Essex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Chipping Ongar, Essex
A careful look at the roof at your property in Chipping Ongar, with photos and a written report.
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
About our drone roof survey in Chipping Ongar
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it can’t see under the coverings or into the loft. We check the loft from inside where it’s safe, because the underside tells its own story. Together, the two give a fuller picture. The report sets out what the drone showed and what we found inside. If there is no safe loft access, the report says so. If you’ve noticed loose ridge and hip tiles and lead work pulling away at abutments, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, tall and steep roofs and large and complex roofs alike.
In smaller places like Chipping Ongar, many homes are bungalows and houses with roofs you can partly see from ground level. Chimney tops, valleys and rear slopes are where close-up or thermal images help most. The forecast decides the day, as calm, dry conditions suit both. Even so, a close-up image often shows wear on ridges and flashings that a view from ground level misses.
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.
- Where
- Chipping Ongar (CM5)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Chipping Ongar
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Chipping Ongar. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks
Why it’s worth a survey now in Chipping Ongar
Close-up photos make conversations with roofers clearer. They show the location and extent of each defect. In an older home around Chipping Ongar, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, and that is a much bigger job than the original defect.
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
Why us?
- An independent view of the roof
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
See our cost guide and our case studies.
Places near Chipping Ongar
Other services in Chipping Ongar
What a drone roof survey looks like in Chipping Ongar
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near United Reformed Church, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. With Hill Hall about 4.4 miles south-west, the area around Chipping Ongar has a long history. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. Take a building like Chipping Ongar Primary School: a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Chipping Ongar is about 6 miles north-west of Brentwood, in Essex. Bookings from Chipping Ongar are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Chipping Ongar is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work for drone roof surveys. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
All of CM5 is within our area for drone roof surveys. Local streets include High Street, Lavender Mews and Stanley Place, and we cover them all. Chipping Ongar is on the A128, which makes it simple to reach. If you’re just outside Chipping Ongar, we cover Greensted (1 mile west), Shelley (1 mile north), High Ongar (1 mile east), Greensted Green (2 miles west) and Norton Mandeville (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (11 miles east), Basildon (13 miles south-east), Harlow (7 miles north-west), Brentwood (6 miles south-east), Billericay (9 miles south-east) and Loughton (9 miles south-west).
Around Chipping Ongar
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Ongar Academy and The Royal Oak pub. A little further out are Willingale Doe (4.5 miles north-east) and St. Margaret's Hospital (5.2 miles west). Not far away are Gernon Bushes.
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Share the postcode so we can check for restrictions
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
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.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Comparing surveys shows what is wearing, and early repairs keep water out.
What we do, step by step
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. For a survey in Chipping Ongar, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- You give us the address and let us know about the roof.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- The findings, photos and recommendations reach you by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Common questions in Chipping Ongar
Is drone flying allowed in Chipping Ongar?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
Will you come out to Chipping Ongar?
Yes. Chipping Ongar is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof; most visits take about one to two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. The written report follows by email.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
What does the report include?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
Roof by roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
Blocked outlets in hidden gutters cause many leaks. We check outlets and photograph any build-up.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
The flat roof on top of a block is rarely looked at. A drone shows ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands.