West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Birdham, West Sussex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Birdham from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
What this survey can’t tell you
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- A structural engineer’s report
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Birdham
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Birdham
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. It stays within sight for the whole flight, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Every flight is planned around the roof, the site and the people nearby. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. Safety comes first on every visit. Common reasons to book are tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack and slipped or missing slates on a high roof, on flat roofs on upper floors, fragile roofs and chimney stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Birdham, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what cannot be reached safely. Weather and airspace are looked at ahead of the visit, and the journey is planned beforehand. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Place
- Birdham (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Birdham
Is Birdham within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Birdham?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
How long does a drone roof survey take?
The visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. We will give you an idea of timing when you book.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Bad weather means no flight. Wind and heavy rain are the two things that ground a small drone, so we’d move the date with you, or look from other safe viewpoints if you’d rather.
How quickly is the report sent?
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.
What’s the best way to book?
Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
How many surveys have you done?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years.
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Birdham
The top of a stack is the most exposed part of many roofs. Cracked flaunching, loose pots and eroded pointing are often invisible from below. A drone gets close enough to see them in detail.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Wind damage high on the roof
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St James' Church, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
What to check before booking
- When you will get the report
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- What the survey won’t cover
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It 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 Birdham often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Large commercial roofs
Many commercial roofs have fragile sheets or roof lights. With a drone, nobody has to go near them.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Old slates and clay tiles can crack underfoot. The drone sees them without touching them, so the survey doesn’t add damage.
Towns and villages near Birdham
Other services in Birdham
What affects the price in Birdham
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £400, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What made you get in touch
- When you need the report by
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Birdham
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Drone roof surveys in Birdham: local notes
Birdham is within about 2 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons.
Anyone responsible for a site like Birdham CE Primary School will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Birdham is about 4 miles south-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. Birdham is one of many places we visit across West Sussex. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, large and small. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Here we cover the PO20 postcode area for drone roof surveys. We offer drone roof surveys to properties on Old Common Close, Main Road and Walwyn Close. If you are just outside Birdham, we cover Somerley (1 mile south-west), Almodington (1 mile south), Shipton Green (1 mile west), Highleigh (2 miles south-east) and Earnley (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (6 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north-east), Selsey (5 miles south-east), Littlehampton (13 miles east), Emsworth (6 miles north-west) and Rustington (14 miles east).
What’s near Birdham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Birdham Public House, among other places. The closest station to Birdham is Fishbourne station, roughly 3.3 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Chichester Castle (4.1 miles north-east) and St Richard's Hospital (4.4 miles north-east). Open spaces near Birdham include Pilsey Island.