Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Blackgang
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach around Blackgang, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
Common roof problems in Blackgang
The top of a stack is the most exposed part of many roofs. From ground level, you rarely see cracked flaunching or loose pots. Close-up drone photos show their condition.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Niton Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Questions to ask before booking
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
About our drone roof survey in Blackgang
Tall, steep, large or fragile roofs cannot always be inspected up close. A drone takes close-up photographs of those roofs from the air. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly. The photos go into a written report. It also suits roofs that would be damaged by someone walking on them. If we can’t fly, we tell you why. If you are worried about ponding and splits on a high flat roof and chimney tops in poor condition, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on flat roofs on upper floors, valleys and parapet gutters and large and complex roofs alike.
Older buildings in small places like Blackgang may be listed or in a conservation area. A look from the air or with a thermal camera does not touch the roof, so it’s a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof, 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.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Blackgang (PO38)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Blackgang
We confirm the price for your roof before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The roof’s overall size
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
If you’re buying, it helps 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 send us an email when you are ready.
Common questions in Blackgang
Do you cover smaller places like Blackgang?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is my home in Blackgang listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What’s in the report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photographs. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
What happens after the survey?
You will get the report by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
How long does the visit take?
It typically takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Time for the pre-flight checks is included.
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
What a drone roof survey looks like in Blackgang
Blackgang lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight.
Wolverton Manor, about 4.1 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Blackgang. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from the air or with a thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof itself. The streets around a church such as St Andrew's Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Blackgang is about 6 miles south-west of Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. If you’re in Blackgang, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our the Isle of Wight coverage includes Blackgang and the places around it. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
We cover every part of the PO38 postcode area for drone roof surveys. We also cover Chale (1 mile north-west), Niton (1 mile east), Puckaster (1 mile south-east), Pyle (1 mile north-west) and Bierley (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (8 miles north), Ryde (11 miles north-east), Cowes (12 miles north), Sandown (8 miles north-east), Shanklin (6 miles north-east) and Ventnor (4 miles east). Remote addresses need a little more planning, so please mention your location when you ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Near you in Blackgang
Nearby you’ll also find Blackgang Sawmill Museum (under half a mile west) and Whitecroft Hospital (5.7 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Stenbury Down.
How it works
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes between one and two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. In a small place like Blackgang, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start by checking the airspace and any restrictions at your address.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it before the visit.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photos of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Read more
What this survey cannot tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Flights in strong wind or heavy rain
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Blackgang
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
More services for Blackgang
Roof by roof
Ridges and hips
Loose ridge pieces can be lifted in a storm. Spotting them early stops them falling.
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is typically out of view. Close-up photos show the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.