Thermographic Survey in Aberdeen

Aberdeen's housing profile creates a strong case for infrared surveys. Flats, maisonettes and apartments make up 44.2% of the stock, while detached houses account for 18.2%, semi-detached homes 17.6% and terraced homes 16.9%. That spread means we see everything from compact city flats near Union Street to larger family homes in Cults, Bridge of Don and Countesswells, each with its own heat-loss pattern.

Older homes in the city centre, Old Aberdeen, Ferryhill, Bon Accord & St Nicholas, Rosemount & Golden Square and along Union Street are often pre-1919, with solid granite walls, lime mortar, slate roofs and timber sash and case windows. Those buildings usually have little or no original wall insulation, so heat can bleed through exposed masonry and through gaps around later alterations. Newer homes built after 1945 often use cavity wall construction, timber or early uPVC windows, and pitched roofs with tile, which creates a different set of faults such as cavity gaps or failed seals.

A further layer comes from Aberdeen's coastal exposure and its mix of granite bedrock with superficial clay, sands and gravels. Wind and rain can drive colder surfaces down quickly, while moisture trapped in render, mortar or a poorly ventilated roof space becomes easier to spot on a thermal image. In a city with 227,560 residents and 106,738 households, we need a method that can read condition without opening up walls, and thermography does that neatly.

Thermal images use a colour scale rather than a normal photograph, so the coldest surfaces usually show as blue or purple and the warmest as orange, red or white. On a Aberdeen property, that might mean a colder band around a granite wall, a hot strip at a ceiling junction, or a warm glow where warm air is leaking through a window frame. The image is only half the story, which is why we annotate every frame and explain what the colours mean in plain language.

A temperature difference matters most when the inside and outside of the property are at least 10C apart, because the contrast makes faults much easier to read. That is why a winter evening in Aberdeen, or a cold morning after the heating has been on for 2 hours, gives sharper results than a mild spring day. We look out for false readings too, since solar gain on a south-facing wall in Rosemount or reflections from glass can mimic a warm or cold patch.

Our surveyors separate real defects from background noise by checking the shape, location and consistency of each anomaly. A cold line around a bay window in Ferryhill may point to draughts, while a colder patch at a bathroom wall could suggest moisture behind the finish. The report explains each case, so you can see why one image needs attention and another is just a normal response to sunlight, shade or surface material.

Our thermal imaging survey prices start from £300, and the final cost depends on property size, layout and how many elevations or rooms need scanning. A flat near Union Street is usually quicker to assess than a large detached home in Cults or a multi-level granite property in Old Aberdeen, so the quote changes with the job. The price includes external and internal infrared scans, review of the images and an annotated report that explains each finding.

The best results come from the right conditions, not just the right camera. We look for a minimum 10C difference between inside and outside, and we prefer October to March because Aberdeen's colder weather gives the strongest thermal contrast on walls, roofs and windows. Heating should be on for at least 2 hours before the survey, and that simple step often makes the difference between a vague image and a clear diagnosis.

Once the visit is complete, the images are checked, labelled and matched to the exact room or elevation. That process takes care, especially in Aberdeen's granite buildings where cold walls, exposed masonry and older repairs can create complicated patterns. The final report turns those patterns into practical next steps, so you can decide whether the fix is as small as draught sealing or as involved as insulation repair, replastering or window upgrade work.