West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Charlton, West Sussex
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Charlton, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
How it works
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Around Charlton, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- We arrange any permission that’s needed before we fly.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photos of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- We email a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Advice
Drone roof survey in Charlton: what you get
Every flight starts with an airspace check. Flight restriction zones around airports like Heathrow, Gatwick and London City need permission from the airport or air traffic control. Central London has restricted areas of its own, which need NATS permission. If permission isn’t given, we inspect by other means and explain why. Prisons have their own drone restriction zones too. We survey fragile roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and large and complex roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are loose ridge and hip tiles and cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below.
In a small place like Charlton, open ground can mean strong wind. High wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. 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.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Charlton (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Tell us about any leaks or concerns
- Let us know the exact address as you book
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
Keep the photos with your property records. They’re a useful baseline for future surveys, and they help if you sell.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, especially in autumn. On high roofs, leave clearing to a professional. Blocked hidden gutters cause many leaks.
Places near Charlton
What else we do in Charlton
Flying and imaging in Charlton
In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from the ground, drone photos and thermal images add detail. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons.
Take a building like Singleton CofE Primary School: thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. West Dean House, about 1.7 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Charlton. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Charlton is about 5 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. We provide drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Charlton and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: PO18. That includes homes and businesses on Charlton Road and Knight's Hill. We also cover Singleton (1 mile west), East Dean (1 mile east), West Dean (2 miles west), Cocking (3 miles north) and Heyshott (3 miles north). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles south), Chichester (5 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles south-east), Emsworth (10 miles south-west) and Rustington (12 miles south-east).
Around Charlton
Other landmarks nearby include Chichester Centre (4.6 miles south) and Weald and Downland Gridshell (0.8 miles west). Not far away are Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
What you can safely check yourself
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Why act early in Charlton
Leaving a slipped slate or a blocked valley can turn a small fault into a leak. Finding them now means less to put right, whatever height the roof is. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- Visits on any day of the week
- An independent look at the roof
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Charlton
Height and steep pitches make close inspection risky. Three-storey houses, blocks of flats and tall commercial buildings are common examples. We fly from ground level and bring the camera close to the roof.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near The Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Questions to ask before you book
- When you’ll get the report
- Are they insured for the work?
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Common questions in Charlton
Will you come out to Charlton?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
How do I find out if my home in Charlton is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you hold CAA registration for the drone?
Yes, we are. The CAA has issued us a Flyer ID and an Operator ID, and the drone itself is under 250g, kept within sight on every flight.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Can you fly a drone near an airport?
Sometimes, with permission. Confirmed flight restriction zones include Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Stansted, Luton and Southampton, among others, and a flight inside one needs the airport’s or air traffic control’s say-so. Without it, we inspect from other safe viewpoints.
Are there drone restrictions in central London?
Central London has restricted areas where NATS permission is needed. Where we cannot fly, we use other safe vantage points.
What about my neighbours’ privacy?
We keep the camera on the roof we are surveying. We inspect only the roof you’ve asked about. If your roof is shared, it is useful to tell your neighbours about the visit.
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is usually out of view. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Large commercial roofs
Large commercial roofs cover a lot of ground. The drone covers the roof area by area.