Roof Moisture Inspection
Find hidden moisture before it becomes a costly problem.
Water trapped inside a flat or low-sloped roof is invisible to the naked eye — but it quietly destroys insulation, accelerates membrane deterioration, and leads to structural damage if left undetected. Persase performs non-destructive roof moisture inspections using thermal imaging, identifying moisture-affected areas across the entire roof surface without cutting, probing, or disrupting operations. Compliant with ASTM C1153 — the standard practice for the detection of moisture in roofing systems using infrared imaging.
Thermal imaging reveals moisture-affected areas invisible to the naked eye — non-destructive, ASTM C1153 compliant
What We Deliver
- Full roof thermal survey — the entire roof surface scanned with a calibrated infrared camera during optimal conditions, capturing the complete thermal profile of the roofing system
- Moisture area mapping — a scaled roof plan clearly marking all identified moisture-affected areas by location and approximate extent — actionable information for repairs or replacement decisions
- Thermal image documentation — annotated infrared images of all anomalies, referenced to their location on the roof plan
- 3D mesh with thermal overlay — for enhanced deliverables, Persase can combine the thermal inspection with a 3D laser scan of the roof surface, projecting the thermal data directly onto an accurate 3D mesh. This produces a georeferenced, dimensionally accurate model of the roof with moisture areas mapped in their exact position and true scale — enabling precise area measurements, slope analysis, and a richer visualization for reporting, repair planning, and stakeholder communication
- ASTM C1153 compliant reporting — the inspection is conducted and documented in accordance with ASTM C1153, the recognized standard for infrared detection of moisture in roofing systems
- Non-destructive — no disruption — no cutting, coring, or probing required. The roof surface and building operations remain completely undisturbed throughout the inspection
- Repair prioritization guidance — moisture areas are documented by severity and extent, helping owners and contractors prioritize repairs and allocate budgets effectively
Industries That Use This
| Industry | How they use it |
|---|---|
| Property Management | Proactive roof condition assessment to catch moisture infiltration early and plan maintenance before costly damage occurs |
| Insurance | Pre- and post-loss roof condition documentation providing objective, defensible evidence for claims assessment |
| Real Estate | Due diligence inspections before acquisition — identify hidden roof deficiencies before they become the buyer’s problem |
| Construction | Post-installation verification that new roofing systems are dry and performing as intended before warranty periods begin |
| Government | Condition assessment of public buildings and facilities to support capital planning and maintenance budgets |
the process
How It Works
Roof moisture inspections are conducted after sunset or before sunrise — when the roof surface is cooling or warming relative to the ambient air. Wet insulation retains heat differently than dry insulation, creating a measurable thermal contrast that a calibrated infrared camera can detect across the entire roof surface in a single survey. Persase walks a systematic pattern across the roof, capturing thermal images of the complete surface and logging the location of every anomaly. Areas of suspected moisture retention appear as warm zones in the thermal imagery during the cooling cycle and are cross-referenced with visual observations to confirm findings.
For enhanced deliverables, Persase can combine the thermal survey with a 3D laser scan of the roof surface. The scan produces an accurate 3D mesh of the entire roof — capturing geometry, slope, drainage patterns, penetrations, and surface features — onto which the thermal data is projected and registered. The result is a fully georeferenced 3D model with moisture areas mapped in their exact position and true scale. This combined deliverable enables precise moisture area measurements, slope and drainage analysis, and a far richer visualization than thermal imagery alone — particularly useful for large or complex roofs, insurance documentation, and repair scoping where accurate area quantities and spatial context matter.
All findings are compiled into a scaled roof plan showing moisture-affected areas by location and extent, supported by annotated thermal images and — where the 3D option is selected — a fully textured 3D model of the roof surface. The entire process is conducted in accordance with ASTM C1153, ensuring the methodology and reporting meet the recognized industry standard for infrared roof moisture detection.