Thermal imaging survey

What is a thermal imaging survey?

Thermal images work best when the house is heated and the outdoor temperature is low, ideally at least 10°C lower than indoors, so surveys are booked for cold mornings or evenings. We image the top-floor ceilings, the room-in-roof if you have one and the loft, and explain what each cold patch is likely to be.

Is it right for your loft?

Cold spots on upstairs ceilings
Mould in ceiling corners
Checking work done by a previous installer
Before insulating a room-in-roof

How we do it

We agree a date with cold enough weather and ask you to keep the heating on.
We take images inside and, where useful, of the roof outside.
We check the loft to confirm what the images suggest.
You get a short report with annotated images.

What is included

Infrared images of ceilings and the roof
Annotated report
Recommendations, with prices if asked

Worth knowing

Thermal images show surface temperature, not insulation thickness. They point to problems; the loft check confirms them.

How much does a thermal imaging survey cost?

£165 to £295Survey and report for a typical house. Priced before you book, with written findings afterwards.

This work is not an energy-saving material for VAT, so it is standard-rated if VAT applies. Where it is done alongside insulation, the quote shows each part separately.

Work out a guide price for your loft or see every price.

Do the rules differ across the UK?

Yes, a little. Building regulations and funding schemes are set separately in each nation. Here is the short version; each area page has the detail.

Nation	Building rules	Funding to check
England	Approved Document L; insulation alone is not usually notified	ECO4 to 31 Dec 2026; Warm Homes Plan and Warm Homes: Local Grant
Wales	Welsh Approved Document L; conversions need building control	Warm Homes Nest; ECO4 to 31 Dec 2026
Scotland	No building warrant normally needed; standards still apply	Home Energy Scotland grant and loan; Warmer Homes Scotland
Northern Ireland	NI Building Regulations (Technical Booklet F1); check with council building control	Affordable Warmth Scheme; NISEP

Questions about a thermal imaging survey

When is the best time for a thermal imaging survey?

On a cold, still, dry day with the heating on for several hours. Bright sun or rain on the roof makes outside images unreliable.

Can thermal imaging find gaps in loft insulation?

Yes. Missing or thin insulation shows as colder patches on the ceiling below.

Is a thermal imaging survey worth it?

It is most useful where a problem is hard to find or you want to check someone else's work. For a simple loft you can see into, a standard survey is usually enough.

Where we provide a thermal imaging survey

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Often booked with it

Sources, checked October 2026: Energy Saving Trust: roof and loft insulation; Which?: loft insulation costs and savings; LABC: building regulation requirements for loft insulation; GOV.UK: extending the ECO4 end date, government response.