Infrared thermography

Thermal imaging and drone infrared inspections in Rochester, NY

Find the water before it finds the ceiling. We use radiometric thermal cameras on the roof, from the air and inside the building to locate wet insulation, water intrusion, missing insulation and air leakage, then document each finding so your roofer or contractor knows exactly where to look.

Request a thermal quote Call (585) 645-2969 Text us

FAA Part 107 Certified remote pilot
Insured Certificate on request
NYS-Certified SDVOB #269133
Level I Certified Thermographer sUAS · Infraspection Institute

Thermal services

Infrared roof moisture surveys

Find wet insulation under flat and low-slope roofs so you repair the wet section, not the whole roof.

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Moisture scan for ice dams & drafts

A thermal scan of the roof, eaves and inside that shows where heat escapes and where moisture is likely.

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Building envelope survey

A complete infrared survey of walls, windows, doors, ceilings and floors, documented for insurance, warranty and public work.

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What a thermal camera actually sees

A thermal imager measures surface temperature. It can't see through a roof or a wall. What it can see is that wet materials, missing insulation and air leaks change how a surface heats up and cools down, and that pattern is what we record.

That's why timing matters. Roof moisture surveys are done after dark following a sunny day, when wet insulation releases its stored heat more slowly than dry insulation. Building surveys are done in cold weather with the heat running, when missing insulation and air leaks show clearly. And it's why every suspect area is confirmed by independent means, core samples on roofs and a moisture meter on walls and ceilings, before it goes in a report.

Night thermal image of a pitched shingle roof taken with a FLIR C8, showing the roof framing as a regular striped pattern — Night thermal image of a pitched roof (FLIR C8). The stripes are the roof framing: heat moves through the rafters differently than through the bays between them.

What it looks like

Thermal image of a sided gable wall at night showing the wall studs and roof edge as a pattern — Gable wall at night: the studs and framing show through the siding.

Grayscale thermal image of a roof eave and wall corner with a warmer spot at the corner — Eave corner: a warmer spot where the wall meets the roof, marked for a closer look.

Thermal image of vinyl siding with a small warm spot near a wall vent — Siding near a vent: a small warm spot gets a paired visual photo and a check by other means.

Thermal image of a roof peak and gable at night against a cooler sky and trees — Roof peak at night. Every image keeps its temperature data for the report.

How we work

Scheduled for the right conditions
A dry surface, a sunny day beforehand and light wind for roofs; a large inside-outside temperature difference for buildings. If conditions aren't right, we reschedule at no charge.
Every suspect area documented
Each area is captured as a paired thermal and visual image, numbered and marked so it can be found again.
Confirmed by independent means
Core samples taken by your roofer on roofs; moisture-meter readings on walls and ceilings. Level I thermography is qualitative, so we confirm before we report.
Report, walk-through and re-scan
A written report with every finding marked on a roof plan or elevation, a free 15-minute call to walk through it, and a re-scan after the repair to confirm it worked.

Credentials and equipment

Thermal work is led and reported by Doug Lancie, an Infraspection Institute Level I Certified Thermographer (sUAS), Cert. No. 20483-D, and FAA Part 107 remote pilot. Infraspection Institute has published standards for infrared inspection since 1988, and portions have been incorporated into ASTM documents.

Handheld surveys use a FLIR C8 radiometric imager with traceable factory calibration. Aerial thermal screening of large roofs is flown under Part 107 night-operation rules with anti-collision lighting. Level I thermography locates and documents thermal patterns; repair methods and costs come from your roofer, contractor or engineer.

Pricing

Every building is different, so thermal work is quoted per job after a quick call about the building, the roof and what you need the results for. Call or text (585) 645-2969 or request a quote; most quotes go out the same day.

Common questions

What does a thermal imaging inspection cost in Rochester?

It depends on the building, the roof area and the access, so each job is quoted after a short call. Most quotes go out the same day.

Is the thermographer certified?

Yes. All thermal work is performed and reported by an Infraspection Institute Level I Certified Thermographer (sUAS), Cert. No. 20483-D.

Can a thermal camera see through walls or roofs?

No. It measures surface temperature. Hidden moisture and missing insulation change how a surface heats and cools, and that pattern is what the camera records. Suspect areas are then confirmed by independent means.

Is this a home inspection or an energy audit?

No. It's infrared thermography: we locate and document thermal patterns. We don't rate the building or design repairs.

When is the best time of year?

Roof moisture surveys: October–November and April–May in Rochester. Building heat-loss and air-leakage work: December through March.