Terra Nova Roofing & ConstructionThermal Roof Scans & Leak Detection in NJ
Patched it twice and it still leaks? Water under a roof travels before it drips, so the stain is rarely under the hole. Terra Nova Roofing & Construction uses thermal (infrared) roof scans to find trapped moisture and wet insulation — especially on flat roofs — then confirms it on the roof or in the attic before recommending a repair.
Licensed & insured • NJ Lic. #13VH13824700 • Locally owned in Garfield, NJ • Written estimate with photos • Hablamos español
Text photos of the stain and the roof to 973-200-1617 and ask about a thermal scan.
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What is a thermal roof scan and how does it find roof leaks?
A thermal roof scan uses an infrared camera to map temperature differences across a roof; Terra Nova Roofing & Construction uses it in New Jersey to find wet insulation and trapped moisture behind hidden or recurring leaks, especially on flat roofs. We confirm every finding on the roof or in the attic and give you photos and a written estimate. Licensed & insured, NJ Lic. #13VH13824700. Call or text 973-200-1617.
What is a thermal (infrared) roof scan (a paid service, priced up front)?
A thermal roof scan is a survey of the roof with an infrared camera, which records surface temperatures instead of visible light, so areas that are wetter, warmer or cooler than the roof around them show up as a different colour.
It doesn't see through the roof. What it sees is the effect of water on how the roof surface warms and cools. A roof that has water soaked into its insulation or deck behaves differently from a dry roof, and the camera picks that up. For a roofer, that turns a guess — "somewhere on this side" — into a specific area to check.
We use thermal scans as part of finding leaks, not as a stand-alone report. The point is to fix the right spot the first time.
Thermal roof scan at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What it finds | Areas of trapped moisture: wet insulation, damp decking, water under a membrane |
| Most useful for | Flat and low-slope roofs, recurring leaks, stains with no visible cause |
| How it's confirmed | On the roof or in the attic, by a roofer, before any repair is recommended |
| What you get | Thermal images, regular photos, findings and a written estimate with the exact price |
| Who does it | Terra Nova Roofing & Construction, Garfield, NJ · NJ Lic. #13VH13824700 |
| Where | Passaic, Bergen, Morris, Essex, Hudson and Union County |
| Language | Hablamos español |
How does infrared find trapped moisture under a roof?
Infrared finds trapped moisture because wet roofing materials store more heat than dry ones and give it up more slowly, so they read at a different temperature than the dry roof around them.
During a sunny day, the whole roof warms up. Dry insulation is a poor store of heat, so once the sun goes down that part of the roof cools quickly. Wet insulation and soaked decking hold heat much longer, so in the evening they stay warmer — and on the camera they show up as a distinct patch, often with the shape of the area water has spread into. The reverse can show up at other times of day or from inside a heated house.
Because the method depends on heat moving through the roof, timing and weather matter. A scan is planned for conditions where the temperature difference will be readable, and a dry roof surface gives the clearest picture.
Why do thermal scans matter most on flat roofs?
Thermal scans are most useful on flat roofs because water can spread a long way under a flat roof membrane before it ever shows up on a ceiling, and wet insulation under the membrane is invisible from above.
- Water travels. A small opening at a seam or wall flashing can soak insulation across a wide area, and the drip inside may be far from the hole.
- Wet insulation stays wet. It loses its insulating value, adds weight, and keeps the deck damp — which can lead to rot and keep a ceiling stain coming back.
- Repair or replace? If the wet area is small, a section can be cut out and repaired. If it runs across most of the roof, replacement is usually the better money. A scan helps answer that with evidence instead of a guess.
- Multi-family and commercial roofs. Bigger roofs with rooftop units, drains and many penetrations are hard to check by eye alone.
On pitched shingle roofs, scans can help too — for example, showing damp areas from inside the attic — but the attic inspection does most of the work there. More: flat roof repair.
When should you ask for a thermal roof scan?
Ask about a thermal scan when the source of a leak isn't obvious, or when you need to know how far water has spread:
A leak that keeps coming back
It's been patched and the stain returns. See recurring roof leak repair.
A stain with no visible cause
Nothing looks wrong from the roof or attic.
A flat roof that ponds or feels soft
Spongy spots underfoot often mean wet insulation below.
Deciding repair vs. replace
Knowing how much of the roof is wet changes the decision.
After a storm
Leaks after wind-driven rain with no missing materials.
No attic access
Cathedral ceilings and flat roofs with no space to look into. See leaks without attic access.
What can't a thermal roof scan do?
A thermal scan can't prove a leak on its own — it shows temperature patterns, and every pattern has to be confirmed on the roof or in the attic before anyone cuts, repairs or replaces anything.
- Not every warm spot is water. Different materials, patches, extra layers, rooftop equipment and heat escaping from the building can all look different on the camera.
- Weather matters. Wind, rain, a wet surface or the wrong time of day can make the image hard to read. Sometimes the right answer is to come back in better conditions.
- It doesn't find the hole itself. It shows where water has gone. The entry point — a seam, a flashing, a boot — is found by a roofer tracing back from that area.
- Reflective surfaces read poorly. Shiny metal and some coatings bounce heat around and can give false readings.
That's why we treat a thermal image as a lead, not a verdict. If you're shown a scan by anyone, ask how the findings were confirmed.
Thermal scan vs. other ways to find a roof leak
| Method | What it's good at | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Roof inspection | Seeing failed flashing, cracked boots, missing shingles, open seams | Can't see water under the surface |
| Attic inspection | Tracing drips, stains and wet insulation on pitched roofs | Not possible with flat roofs or cathedral ceilings |
| Water test | Proving a specific spot leaks by running water on it | Slow; only tests the spots you choose |
| Thermal scan | Mapping where moisture is trapped across a wide area | Must be confirmed; depends on weather and timing |
In practice we combine them: the scan narrows the search, the roof and attic inspection confirm it, and a water test proves a spot when needed. More: how to find a roof leak and roof leak inspection.
How does a thermal scan leak investigation work with Terra Nova?
Tell us the history
When it leaks, where the stain is, what's been patched. Photos help: 973-200-1617.
Inspect inside and out
We look at the stain, the attic or top floor, and the roof surface, flashing and drains.
Scan when conditions are right
The scan is timed for weather and time of day when moisture will show clearly.
Confirm on the roof
Areas the scan flags are checked by hand, and probed or opened where needed.
Find the entry point
We trace the water back to where it gets in — the actual cause.
Written estimate with photos
Thermal and regular photos, what we found, and the exact price before any work.
What do you get after a thermal roof scan?
After a thermal scan you get thermal images, regular photos of the same areas, a plain-English explanation of what we found and confirmed, and a written estimate with the exact price for the repair or replacement we recommend.
The estimate tells you where the water is getting in, how far it has spread, whether the wet area can be cut out and repaired or the roof needs replacing, and whether decking or insulation needs to be replaced. For reference, roof leak repair starts from $650, standard roof repair from $950 and emergency leak service from $1,500, with rotted decking or hidden damage extra. Replacement is priced from the inspection. Financing is available for larger projects.
If the leak is from sudden storm damage, the photos can also help if you talk to your insurance company — though the insurance company decides coverage. See does insurance cover roof leaks?.
What homeowners say about us
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Ask About a Thermal Roof Scan
Tell us about the leak — when it shows up, where, and what's been tried. We'll inspect, let you know whether a thermal scan will help, and give you a written estimate with photos.
Why homeowners and owners ask for a scan
- A leak that came back after repairs
- A flat roof with soft or ponding areas
- A stain with no visible cause
- Deciding between repair and replacement
- A building roof that's hard to check by eye
Request your free estimate
Fill this out and a member of our team will follow up within one business day.
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Thermal Roof Scan Questions
Can a thermal camera find a roof leak?
It finds where water has collected, such as wet insulation or damp decking, which points to the leak. The entry point is then found and confirmed by a roofer on the roof or in the attic.
Does a thermal scan work on shingle roofs?
It can help, especially from inside the attic, but it's most useful on flat and low-slope roofs where wet insulation is hidden under the membrane.
When should a thermal roof scan be done?
Often in the evening after a sunny, dry day, when wet areas hold heat longer than dry ones. Wind, rain or a wet surface can make the image hard to read.
Is a thermal scan always accurate?
No. Patches, extra layers, equipment and reflective surfaces can look like moisture. That's why every finding is confirmed before we recommend work.
How long does a scan and inspection take?
It depends on the roof and the weather, and we may come back if conditions weren't right for a clear scan. Most leak repairs that follow are done in one visit.
Do I need to be home?
It helps, so we can see the stain and the top floor or attic. For the roof-top part of the scan, we just need safe access.
What if it rains before the scan?
A wet roof surface can hide the pattern, so we may reschedule the scan for a dry day. If water is coming in, we can put on a temporary dry-in first.
Will insurance pay for leak detection or the repair?
It depends on your policy and the cause of the leak. We can document what we find with photos, but the insurance company decides what's covered.
What does the estimate include?
Thermal and regular photos, what we found and confirmed, the cause, what we recommend and the exact price in writing.
Is financing available?
Financing is available for larger projects like a flat roof or full roof replacement. Options and terms depend on the project and approval.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Terra Nova Roofing & Construction is licensed and insured, NJ Lic. #13VH13824700, based in Garfield, NJ.
¿Hablan español?
Sí, hablamos español. Llame o mande texto al 973-200-1617.
Updated November 2026 by the Terra Nova Roofing & Construction team, Garfield, NJ • NJ Lic. #13VH13824700