Kent · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Bicknor, Kent
Drone roof surveys in Bicknor from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
Drone roof survey in Bicknor
The weather decides whether a drone can fly. We don’t fly in strong wind or heavy rain, because control and safety come first. If the weather turns, we’ll agree another day or inspect what we can by other means. The forecast is checked ahead of the visit and again on the day. Calm, dry conditions give the sharpest close-up photos. A short delay is better than a rushed flight. If you’ve noticed loose ridge and hip tiles and lead work pulling away at abutments, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Older buildings in small places like Bicknor may be listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care, before anyone decides what work it needs. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Bicknor (ME9)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Bicknor
Steep and tall roofs are hard to inspect safely. Tall townhouses, blocks of flats and offices are typical. A drone gets close-up views from a safe position on the ground.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
Take an older house close to Church of St James: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Before you book anyone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Their insurance cover
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
Roof by roof
Large commercial roofs
Big roofs on offices, warehouses and units take time to inspect. The drone covers the roof area by area, so nothing is skipped.
Ridges and hips
Wind lifts loose ridge and hip tiles. Finding them early keeps them from coming down.
What we do, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It usually takes an hour or two for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Around Bicknor, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First, we check whether a drone is the right tool.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it’s checked too.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Leave side gates unlocked
How to book
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
What this survey can’t tell you
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
What a drone roof survey looks like in Bicknor
Historic houses like Leeds Castle, about 3.7 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Bicknor goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from the ground, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
Bicknor is about 4 miles south-west of Sittingbourne, in Kent. We provide drone roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Bicknor. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: ME9. We also cover Hucking (1 mile west), Wormshill (1 mile south-east), Broad Street (2 miles south-west), Hollingbourne (2 miles south-west) and Eyhorne Street (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (6 miles west), Ashford (14 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (4 miles north-east), Faversham (9 miles east), Minster (10 miles north-east) and Kings Hill (12 miles west).
Local landmarks in Bicknor
Bicknor’s nearest station is Hollingbourne station, roughly 2.8 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Leeds Castle (3.7 miles south-west) and KIMS hospital (4.9 miles west). Open spaces near Bicknor include Detling Hill.
Towns and villages near Bicknor
More services for Bicknor
Bicknor: your questions answered
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Bicknor?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
How do I find out if my home in Bicknor is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when booking.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We check everything that can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Bicknor
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- The roof’s overall size
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to let us know when you contact us
There is no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.