Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Clifton
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Clifton. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
How a drone roof survey works in Clifton
Drones need reasonable weather. We do not fly in strong wind or a downpour, because control and safety come first. If the weather turns, we will agree another day. We check the forecast before the visit and again on site. Calm, dry conditions give the sharpest close-up photos. A short delay is better than a rushed flight. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, flat roofs on upper floors and large and complex roofs, and people most often book us about gaps where slates or tiles have gone and ponding and splits on a high flat roof.
Older buildings in small places like Clifton may be listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it’s a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof, before anyone decides what work it needs. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Location
- Clifton (OX15)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Clifton
Will you come out to Clifton?
Yes. Clifton is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is drone flying allowed in Clifton?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when you book.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain does not typically stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
How long is the visit?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. The written report follows by email.
Do you look in the loft space?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
Flying and imaging in Clifton
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. 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. Within a mile and a half or so of Clifton there are several hotels, and like offices and blocks, hotels often sit under flat roofs. If you look after one, a large roof can be surveyed without guests having anyone working above them.
For any home in Clifton, it is the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right.
Clifton is about 6 miles south-east of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. We carry out drone roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Clifton. Clifton is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover for drone roof surveys. There’s also a page for Oxford.
We survey roofs across the OX15 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Local streets include County View, Tithe Lane and Clifton Road, all of which we cover. If you are just outside Clifton, we cover Somerton (2 miles south), Souldern (2 miles east), Fritwell (3 miles south-east) and Upper Heyford (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Banbury (6 miles north-west), Bicester (8 miles south-east), Kidlington (11 miles south), Bure Park (8 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (11 miles west) and Headington (15 miles south).
Around Clifton
We work in homes and buildings around Duke Of Cumberlands Head Public House, among other places. Clifton’s nearest station is Kings Sutton station, roughly 2.7 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Horton General Hospital (5.3 miles north) and Deddington Castle (1.1 miles west).
Why act early in Clifton
Small defects on a high roof grow with each storm. Spotting them early keeps the work smaller. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Clifton, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What you get with us
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Every finding written up with photos
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Clifton and across Oxfordshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you need a drone roof survey in Clifton?
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.
We are often asked to look at:
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Clifton means lost rooms as well as repairs.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- When you will get the report
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether you get a written report with photos
How the survey changes by roof type
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep slopes are hard to inspect safely on foot. From the air, every course of slates or tiles can be seen, showing slipped, cracked and missing pieces.
Chimney stacks
From the air, a lean or a loose pot is easy to see. We record what we find with photos.
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It normally takes an hour or two for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Clifton frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission needed.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are checked.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- The findings, photos and recommendations reach you by email.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Find any records of previous roof work
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
How we price drone roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- The roof’s overall size
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Height and safe access
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The address and postcode of the property
Drone roof survey starts 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.