
Most flat roof types can be surveyed, including felt, single-ply and liquid-applied systems. Ballasted and green roofs can be harder to read, so we’ll talk you through what’s possible at quote stage.
Will you need to cut into the roof?
No. The survey itself is non-invasive. If you want to confirm the findings, your roofing contractor can take a small number of targeted core samples where we’ve identified moisture.
Can the survey help decide between repair and replacement?
Yes. It shows how much of the roof has wet insulation and where. If the wet areas are limited, targeted repairs may be possible. If they’re widespread, replacement may be better value. Your roofing contractor can then advise on the work.
How do I receive the results?
Through our online client portal, where you can review RGB and thermal images side by side, along with the thermographer’s written report. We can also provide a white-labelled portal with your own branding.