West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Church Norton
Drone roof surveys in Church Norton from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Chimney tops in poor condition
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Church Norton
Neighbours’ privacy matters on every flight. We keep the camera on the roof we are surveying, not on gardens or windows next door. If your roof is shared, a word with next door beforehand helps. We inspect only what the owner has asked us to. Flights are kept as short as the job allows and focused on the roof in question. Common reasons to book are slipped or missing slates on a high roof and outlets choked with leaves and silt, on fragile roofs, flat roofs on upper floors and large and complex roofs.
In a small place like Church Norton, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Location
- Church Norton (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Roof by roof
Steep slate and tile slopes
Widespread slipping on slate typically means nail fatigue. We can see the extent of it from above.
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is normally out of view. Close-up photos show the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, so cracks and gaps are clear.
FAQs for Church Norton
Is drone flying allowed in Church Norton?
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. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Is my home in Church Norton listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs like sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
How long will you be at the property?
It normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. You will then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
Leave it or get it looked at?
On a tall building, problems are frequently found only when water comes in. By that stage the damage has spread inside. A drone survey finds them sooner. Older and listed buildings around Church Norton may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Church Norton
- An independent look at the roof
- 20+ years’ experience
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about one to two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Somewhere like Church Norton needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that is needed before we fly.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
How to book
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Airspace, weather and Church Norton roofs
Church Norton is within about 1 mile of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that’s where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St Wilfrid's Chapel, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps.
Church Norton is about 1 mile north-east of Selsey, in West Sussex. Wherever you are in Church Norton, we can carry out drone roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. There is also a page for Portsmouth.
Every address in PO20 is covered for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Grange Lane and Rectory Lane. We also cover the places around Church Norton: Selsey (1 mile south-west), Keynor Estate (2 miles north-west), Pagham (2 miles north-east), Sidlesham (2 miles north) and Nyetimber (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (5 miles north-east), Chichester (6 miles north), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (10 miles north-west), Rustington (12 miles east) and Angmering (14 miles north-east).
What’s near Church Norton
The closest station to Church Norton is Bognor Regis station, roughly 4.9 miles north-east. A little further out are Selsey Lifeboat Museum (1.5 miles south) and Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (5.1 miles north-east).
What we are asked to look at in Church Norton
Large roofs take a long time to see on foot. The drone covers the surface area by area. That gives a clearer picture of the roof as a whole.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
Anyone responsible for a site like The Academy will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Before booking anyone
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Which limits apply to the survey
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Check the loft can be reached
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Let us know about any leaks or concerns
If you need work done, roofers can work from the photos. The photos show the location and extent of every problem, so their quotes cover the same ground.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. The underside often shows problems before the outside does. Photograph anything new.