At Watsons we are committed to providing the best service possible to our customers by constantly developing our services. In our surveying department we have introduced new technologies to enhance our surveys. We have recently introduced thermal imaging cameras and are looking to incorporate telescopic camera poles and drone technology as a surveyor’s toolkit, alongside digital damp meters, laser measures, scanners and mobile phones. Read on to find out how these technologies are enhancing the service we provide.
Thermal imaging cameras
We are using thermal imaging cameras to diagnose a variety of problems by scanning when walking from room to room during a survey. The camera, a FLIR One Pro, attaches to an iPad to create a powerful thermal imaging camera. It produces an image on the iPad with colours corresponding to different temperatures on the visible surface. The camera is very sensitive and differentiates between tiny differences in temperature, which can help to pinpoint any problems. The colours range from red showing the highest temperatures, graduating down through yellow and green to blue.
The camera is useful to check for damp. Damp areas in a wall will normally be cooler than dry areas because evaporation of a liquid causes cooling. Similarly, cold areas on a wall will normally be prone to condensation as the lower temperature causes moisture in the air to condense on the cold surface. Therefore, dampness in a wall is often self-perpetuating. This form of dampness was often misdiagnosed as rising damp in the past, and the remedial works would often be disruptive and expensive, requiring the installation of a chemical injection damp proof course and large-scale re-plastering. Now it is possible to diagnose the problem more accurately and the remedy for condensation is simply better ventilation and improved heating or insulation.
The camera can also be used to identify areas in need of improved insulation. Inside a room, it is possible to identify areas of a ceiling which are not covered by loft insulation or parts of a wall lacking cavity wall insulation. Both will create cold spots which could be prone to condensation and mould growth. Externally, a badly insulated loft will show the roof of a property glowing red, indicating the heat loss through the roof, whereas a well-insulated loft will show a yellow, green or even blue roof. Another benefit of the camera is its ability to find drain runs and drain access covers. Drain runs will often show up as a faint blue line on the surface and hidden man hole covers can be clearly visible when covered by grass or debris.
Although outside the scope of most of the surveys which we cover, the camera will also indicate defective electrical sockets or overloaded fittings as these glow red, even when supposedly switched off, indicating that they are at a higher temperature than they should be.
Telescopic camera poles
We are looking to incorporate camera poles to examine gutters and roofs as part of our bespoke surveys. The camera pole holds a 44ft extending wireless HD camera which links to a touchscreen display at the bottom of the pole. This creates both real-time images and photos. The camera pole also has an automatic infrared function to examine areas which can be difficult to access, such as loft spaces.
This technology helps to reduce uncertainty about aspects of a property by closely examining areas that are usually hard to reach. It allows our surveying team to include more detailed findings in their report, rather than recommending that the customer make further arrangements to check certain aspects of the property. Camera poles are also very advantageous in built up areas where there is limited space and lack of accessibility to examine certain areas of buildings.
Drones
Drones are another form of technology that we are looking to incorporate in some of our surveys. We will be using them to carry out roof inspections, working with local survey and inspection company Hal-Air. Adam Warricker, Company Director of Hal-Air, says ‘We use Inspire2 drones which enable us to attach different cameras and lenses depending on requirements. We also use Mavics which are best for smaller jobs in built-up areas. All of our drones have obstacle avoidance technology to ensure the highest level of safety.’
The drones are controlled by professional pilots with licences and relevant insurance. They are able to take hundreds of photos to provide a detailed picture of a roof. The drones can also conduct thermal imaging surveys on large roofs such as in factories, carry out ground surveys and examine corners of buildings.
Find out more
We are always keen to employ new technologies to make our surveys as effective and informative as possible. To find out more about our services or to request a survey, contact our dedicated Valuation & Survey team on 01603 751577 or email survey@watsons-property.co.uk
