Essex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Chatham Green, Essex
We carry out drone roof surveys in Chatham Green and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Drones, thermal imaging and Chatham Green roofs
England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your 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, so check with the council. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, 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.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St John the Evangelist, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Chatham Green is about 5 miles north of Chelmsford, in Essex. If you are in Chatham Green, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages.
Every address in CM3 is within our area for drone roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Little Leighs (1 mile north-east), Howe Street (1 mile south-west), Hartford End (2 miles north-west), Willows Green (2 miles north) and Ford End (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (5 miles south), Braintree (6 miles north-east), Brentwood (15 miles south-west), Maldon (10 miles south-east), Billericay (13 miles south) and Witham (6 miles east).
Near you in Chatham Green
The closest station to Chatham Green is Beaulieu Park station, roughly 4.1 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Broomfield Hospital (2.9 miles south). The countryside around Chatham Green includes Sandylay and Moat Woods.
Drone roof survey in Chatham Green: what you get
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an 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. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. We never fly where it isn’t safe. Typical surveys look at outlets choked with leaves and silt and cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below, across valleys and parapet gutters, chimney stacks and large and complex roofs.
Villages like Chatham Green often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Chatham Green (CM3)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Chatham Green
More services for Chatham Green
Chatham Green: your questions answered
Is Chatham Green within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Are there drone restrictions around Chatham Green?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. The written report follows by email.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you need a drone roof survey in Chatham Green?
After storms, owners want to know what has moved. Damage on a high or steep roof is hard to judge from the garden. A drone shows what has slipped, lifted or gone.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
For any home in Chatham Green, it’s the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right.
Before you book anyone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What the survey won’t cover
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Why it is worth a survey now in Chatham Green
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. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Chatham Green, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chatham Green
- Photos and a written report every time
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Over 20 years’ experience
- An independent view of the roof
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Prices for drone roof surveys in Chatham Green
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Height and safe access
- Which survey package you book
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £400, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- When you need the report by
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- Neighbouring roofs the owner hasn’t asked us to survey
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
Before and after the survey
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Book early if you are near an airport
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- Let us know the exact address when you book
- Tell us about any leaks or concerns
There’s a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Plan a drone survey every few years for tall or large roofs. Comparing surveys shows what is wearing, so small faults are dealt with early.
How it works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, emailed to you. On timing, it usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Chatham Green frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we are surveying.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
How to prepare
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Book a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.