London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Reading
Wherever you are in Reading, we can carry out drone roof surveys. Written reports with photos, and surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Drone roof survey across Reading
Across Reading, that means close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach. The lists below link to a page for each place. To book, call 07833 053749.
Largest places
Drone roof survey in Reading: how it works
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. A drone inspection, where applicable, is also part of our Premium Survey, with a same-day report, structural analysis and an in-person consultation. There’s a 12-month follow-up as well. We’ll tell you if a drone isn’t the right tool for your roof. You get a written report with the close-up photos from the flight. Typical surveys look at ponding and splits on a high flat roof and gaps where slates or tiles have gone, across tall and steep roofs, large and complex roofs and valleys and parapet gutters.
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off.
- First, we check whether a drone is the right tool.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we are surveying.
- Where there is safe access, we check the loft as well.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
What affects the price in Reading
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why customers in Reading book us
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Every finding written up with photos
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Near you in Caversham
We work in homes and buildings around Eldon Square, Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre and Chiltern Nursery Nurse Training School and the streets around them. Nearby too are The Hill Primary School (less than half a mile north-east), Grace Church (less than half a mile east) and The White Horse pub (under half a mile north). The closest station to Caversham is Reading station, about 1.3 miles south. Nearby you will also find Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Broad Street Mall (1.6 miles south). For a walk, there’s South Lake and Sonning Hill.
Drones, thermal imaging and roofs across Reading
From Caversham, Norcot and West Reading to its smaller places, Reading has roofs that are tall, steep or hard to see from the ground. A drone or thermal camera adds a view you cannot get from ground level.
We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Reading is part of that. London and South East England have homes from every era, from period terraces to post-war new towns and new estates.
Caversham: Take a building like The Hill Primary School: big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once. For an older house near a landmark such as Grace Church, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Signs you need a drone roof survey
Strong winds can lift slates, tiles and ridge pieces. It is hard to tell from below what has shifted. A drone shows what has slipped, lifted or gone.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Flashings that have come away
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Reading
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
- Shut pets inside while we fly
File the report and photos with your home documents. They’re a useful baseline for future surveys, and they help if you sell.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, ideally once the leaves have fallen. On tall buildings, use a professional with the right access equipment. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet.
Reading: your questions answered
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What happens next?
The report arrives by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Do you work in Reading?
Yes, we do. Reading is part of the area we cover.
How long does a drone roof survey take?
Allow between one and two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not always. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs can’t always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where applicable let us see the rest.