Infrared thermal imaging to detect heat loss and hidden defects
Infrared cameras show what the eye misses. Our thermal imaging specialists carry out detailed surveys across Basingstoke and Deane, from the listed homes around Church Street to new plots near Upper Cufaude Farm, and we map heat loss before it turns into wasted energy. The camera reads surface temperature variations to 0.1C, so cold bridging, air leakage, missing insulation and moisture patterns stand out clearly without opening walls or lifting floors. For homeowners comparing older cottages with newer schemes, the report shows where comfort is being lost.
Homes across the borough sit in very different envelopes. Older timber-framed buildings with brick infill and clay tile roofs behave differently from the 2 to 4 bedroom houses being built at Vyne Park, Bloor Homes on The Green off Winchester Road, Hounsome Fields, Willow Park in Bramley and Northern Manydown in western Basingstoke. A scan helps explain why one room runs cold, why a loft hatch leaks heat or why a replacement window still feels draughty in January. That makes the survey useful for lower bills, better comfort and smarter upgrade planning.
Over 1,800
Listed buildings in the borough
Around 94%
Grade II listed share
More than 40
Conservation areas
Over 10 of 74
Flood defences below standard, Oct 2025
12
Critical high consequence defences
Using listing data from home.co.uk and property data from homedata.co.uk
A thermal survey picks up heat that should stay inside the building. Our surveyors use infrared imaging to trace losses through roofs, external walls, floors, windows and doors, then we compare those patterns with the way the property was built. Missing cavity wall insulation, collapsed loft insulation and air leakage around skirting boards often show up first, because the surface temperature changes fast where warm air escapes. The result is a clear map of where energy is being lost.
We also use thermal imaging to spot hidden defects that sit behind the finish. Damp from a leaking roof, moisture ingress around a chimney, pipework faults under floors and electrical hotspots at consumer units can all leave a thermal signature. In properties near Dummer, Bramley and the older parts of Basingstoke town, that extra detail helps separate a simple draught from a more serious building problem. It is non-invasive, non-destructive and far quicker than opening up finishes to search for the same clues.
Basingstoke and Deane has an unusually mixed housing stock. The borough contains more than 1,800 listed buildings, around 94% of them Grade II, plus more than 40 Conservation Areas spread across places such as Basingstoke Town, Brookvale West, Fairfields, Park Prewett, South View, Worting, Church Oakley, Deane, Bramley and Steventon. Many older homes are timber-framed with brick infill and thatch, while plain red clay roof tiles dominate much of the historic roofscape. Those construction types can hide gaps in insulation, weak junctions and draught paths that only show up properly on an infrared scan.
The local ground conditions matter as well. The southern part of the borough sits on chalk downlands with clay with flints, while the north reaches the edge of the London Basin with clay, sand and gravel deposits, including London Clay in the east and Bagshot Beds and Bracklesham Beds in the west. That mix creates a building stock with different moisture behaviour, and the 2025 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment points to groundwater as the most significant flood risk. Thermal imaging helps because damp patches, cold junctions and moisture ingress can overlap on the picture, so our surveyors look at the full pattern rather than one hot or cold spot in isolation.
New development brings a different set of checks. Northern Manydown is planned for up to 3,520 homes, including 1,400 affordable homes, while other live and proposed schemes include Vyne Park, Bloor Homes on The Green, Hounsome Fields, Willow Park, Rooksfield in Bishops Green and land at Glebe Close in Dummer. Modern homes should hold heat better, yet they still suffer from incomplete loft insulation, unsealed service penetrations, heat loss around flat roof junctions and missed spots where retrofit work has not joined up neatly. A thermal survey gives a clear picture before those defects become costly to fix.
Heat loss is rarely evenly spread. In many homes, the biggest losses show up at the roof, the walls and the windows, with typical figures often quoted as 25% through the roof, 35% through the walls and 15% through the windows. Our infrared images show where those losses are concentrated in your own property, which is more useful than a generic rule of thumb. Once the problem areas are visible, it becomes easier to plan the right upgrade in the right order.
That evidence matters for energy efficiency because it turns guesswork into a repair list. A loft top-up, a better insulated hatch, cavity fill repairs, draught proofing or a window seal repair can all be weighed against the heat being lost every winter. We also explain where the thermal pattern suggests a deeper issue, such as an uninsulated extension, a poorly sealed chimney breast or a cold bridge at a structural junction. The report gives you a practical route towards better fabric performance, not just a collection of photographs.
Choose your survey slot and tell us about the property type. We often recommend booking for October to March, when the outside air is cold enough to create a strong thermal contrast.
Keep the heating on for at least 2 hours before the appointment. We need a minimum 10C temperature difference between inside and outside for accurate readings.
Our surveyors carry out infrared scans outside and inside the building. The visit usually takes 1-2 hours depending on the size and layout of the home.
We review the images, compare temperature patterns and mark up the problem areas. Reflections, sunshine and recent rainfall are checked so the findings stay reliable.
Every relevant image is annotated with a clear explanation. We set out what the thermal pattern means, why it matters and what repair or upgrade should come next.
You receive the finished report after analysis, ready to use for retrofit planning, maintenance decisions or a wider purchase review.
A thermal image uses colour to show surface temperature. Cooler areas usually appear blue or purple, while warmer areas move towards red, orange or white. That does not mean a blue patch is always damp or a red patch is always a fault, because the building fabric, the outside conditions and the sun all change the reading. Our surveyors interpret the image in context, then explain what the pattern means in plain English.
False readings are easy to create if a wall has been hit by sunlight, if glass is reflecting heat or if a pipe is warming a small patch of plaster behind a panel. That is why we avoid rushing a survey and why we ask for the heating to be on for at least 2 hours before we arrive. In streets such as Winchester Road or around the older parts of Basingstoke town, south-facing elevations can hold solar gain for longer than you might expect. We take those effects into account so the report stays accurate.
Every anomaly is annotated. If a cold line at a window head suggests a failed seal, we say so. If a patch near a bathroom points towards moisture, we explain why the pattern looks different from a simple draught or a cold bridge. That level of explanation matters because homeowners need to know which findings are urgent, which are routine and which can be left until a later upgrade.
In the older villages and conservation areas, we often find heat escaping through loft hatches, thin roof insulation and gaps around chimney breasts. Timber-framed homes with brick infill can show irregular heat patterns where later repairs have not matched the original fabric, while plain clay tile roofs can hide cold spots where insulation is patchy or missing. In places like Deane, Bramley and Church Oakley, the images often reveal why one upstairs room feels colder than the rest.
Newer homes bring a different pattern. Around Vyne Park, Bloor Homes on The Green, Hounsome Fields and the new growth areas around western Basingstoke, we often see air leakage at service penetrations, thermal breaks that do not line up and garage conversions that were finished without enough attention to insulation continuity. Some homes near clay-rich ground also show moisture-related cooling at lower walls and floor edges, which can point to drainage or ventilation problems rather than pure heat loss. The value of the survey is in separating those causes before money is spent on the wrong fix.
A thermal imaging survey can detect heat loss through roofs, walls, floors, windows and doors, plus missing insulation, cold bridging, draughts and moisture patterns. Our surveyors also use it to spot underfloor heating faults and some electrical hotspots where surface temperatures are abnormal. Because the camera reads temperature variation, it can show problems that are invisible during a normal inspection.
Our thermal imaging surveys start from £300. The final price depends on the property size, the number of rooms that need scanning and how much analysis is required after the visit. You get the external and internal scans, plus an annotated report that explains the findings clearly.
October to March is the best window because the outside air is cold enough to create strong thermal contrast. We also ask for a minimum 10C difference between inside and outside, which makes the hidden problem areas easier to see. A cold, dry day with the heating already running gives the cleanest results.
Most surveys take 1-2 hours, depending on the size and layout of the property. Smaller homes move quickly, while larger houses, extensions and awkward roof spaces take more time. The analysis and annotation phase happens after the site visit, so the total job is longer than the time spent on site.
Yes, thermal imaging can highlight patterns linked to damp and moisture ingress. It does not test the moisture content itself, so we read the image alongside the building fabric and the weather conditions. That approach helps separate a leaking roof, a cold bridge or a groundwater-related patch from a simple draught.
Yes, a small amount of preparation helps a lot. Keep the heating on for at least 2 hours before we arrive, close windows and external doors, and avoid opening loft hatches or extractor vents unless we ask for them. If the home has been heated steadily and the outside conditions are right, the image is much more reliable.
It suits older homes very well, including listed buildings and houses in conservation areas. Our surveyors can inspect timber-framed properties, brick infill walls, clay tile roofs and later extensions without disturbing the fabric. That makes the survey useful where you want evidence before planning repairs or retrofit work.
From £80
Energy performance certificate for homes in Basingstoke and Deane
From £400
Suitable for conventional homes that need a clear condition check
From £600
Best for older, altered or listed properties that need a deeper inspection
Our thermal imaging surveys start from £300 for a typical home. The price reflects the size of the property, the number of internal spaces that need checking and the amount of annotation required afterwards. A compact flat in central Basingstoke needs less time than a larger house in Bramley, Dummer or around the new-build edge of town, so the quote is shaped around the actual job rather than a flat one-size-fits-all figure. That keeps the pricing clear from the start.
The fee includes external and internal infrared scans, image analysis and a written report with the problem areas marked up. We set out what each thermal pattern means, which findings are likely linked to heat loss and which may point towards damp or a building defect. After the site visit, the report is prepared and sent once the images have been checked and annotated. If you need the survey for a purchase decision, retrofit plan or maintenance check, the report gives you usable evidence rather than a vague summary.
Accuracy depends on the conditions on the day. October to March is the best period, the heating should be running for at least 2 hours and the inside and outside temperatures should differ by at least 10C. Dry weather helps, while strong sunshine or a warm spell can reduce the clarity of the image. Book in the right conditions and the survey gives a far sharper picture of where your property is losing heat.
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Infrared thermal imaging to detect heat loss and hidden defects
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Homemove is a trading name of HM Haus Group Ltd (Company No. 13873779, registered in England & Wales). Homemove Mortgages Ltd (Company No. 15947693) is an Appointed Representative of TMG Direct Limited, trading as TMG Mortgage Network, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 786245). Homemove Mortgages Ltd is entered on the FCA Register as an Appointed Representative (FRN 1022429). You can check registrations at NewRegister or by calling 0800 111 6768.
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