West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Balls Cross, West Sussex
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Balls Cross. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
About our drone roof survey in Balls Cross
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it can’t see inside. Where there’s safe access, we look in the loft space too, because the underside tells its own story. Together, the two give a fuller picture. Your report shows the drone photos alongside what we saw in the loft. If there is no safe loft access, the report says so. If you’re worried about cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots and moss and weeds taking hold up top, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Balls Cross are listed or in a conservation area. A look from above or with a thermal imager doesn’t touch the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Place
- Balls Cross (GU28)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. For a village or hamlet like Balls Cross, the journey is planned ahead of time: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are checked.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Large commercial roofs
Fragile roof sheets and roof lights can be dangerous to walk on. With a drone, nobody has to go near them.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
The flat roof on top of a block is rarely looked at. A drone shows ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands.
What a survey costs
We confirm the price for the job before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What to let us know when you contact us
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where the property is, with the postcode
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
File the report and photos with your home documents. They give you something to compare against later, and they help if you sell.
After a storm, check from the garden and the street. Debris in the garden is a sign to act on. A drone survey can show what has shifted.
Why act early in Balls Cross
Close-up photos make conversations with roofers clearer. You can show exactly where the problem is. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What you get with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Prices that include VAT
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Places near Balls Cross
Also in Balls Cross
Common questions in Balls Cross
Is drone flying allowed in Balls Cross?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Balls Cross?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
How soon will I get the report?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Do you cover Balls Cross?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Balls Cross.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys seven days a week. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Airspace, weather and Balls Cross roofs
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Steep or complicated roofs are frequently hard to see from ground level, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
With Petworth House about 2.9 miles south, the area around Balls Cross has a long history. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey by drone or thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof itself. For an older house near a landmark like Holy Trinity Church, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Balls Cross is about 12 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Wherever you are in Balls Cross, we can carry out drone roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. We also survey roofs in Guildford.
We work across GU28 for drone roof surveys. If you’re just outside Balls Cross, we cover Kirdford (2 miles east), Mackerel's Common (2 miles north-east), Plaistow (3 miles north-east), Ifold (4 miles north-east) and Wisborough Green (4 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (12 miles east), Chichester (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (15 miles south), Rustington (15 miles south), Storrington (10 miles south-east) and Billingshurst (6 miles east).
Around Balls Cross
Other landmarks nearby include Lodsworth Castle (4.7 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include The Mens and Shillinglee Lake.