West Sussex · London and the South East
Chidham Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach for Chidham and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
About our drone roof survey in Chidham
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and 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. Safety comes first on every visit. We survey tall and steep roofs, chimney stacks and flat roofs on upper floors, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are moss building up on slopes and in gutters and blistered or cracked flat roof coverings.
Somewhere as small as Chidham, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you can’t get from ground level. Weather and airspace are looked at before the visit, and the journey is planned ahead of time. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Place
- Chidham (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Let us know what you want to see
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Expect us to rearrange if it’s too windy or wet
There’s a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It shows whether anything has moved or worn since the first visit, and whether work has done its job.
After a storm, check from the garden and the street. Pieces of slate or tile on the ground mean something has moved. A drone can show exactly what has moved.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Nearby places to Chidham
Also in Chidham
Chidham questions
Is Chidham within the area you cover?
Yes. Chidham is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Is drone flying allowed in Chidham?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
What if it rains on the day?
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. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Drone roof surveys in Chidham: local notes
Chidham is within about 2 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you look after a building like Chidham Parochial Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Mary: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Chidham is about 4 miles west of Chichester, in West Sussex. Bookings from Chidham are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our West Sussex coverage includes Chidham and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Drone roof surveys in PO18 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets such as Chidham Lane, Harbour Way and Cot Lane. Other places close to Chidham include Nutbourne (1 mile north-west), Bosham (1 mile east), Broadbridge (1 mile east), Hambrook (1 mile north) and Bosham Hoe (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles east), Chichester (4 miles east), Selsey (8 miles south-east), Littlehampton (15 miles east), Emsworth (3 miles north-west) and Portfield (5 miles east).
Local landmarks in Chidham
We work in homes and buildings around Bourne Community College, among other places. The nearest railway station is Nutbourne station, roughly 1 mile north-west. Nearby you will also find Warblington Castle (4.1 miles west) and St Richard's Hospital (4.6 miles east). Not far away are Nutborne Marshes and Stoke Down.
What happens on the day
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take between one and two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. For a village or hamlet like Chidham, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it before the visit.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photographs of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
How to book
Our price is from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Related advice
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Chidham
Walking on some roofs does more harm than good. Old slates and clay tiles crack underfoot, and some sheet roofs are fragile. With a drone, the roof is photographed without anyone stepping on it.
People normally book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
Warblington Castle lies about 4.1 miles west, so building around Chidham goes back a long way. For older roofs nearby, a look from the air or with a thermal camera is a hands-off way to check condition.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How soon the report will arrive
- What exactly goes into their report
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Why it is worth a survey now in Chidham
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. Older cottages and farmhouses around Chidham can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Prices start 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?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- An independent view of the roof
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.