A building’s most costly problems are often the ones you cannot see: infiltration under a membrane, a thermal bridge behind a wall, insulation slumped in an attic. Infrared thermography serves exactly that purpose: making the invisible visible, before the problem becomes a bill.
How it works
A thermal camera does not see through walls: it measures surface temperature differences. A damp area, an air leak or missing insulation subtly changes the temperature of a wall, ceiling or roof, and these differences, invisible to the eye, appear clearly to the camera.
Important: thermography reveals surface temperature differences that then have to be interpreted, it does not pass through materials and does not give an X-ray of the wall. All the value is in reading the images, not in the image itself.
What it reveals
- infiltration and moisture, notably under roof membranes, before a stain appears inside;
- thermal bridges and areas of deficient insulation;
- air leaks in the envelope;
- clues to hidden problems, to be confirmed by other means.
The camera does not make the diagnosis, it points to where to look. The diagnosis is the interpretation.
When to use it
Thermography is useful at several moments: before buying a building, before roofing work, as quality control after renovations, as support for a legal recourse or an insurance claim, or as part of an energy audit.
It is not magic: it is science
To be reliable, a thermographic survey requires conditions: sufficient thermal contrast. A roof is ideally analyzed in the evening, after a sunny day; a building’s envelope during the heating season (winter) or cooling season (summer). Done in poor conditions, a thermal image can mislead, hence the importance of know-how.
500+ roof bays and buildings analyzed on major projects in Quebec
Our approach
At Boreon, thermography is not just taking images: it is the interpretation and analysis of the results, grounded in building science and real field experience. It is integrated into our inspections and available as a dedicated mandate. InterNACHI-certified inspectors, professional liability insurance, throughout Greater Montreal, West Island, South Shore, Laval, North Shore.
Key takeaway
Thermography reveals infiltration, thermal bridges and air leaks invisible to the eye, but its value lies in the interpretation and the survey conditions, not in the image alone. Used well, it is one of the most powerful tools for detecting a problem before it becomes expensive.
Unsure about a roof, an envelope or moisture? Request a thermographic analysis from Boreon — see the invisible, and interpret it.
