Greater London · London and the South East
Cheam Drone Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a drone roof survey in Cheam and across Greater London.
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below
Airspace, weather and Cheam roofs
In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. If your home in Cheam is one of them, bay roofs, hips and later dormers each have their own details. Many roofs like these cannot be judged properly from the pavement, and that’s where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place. The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Andrew are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image. For businesses in and around places such as The Ashley Centre, a commercial roof can be photographed from above without anyone walking on it. Anyone responsible for a site like Glaisdale School will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Cheam is about 1 mile south-west of Sutton, in Greater London. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Cheam can all book drone roof surveys. Cheam is one of the places in Greater London we cover for drone roof surveys. You can also see our page for London.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: SM2, SM3 and SM1. You will find streets like Wray Road, York Road and The Avenue, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Belmont (1 mile south-east), Cuddington (1 mile north-west), North Looe (1 mile south-west), North Cheam (2 miles north) and Nork (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as London (12 miles north-east), City of Westminster (12 miles north), Marylebone (12 miles north), Kensington (11 miles north), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (14 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Cheam
We work in homes and buildings around Avenue Primary Academy, Howell Hill and Overton Grange School. Cheam’s nearest station is Cheam station, about 0.6 miles north. Well-known places in the area include The Ashley Centre (2.7 miles south-west) and Chessington Castle Hill (3.5 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Duppas Hill and Belmont Pastures.
How a drone roof survey works in Cheam
Before any flight, we check the airspace. Flight restriction zones around airports such as 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 we can’t fly, we use other safe vantage points instead and explain why. Prisons have their own drone restriction zones too. We survey fragile roofs, large and complex roofs and chimney stacks, and people most often book us about plant growth and moss on the roof and loose ridge and hip tiles.
In London’s terraces and conversions, roofs are packed close together, so privacy and neighbours matter as much as the view. Images are taken to show the roof we’re surveying, with care for neighbours’ privacy. Tell us about the building and access when booking. Steep slopes, tall chimneys and rear additions are where the extra view helps most.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Cheam (SM2, SM3, SM1)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a drone roof survey doesn’t cover
A survey is a proper look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- A flight on a day when the weather isn’t safe
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Shut pets inside while we fly
File the report and photos with your home documents. They’re a useful baseline for future surveys, and they help if you sell.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. The underside often shows problems before the outside does. Take photos of any changes.
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Outlets, edges and roof plant are common problem areas. We photograph them closely, as far as the flight allows.
Ridges and hips
Wind lifts loose ridge and hip tiles. Finding them early keeps them from coming down.
Places near Cheam
Also in Cheam
Questions from Cheam
Is parking a problem for a survey in Cheam?
It can be, so it is useful to tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when booking. The visit is then planned around what’s available.
How do I find out if my home in Cheam is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
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.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible.
What about my neighbours’ privacy?
No, the camera is kept on your roof. Neighbouring homes and gardens are not the subject. A quick word with the neighbours is a good idea.
Do you work in Cheam?
Yes. We carry out drone roof surveys in Cheam.
Why act early in Cheam
From the ground, you are guessing about most of a tall roof. Close-up photos show what’s really there, slope by slope. Seeing the problem makes it easier to decide what to do. A hidden valley or parapet gutter on a London house can hold water for weeks before anyone notices. By the time a ceiling stains, the timbers underneath may have been wet for a while.
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Why us?
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
The survey, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In Cheam, visits are available on weekdays and at weekends. London parking is often by permit or pay-and-display, so it helps to know what’s near you, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- First, we check whether a drone is the right tool.
- A date is fixed, with a fallback in case the weather turns.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- Where there is safe access, we check the loft as well.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
How to book
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Related advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Cheam
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.