Southampton · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Chilworth, Southampton
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Chilworth, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
What happens if roof problems are left?
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey doesn’t create new problems. Older and listed buildings around Chilworth may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £400, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chilworth
- PI and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Surveys seven days a week
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Chilworth
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 well below the 120-metre height limit. Every flight is planned around the roof, the site and the people nearby. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. We never fly where it isn’t safe. If you’ve noticed slates or tiles shifted by high winds and loose ridge and hip tiles, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Chilworth, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what can’t be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Chilworth (SO16)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
What we do, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Cottages and farmhouses around Chilworth often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the 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.
- We also look inside the roof space where it is safe.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Booking a survey
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Advice
Places near Chilworth
What else we do in Chilworth
Roof by roof
Steep slate and tile slopes
Walking on fragile coverings can break them. The drone sees them without touching them, so the survey does not add damage.
Large commercial roofs
Fragile roof sheets and roof lights can be dangerous to walk on. A drone keeps everyone off them.
Chilworth: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Chilworth is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is drone flying allowed in Chilworth?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. The flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport covers Chilworth, or comes right up to its edge. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photographs, covering the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, in order of urgency where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Airspace, weather and Chilworth roofs
Chilworth lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Chilworth is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it is given.
South Stoneham House lies about 2 miles south-east, so building around Chilworth goes back a long way. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Denys, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
Chilworth is about 2 miles south-west of Chandler's Ford, in Southampton. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Chilworth can all book drone roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Chilworth is one of the places in Southampton where we work.
We work across SO16 for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Heatherlands Road, Roman Road and Pinelands Road. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Chilworth Old Village (1 mile north-west), Bassett (1 mile south), Lordswood (1 mile south-west), Highfield (2 miles south) and North Baddesley (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Southampton (3 miles south), Shirley (3 miles south), Regents Park (3 miles south-west), Townhill Park (3 miles south-east), Midanbury (3 miles south-east) and Thornhill (4 miles south-east).
Near you in Chilworth
In Chilworth, that means homes and buildings near Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton and Lakeside Country Park and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Swaythling station, roughly 1.9 miles south-east. A little further out are Eastleigh Museum (2.5 miles east) and Marlands Shopping Centre (3.6 miles south). The countryside around Chilworth includes Flexford Nature Reserve.
What we can’t see
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
When to book a survey in Chilworth
Strong winds can lift slates, tiles and ridge pieces. It’s hard to tell from below what has shifted. A drone shows what has slipped, lifted or gone.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
Shop and office owners around Marlands Shopping Centre may find that large commercial roofs are frequently easiest to see from the air or with a thermal camera.
Questions to ask before booking
- What exactly goes into their report
- Their report turnaround times
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Which limits apply to the survey