Thermal imaging for apartments and houses
The thermal camera highlights temperature differences that can guide the investigation. The result is interpreted together with the environmental conditions, the observations and the other measurements.
Thermal imaging records the apparent temperature of surfaces and turns it into an image. The visible differences may indicate a thermal bridge, an area of discontinuous insulation, a damp surface or a pipe route, depending on the context.
At BuildScan, thermal imaging is a module integrated into a property inspection, not a standalone service. A thermal image without the visual observation, the environmental conditions and the other measurements does not support a conclusion.
Whether the module is included and its price are confirmed by quotation, depending on the purpose of the check and the inspection variant chosen.
What thermal imaging can show
Thermal images are useful for identifying patterns that deserve investigation.
- Thermal bridges at corners, lintels, floor slabs and around joinery.
- Cold areas that may indicate discontinuous insulation, a local lack of material or air infiltration.
- Surfaces that are cooler through evaporation, which may accompany a damp area.
- Apparent routes of heating pipes in floors or walls.
- Temperature differences around joinery that may indicate poor sealing.
What it cannot prove
The thermal camera does not see through walls: it records surface temperature, not what lies behind it. It does not identify mould, does not determine insulation thickness, does not measure moisture and does not by itself establish the cause of a problem.
A thermal pattern becomes useful only when correlated with the visual observation, the moisture measurements and the environmental conditions at the time of recording. Without that correlation, a thermal image can easily be misread.
Conditions for interpretable results
Thermal imaging works on temperature differences. The greater the difference between inside and outside, the clearer the patterns.
- Cold season or early morning, with a reasonable indoor-outdoor difference.
- Interior heated consistently in the hours before the visit.
- Avoiding surfaces exposed to direct sunlight before measurement.
- Clear walls in the areas of interest, with no furniture against the surface.
- No local heat sources that could distort the image.
Examples of patterns
An external corner that is colder than the rest of the wall, with a regular shape, usually suggests a thermal bridge. A cold area with an irregular outline descending from the ceiling may accompany an infiltration and deserves a check with the moisture meter.
A warm horizontal band in the floor usually indicates a pipe route, and a cold area around a window may show poor sealing. In every case the pattern is a starting point for investigation, not a conclusion.
How it fits into the report
Every relevant thermal image is accompanied in the report by the normal photograph of the same area, its location and the conditions in which it was recorded. We add the cautious interpretation and, where applicable, the moisture measurement from the same point.
What you receive
The thermal material delivered is selected for relevance, not for volume.
Limits of thermal imaging
A BuildScan inspection is a private, visual, non-invasive and informative service. We state explicitly what falls outside its scope, so you know from the start where our conclusions stop.
- It is not an authorised technical expert report, a design review, an official handover of works, nor an ANEVAR valuation.
- We issue no legal certification and take no position on whether the building complies with its permit or technical documentation.
- We make no cuts, drillings, demolitions or dismantling; we check what is visible and accessible at the time of the visit.
- We cannot confirm the condition of elements hidden inside the structure, screeds, walls or spaces without access.
- The thermal camera does not see through walls and does not identify mould or biological species.
- Thermal imaging does not replace an energy audit, an energy performance certificate or compliance measurements.
- Without a sufficient temperature difference the images may be inconclusive; this is recorded in the report.
Price and package
We publish no separate rate for thermal imaging. The module is included in the inspection variants that provide for it or can be added to another variant, and the price is confirmed by quotation, depending on the purpose of the check and the floor area.
Tell us what you want to check (cold areas, condensation, a suspected infiltration or the general condition of the envelope) and we will recommend the right variant. The variants and starting prices are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions we receive most often before booking.
Is a temperature difference required?
Yes. Without a reasonable difference between the heated interior and the outside, thermal patterns are weak and interpretation becomes unreliable. We prefer to schedule in the cold season or early in the morning, and if conditions do not allow it on the day, we record the limitation.
Does thermal imaging see through walls?
No. The camera records surface temperature. What lies behind the wall can influence that temperature, but the image does not show hidden objects and cannot by itself confirm the presence of water or a defect.
Does it reliably identify mould?
No. Thermal imaging can indicate a colder or possibly damp area, which is a favourable environment, but it does not identify mould and does not determine species. Such matters require laboratory analyses, which we do not carry out.
Is it included in the inspection package?
It is included in the inspection variants that provide for it and can be added as a module to another variant. Inclusion and price are confirmed by quotation, depending on the purpose of the check.
What exactly does the client receive?
You receive the relevant thermal images, paired with the visible photograph of the same area, the location, the environmental conditions at the time of recording and the cautious interpretation, all integrated into the PDF inspection report.