Thermographic Survey in Ely

Ely Conservation Area was designated in 1972, then extended in 1995 and 2007, and that history shapes how heat moves through homes on Church Lane, Castlehythe and Back Hill. Gault brick, plain tiles, slate and some render are common, while many riverside terraces were erected in the 19th century. Traditional masonry buildings can be hard to read visually, but the thermal image quickly shows missing insulation, cold junctions and gaps behind later repairs.

The current stock also includes 34.8% detached homes and 30.4% semi-detached homes, with newer schemes like North Ely planned for 3,000 homes by 2031. That range means one street can hold a Victorian terrace with solid walls and a modern house with timber framing and panel cladding. Our surveyors use that contrast to judge where heat loss comes from, rather than treating every property as if it were built to the same standard.

Buildings in the Conservation Area often rely on older construction methods, so insulation may have been added later and not always evenly. A loft top-up above a red-brick house on Church Lane can leave gaps at the eaves, while a converted property near the River Great Ouse can hide condensation behind internal finishes. Thermal imaging is useful here because it highlights the defect without disturbing delicate surfaces or listed fabric.

Thermal images use a colour scale, usually cold blue through to hot red and white, so the coolest areas stand out clearly. On a gault brick wall in Church Lane, a pale band may point to heat escaping through a lintel, while a darker patch near a skirting board may show an air leak rather than a structural fault. Because the camera reads surface temperature, the image must be interpreted with the building's construction in mind.

Reflections and solar gain can mislead the eye if they are not filtered out. South-facing walls around Waterside may warm after a bright day, and shiny finishes can reflect nearby heat sources, so our surveyors compare internal and external readings, then check the pattern against the property's materials. Where the picture is unclear, we mark it as such in the report rather than overstate the result.

Every finding is annotated in plain English, with the thermal image, a visible-light reference and a short recommendation. That approach is useful in listed parts of Ely, where the Cathedral, St Mary's Church and the rows near Quayside need a careful balance between energy improvement and fabric protection. The goal is not to push unnecessary works, but to show which parts of the building are wasting heat right now.

Current market data gives useful context. home.co.uk currently shows an average asking price of £362,381 in Ely, with detached homes at £593,688 and flats at £147,750. homedata.co.uk records show a March 2026 average sold price of £391,674, a median of £335,000 and 23 transactions, while the annual change for March 2026 was 14.08%. In a market like that, a thermal survey from £300 can be a small step that protects a far larger asset.

Costs vary with property size, access and complexity. A townhouse near Waterside, a listed cottage in the Conservation Area, or a modern home in North Ely all need a different amount of scanning and analysis, so the quote reflects the building rather than a flat fee. What you receive is the same either way: external and internal infrared scans, a written report, annotated thermal images and practical recommendations.

Accuracy is highest when the weather works with the building. For the best results, we book surveys between October and March, keep the inside and outside temperatures at least 10C apart, and ask for the heating to be on for 2 hours beforehand. That gives our thermal imaging specialists the clearest contrast, which means better decisions on insulation, draught proofing and repair work.