Kent · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Barham
A careful look at the roof at your property in Barham, with photos and a written report.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Chimney tops in poor condition
How a drone roof survey works in Barham
Some roofs are hard or unsafe to reach. A drone takes close-up photographs of those roofs from the air. You see slates, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters in detail. The photos go into a written report. It’s also a good option where walking on the roof could break slates or tiles. If we cannot fly, we tell you why. We survey large and complex roofs, chimney stacks and fragile roofs, and the problems we are asked to look at most are storm damage on steep or tall roofs and cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below.
In a village or hamlet like Barham, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what can’t be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first, and the journey is planned in advance. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Barham (CT4)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. For a village or hamlet like Barham, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we’re surveying.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the loft as well.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Before the survey
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Getting a price
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Advice
Why get it checked now?
Small defects on a high roof grow with each storm. Spotting them early keeps the work smaller. Older cottages and farmhouses around Barham can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
What you get with us
- 98% of customers satisfied
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Every finding written up with photos
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Barham
After storms, owners want to know what has moved. Damage on a high or steep roof is hard to judge from the garden. Close-up photos make it clear what has been disturbed.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
Anyone responsible for a site like Barham Church of England Primary School will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
What to check before booking
- What the survey will not cover
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Towns and villages near Barham
What else we do in Barham
Barham questions
How do I find out if my home in Barham is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is drone flying allowed in Barham?
Normally 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. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes between one and two hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. We will confirm the timing when you book.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it does not include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Flying and imaging in Barham
Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. 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. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up aerial photos and thermal images help.
With Goodnestone Park about 3.9 miles north-east, the area around Barham has a long history. For older roofs nearby, a look from the air or with a thermal camera is a hands-off way to check condition. If you live in an older home near Church of St John the Baptist, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Barham is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. We carry out drone roof surveys in Barham for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Barham is one of the places in Kent where we work for drone roof surveys. Canterbury is in our area too.
We cover every part of CT4 for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on The Street, Valley Road and Church Lane and the roads around them. Other places close to Barham include Derringstone (1 mile south), Gravel Castle (1 mile south-east), Heart's Delight (1 mile south-west), Out Elmstead (1 mile north) and Kingston (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Margate (15 miles north-east), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (8 miles south) and Ramsgate (14 miles north-east).
Near you in Barham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Jumping Downs and Black Robin Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Snowdown station, roughly 2.4 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Kent and Canterbury Hospital (5.1 miles north-west).
Different roofs, different checks
Valleys and parapet gutters
Valleys and parapet gutters are hidden from the street. A drone shows linings, joints and build-ups of debris.
Ridges and hips
Some ridges are fixed with mortar, others with dry-fix systems. Their condition is noted in the report.
Can I check my roof myself?
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Tips that help
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Make sure there’s room outside for the drone to take off
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
Keep the photos with your property records. They’re a useful baseline for future surveys, and they help if you sell.
Keep the loft space ventilated. Poor airflow lets condensation build up. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.