Kent · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Brabourne Lees, Kent
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Brabourne Lees. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
How a drone roof survey works in Brabourne Lees
The weather decides whether a drone can fly. We do not fly in high wind or heavy rain, because the drone has to stay safely under control. If the weather turns, we will agree another day. 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. We’re often asked to look into cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots and coverings that have slipped high up on the roof, across flat roofs on upper floors, tall and steep roofs and valleys and parapet gutters.
Somewhere as small as Brabourne Lees, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you cannot get from ground level. Weather and airspace are looked at before the visit. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Brabourne Lees (TN25)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Book early if you’re near an airport
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
You get an in-person consultation with the Premium Survey to talk through the photos and findings. It is a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, ideally once the leaves have fallen. On high roofs, leave clearing to a professional. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet.
What a survey costs
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How big the roof is
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. It is useful to include:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- When you need the report by
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
What we are asked to look at in Brabourne Lees
Chimney tops take the worst of the weather. From ground level, you rarely see cracked flaunching or loose pots. A drone gets close enough to see them in detail.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
Westenhanger Castle, about 3.2 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Brabourne Lees. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Questions to ask before you book
- What insurance they carry
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether the price includes VAT
Drone roof surveys around Brabourne Lees
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that’s where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
The streets around a church like Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement. If you look after a building like Smeeth Community Primary School, big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
Brabourne Lees is about 5 miles east of Ashford, in Kent. We carry out drone roof surveys in Brabourne Lees for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Across Kent, we cover Brabourne Lees and the places around it. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the TN25 postcode area for drone roof surveys. We cover properties on Knatchbull Way, Mountbatten Way and Prospect Way and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Brabourne Lees: Smeeth (1 mile south-west), Lilyvale (1 mile south-east), Bircholt Forstal (1 mile north), Ridgeway (1 mile west) and Stone Hill (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (5 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles east), Folkestone (9 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north) and Hythe (6 miles south-east).
Around Brabourne Lees
For rail, the closest station is Westenhanger station, roughly 3.4 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Lympne Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and William Harvey Hospital (2.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Brabourne Lees include Hatch Park and Tolsford Hill.
What we do, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take an hour or two for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older roofs in small places like Brabourne Lees can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that is needed before we fly.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
What we look for on each type of roof
Ridges and hips
Ridges and hips are the most exposed parts of a pitched roof. A drone shows cracked mortar and loose ridge tiles.
Large commercial roofs
Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos. We flag it in the report and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Brabourne Lees
Landlords, agents and building managers in Brabourne Lees and across Kent can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Also near Brabourne Lees
Other services in Brabourne Lees
Brabourne Lees: your questions answered
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Brabourne Lees?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Is my home in Brabourne Lees listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it is 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 cannot see is noted in the report.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £400, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.