Kent · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Chilham
Drone roof surveys in Chilham from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
About our drone roof survey in Chilham
Before any flight, we check the airspace. Near protected airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, flight restriction zones mean permission is needed first. 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. Common reasons to book are plant growth and moss on the roof and chimney tops in poor condition, across large and complex roofs, fragile roofs and valleys and parapet gutters.
In a small place like Chilham, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, 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.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Chilham (CT4)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and two hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older roofs in small places like Chilham can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that’s needed before we fly.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photographs of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets in another room
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- How big the roof is
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you contact us:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Anything about access we should know
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Towns and villages near Chilham
More services for Chilham
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is normally out of view. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Large commercial roofs
Fragile roof sheets and roof lights can be dangerous to walk on. With a drone, nobody has to go near them.
Drone roof surveys in Chilham: local notes
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up aerial photos and thermal images help.
Whatever the street in Chilham, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Chilham is about 5 miles south-west of Canterbury, in Kent. We carry out drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Chilham and the surrounding area. Across Kent, we cover Chilham.
We work across CT4 for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets such as The Street, The Square and Bagham Road, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside Chilham, we cover Mountain Street (1 mile south-west), Old Wives Lees (1 mile north), Godmersham (2 miles south), Shottenden (2 miles west) and Perrywood (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (8 miles south-west), Canterbury (5 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (12 miles north-west), Folkestone (14 miles south-east), Whitstable (8 miles north) and Faversham (6 miles north-west).
What’s near Chilham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Woolpack Inn and Broadham Down, among other places. There is a railway station in Chilham itself: Chilham station. A little further out are Kent and Canterbury Hospital (5.3 miles east) and Chilham Castle (under half a mile west). Green spaces nearby include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
Chilham: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Chilham?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chilham?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a 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.
Is your drone operator registered?
Yes, we are. The CAA has issued us a Flyer ID and an Operator ID, and we fly a drone that weighs under 250g.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. You will know the exact price before booking, based on the roof’s size, access and package. For a price, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Does your drone take thermal images?
Our drone takes close-up photos of the roof. Thermal imaging is carried out separately, included in our Premium Survey.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Do you test for 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.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps when budgeting.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
What we cannot see
A survey is a close look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
- Flights in high wind or heavy rain
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Chilham
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs