Kent · London and the South East
Cotman's Ash Drone Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Drone roof surveys in Cotman's Ash, with photos and a clear written report.
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
How a drone roof survey works in Cotman's Ash
Tall, steep, large or fragile roofs cannot always be inspected up close. A drone takes close-up photographs of those roofs from the air. You see slates, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters in detail, including slopes that cannot be seen from the street. Everything we find goes into a written report with photos. It’s also a good option where walking on the roof could break slates or tiles. If we can’t fly, we tell you why. We survey chimney stacks, flat roofs on upper floors and valleys and parapet gutters, and people most often book us about plant growth and moss on the roof and lead work pulling away at abutments.
In a small place like Cotman's Ash, open ground can mean strong wind. Strong wind or a downpour stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Cotman's Ash (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Airspace, weather and Cotman's Ash roofs
Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times.
Anyone responsible for a site like Kemsing Primary School will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. Take an older house close to Church of Saint Mary the Virgin: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Cotman's Ash is about 3 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We provide drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Cotman's Ash and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Drone roof surveys in TN15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Close by, we survey roofs in Woodlands (1 mile north-east), Heaverham (1 mile south-east), Knatts Valley (1 mile north), Romney Street (1 mile north-west) and Kemsing (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Sevenoaks (3 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles north-east) and Tonbridge (8 miles south).
What’s near Cotman's Ash
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Rising Sun pub and Kemsing Down, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Kemsing station, about 1.4 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Kemsing Castle Bank (0.9 miles south-west) and Sevenoaks Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Dryhill Nature Reserve.
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Let us know about any leaks or concerns
- Share the postcode so we can check for restrictions
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the location and extent of every problem.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Poor airflow lets condensation build up, and it’s something only an inside check will show. Make sure insulation doesn’t block the airflow.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Older rural homes like those around Cotman's Ash can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the roof.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- We also look inside the roof space where it is safe.
- The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Read more
What a drone roof survey doesn’t cover
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
Roof by roof
Ridges and hips
The ridge takes wind from both sides. A drone shows cracked mortar and loose ridge tiles.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Widespread slipping on slate usually means nail fatigue. Close-up photos show how widespread it is.
Towns and villages near Cotman's Ash
What else we do in Cotman's Ash
Do you need a drone roof survey in Cotman's Ash?
Hidden gutters and valleys are easy to overlook. Leaves, silt and plant growth build up unseen, until water overflows inside. From above, they’re easy to see.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
Lullingstone Castle lies about 3.4 miles north-west, so building around Cotman's Ash goes back a long way. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from the ground, and a survey from above or with a thermal imager doesn’t touch the roof itself.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Cotman's Ash: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Cotman's Ash?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Cotman's Ash?
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. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Cotman's Ash?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Will you check the loft?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. 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 soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.