Essex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Broadley Common, Essex
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach across Broadley Common, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Leaks frequently start at outlets, edges and around plant. We photograph them closely, as far as the flight allows.
Valleys and parapet gutters
When a parapet outlet blocks, water can come inside. We check outlets and photograph any build-up.
About our drone roof survey in Broadley Common
Before any flight, we check the airspace. Near protected airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, flight restriction zones mean permission is needed first. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If we cannot fly, we use other safe vantage points instead and tell you. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. Common reasons to book are blocked valleys and parapet gutters and eroded pointing on a chimney stack, on large and complex roofs, fragile roofs and tall and steep roofs.
In a small place like Broadley Common, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Broadley Common (EN9)
- Region
- Essex
- 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
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- Neighbouring roofs the owner hasn’t asked us to survey
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Tall and steep roofs
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. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Broadley Common, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Surveys seven days a week
- Every finding written up with photos
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
What we are asked to look at in Broadley Common
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.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Standing water on a flat roof
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps.
What to check before booking
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
How it 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. The visit normally takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Somewhere like Broadley Common needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- Aerial photos are taken of your roof only, not the neighbours’.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Getting ready for the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Also near Broadley Common
Other services in Broadley Common
Common questions in Broadley Common
Will you come out to Broadley Common?
Yes, Broadley Common is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is my home in Broadley Common listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Does the drone show the underside of the roof?
No. The drone photographs the outer surfaces, but it cannot see under the coverings. We look in the loft from inside where it is safe.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
What a drone roof survey looks like in Broadley Common
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from the ground, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
Anyone responsible for a site like Water Lane Primary Academy will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Broadley Common is about 3 miles south-west of Harlow, in Essex. We carry out drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Broadley Common and nearby. Broadley Common is one of the places in Essex where we work for drone roof surveys. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the EN9 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Local streets include Common Road, Epping Road and Nazeing Common, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Broadley Common: Tylerscross (1 mile north), Nazeing (1 mile south-west), Jack's Hatch (1 mile east), Roydon Hamlet (1 mile north-west) and Halls Green (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Harlow (3 miles north-east), Brentwood (13 miles south-east), Loughton (7 miles south), Waltham Abbey (4 miles south-west), Epping (4 miles south-east) and Stansted Mountfitchet (12 miles north-east).
What’s near Broadley Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near Nazeing Triangle, Stewards School and Black Swan Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Roydon station, about 2.4 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Nazeing Glass Museum (2.6 miles west) and Harlow Mill (4.4 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Cheshunt Lake and Hunsdon Mead.