West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Colgate
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out drone roof surveys in Colgate, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
About our drone roof survey in Colgate
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. We keep it in sight throughout, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Before every flight, we check the airspace and the weather. Safety comes first on every visit. Typical surveys look at ponding and splits on a high flat roof and outlets choked with leaves and silt, on chimney stacks, large and complex roofs and tall and steep roofs.
Villages like Colgate often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. 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. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Colgate (RH13, RH12)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Colgate
From the pavement, most of a tall roof is out of sight. Rear slopes, valleys and the tops of chimneys are hidden. Problems in those places often go unseen until they leak, which is why owners turn to a drone.
Common reasons to book include:
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Standing water on a flat roof
Shop and office owners around County Mall may find that thermal images can show trapped moisture across a wide commercial roof.
What to check before booking
- Their insurance cover
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Drone roof surveys around Colgate
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St. Saviour's Church, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement. If you look after a building such as Colgate Primary School, big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once.
Colgate is about 3 miles south-west of Crawley, in West Sussex. We carry out drone roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Colgate and nearby. Colgate is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for drone roof surveys.
Every address in RH13 and RH12 is within our area for drone roof surveys. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Forest Road, Vicarage Close and Blackhouse Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Colgate: Kilnwood Vale (1 mile north), Faygate (1 mile north-west), Broadfield (2 miles north-east), Roffey (2 miles west) and Handcross (3 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Crawley (3 miles north-east), Horsham (4 miles west), Haywards Heath (9 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles south-east), East Grinstead (11 miles east) and Storrington (14 miles south-west).
Near you in Colgate
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Dragon pub, Target Hill Park and Cottesmore School. For rail, the closest station is Faygate station, about 1.3 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Crawley Museum (3.4 miles north-east) and County Mall (3.4 miles north-east). Not far away are Tilgate Lake and Warnham LNR.
How we price drone roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Basic, Standard or Premium
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What to let us know when you contact us
When you call or email, these details help:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Also near Colgate
Other services in Colgate
FAQs for Colgate
Will you come out to Colgate?
Yes, Colgate is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Are there drone restrictions around Colgate?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
What’s the best way to book?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
What insurance do you have?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What a drone roof survey doesn’t cover
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Colgate
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
Practical tips
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Let us know what you want to see
There’s a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. A drone sees the outside, but the loft shows leaks and condensation from below. Take photos of any changes.
Roof by roof
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep roofs are risky to walk on. From the air, every course of slates or tiles can be seen, showing slipped, cracked and missing pieces.
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is normally out of view. Close-up photos show the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Cottages and farmhouses around Colgate often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are checked.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Keep pets in another room
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.