Greater London · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Bickley, Greater London
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach for Bickley, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Standing water on a flat roof
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Bickley
Drone surveys suit tall houses, blocks of flats, steep roofs and large commercial roofs. They’re useful where walking on the roof could damage it or isn’t safe. You get close-up views without anyone setting foot on the roof. Before the visit, we check the address for any airspace restrictions that apply. We’ll tell you if another approach would work better. Common reasons to book are slipped or missing slates on a high roof and ridge pieces that have lifted, on tall and steep roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and fragile roofs.
In London’s terraces and conversions, roofs are packed close together, so privacy and neighbours matter as much as the view. Images are taken to show the roof we are surveying, with care for neighbours’ privacy. Mention access, height and anything unusual about the building when booking. Steep slopes, tall chimneys and rear additions are where the extra view helps most.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Bickley (BR1, BR2, BR7)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. If you have questions on the day, just ask. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Bickley moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, let us know who can let us into the shared parts.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- Aerial photos are taken of your roof only, not the neighbours’.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the loft as well.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange a survey
If you are buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Related advice
Surveys for landlords and agents in Bickley
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
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.
More services for Bickley
Common questions in Bickley
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Bickley?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Bickley?
Sometimes, yes. If Bickley has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer, and a driveway is even better.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Bickley?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Is Bickley in your area?
Yes. We survey roofs in Bickley and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and South East England. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Common roof problems in Bickley
Big commercial and industrial roofs cover a lot of ground. A drone can photograph a large roof methodically, showing patterns of wear that are hard to spot up close. You see the whole roof, not just the parts near an access point.
Problems we come across often include:
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
If you look after a building like Bullers Wood School for Boys, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Before booking anyone
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What follow-up you get after the report
How the survey changes by roof type
Ridges and hips
The ridge takes wind from both sides. From above, we can see loose ridges and missing mortar.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Flat roofs on tall buildings are often seen by nobody. From above, standing water, splits and tired upstands are clear.
Why get it checked now?
Leaving a slipped slate or a blocked valley can turn a small fault into a leak. Spotting them early keeps the work smaller, whatever height the roof is. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Finding it early keeps the work smaller.
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Why book with us
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- An independent view of the roof
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
Drone roof surveys around Bickley
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from the ground, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. Bromley Palace, about 1.1 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Bickley. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For a London address like Bickley, it is useful to know about controlled parking before the day. If you run a business near The Mall, thermal images can show trapped moisture across a wide commercial roof.
Bickley is about 1 mile east of Bromley, in Greater London. From houses to flats and shops in Bickley, the roof can be surveyed. Across Greater London, we cover Bickley and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Surveys in BR1, BR2 and BR7 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Golf Road, The Avenue and Canon Road, all of which we cover. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Widmore (1 mile north), Elmstead (1 mile north), Chislehurst (1 mile north-east), Bromley (1 mile west) and Sundridge (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover London (9 miles north-west), City of Westminster (12 miles north-west), Marylebone (12 miles north-west), Kensington (13 miles north-west), St Pancras (11 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (10 miles north-west).
What’s near Bickley
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Bird In Hand Public House, Holy Trinity College Bromley and Jubilee Country Park and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Bickley itself: Bickley station. A little further out are Bethlem Museum of the Mind (1.5 miles south-west) and The Mall (1.3 miles west). Not far away are Summer Hill and The Tarn.
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.