Kent · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Barfrestone
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Barfrestone. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Flashings that have come away
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
Common roof problems in Barfrestone
Parapet gutters, box gutters and central valleys sit out of sight. Debris collects where nobody looks, until it causes a leak inside. A drone shows them clearly from above.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Flashings that have come away
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
With Goodnestone Park about 2.7 miles north, the area around Barfrestone has a long history. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What experience they bring
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether you get a written report with photos
How a drone roof survey works in Barfrestone
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable, along with structural analysis, a same-day report and an in-person consultation. There is a 12-month follow-up as well. If a drone will not help on your roof, we’ll say so. You get a written report with the close-up photos from the flight. Typical surveys look at chimney tops in poor condition and hidden gutters full of leaves, on flat roofs on upper floors, large and complex roofs and chimney stacks.
Older buildings in small places like Barfrestone may be listed or in a conservation area. A look by drone or thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof, so it is a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof, before anyone decides what work it needs. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Barfrestone (CT15)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Barfrestone
Are there drone restrictions around Barfrestone?
Typically it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
Do you cover smaller places like Barfrestone?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Different roofs, different checks
Large commercial roofs
Older cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos. We don’t test for it, but we flag it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check.
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.
Tips from our surveys
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Allow time for permission if you’re in a flight restriction zone
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Expect us to rearrange if it’s too windy or wet
- Share the postcode so we can check for restrictions
You get an in-person consultation with the Premium Survey to talk through the photographs and findings. You can ask about anything that is not clear.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, particularly in autumn. On tall buildings, use a professional with the right access equipment. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet.
Drone roof surveys around Barfrestone
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Eythorne Elvington Community Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Nicholas, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
Barfrestone is about 5 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. If you are in Barfrestone, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Barfrestone is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover for drone roof surveys. Canterbury is in our area too.
Drone roof surveys in CT15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Frogham (1 mile north-west), Elvington (1 mile east), Nonington (1 mile north-west), Snowdown (2 miles north-west) and Woolage Village (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (9 miles north-west), Margate (14 miles north-east), Dover (5 miles south-east), Folkestone (9 miles south), Ramsgate (12 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (14 miles north-east).
Near you in Barfrestone
The closest station to Barfrestone is Shepherds Well station, roughly 1.3 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Buckland Hospital (5.5 miles south-east).
Leave it or get it looked at?
On a tall building, problems are often found only when water comes in. By then, timbers, ceilings and insulation may be wet. Looking from above picks up the early signs. Outbuildings and barns around Barfrestone are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Our price is from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Why book with us
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Surveys seven days a week
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
For landlords and managing agents
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Cottages and farmhouses around Barfrestone often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the roof.
- A date is fixed, with a fallback in case the weather turns.
- Aerial photos are taken of your roof only, not the neighbours’.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Before we arrive
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Book a survey
For a price for drone roof surveys in Barfrestone, phone 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us give you an accurate price.