West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Crabtree
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Crabtree from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
Prices for drone roof surveys in Crabtree
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Roof area
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What to let us know when you get in touch
A few details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it is useful to mention:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Anything about access we should know
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How a drone roof survey works in Crabtree
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it can’t see inside. We check the loft from inside where it is safe, because the underside tells its own story. Inside and out together tell you far more. Your report shows the drone photos alongside what we saw in the loft. Where the loft can’t be reached safely, we note it. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, large and complex roofs and tall and steep roofs, and people most often book us about ridge and hip pieces working loose and flashings that have come away.
In a small place like Crabtree, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong 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.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Crabtree (RH13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it as you book and we will plan the survey around it.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
What happens on the day
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Older rural homes like those around Crabtree can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- Aerial photos are taken of your roof only, not the neighbours’.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it’s checked too.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Before we arrive
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Crabtree
What else we do in Crabtree
What we look for on each type of roof
Ridges and hips
Ridges and hips are the most exposed parts of a pitched roof. From above, we can see loose ridges and missing mortar.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Flat roofs on tall buildings are frequently seen by nobody. From above, standing water, splits and tired upstands are clear.
When to book a survey in Crabtree
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.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
Take an older house close to Old Church House the Glebe: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Questions to ask before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their report turnaround times
- Which limits apply to the survey
What you can safely check yourself
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Crabtree: your questions answered
Is drone flying allowed in Crabtree?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Is Crabtree within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. The report includes photographs of what we found.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Drone roof surveys in Crabtree: local notes
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. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Historic houses such as Tyes Place, about 4.3 miles north-east, show how far back building around Crabtree goes. For older roofs nearby, a look from the air or with a thermal camera is a hands-off way to check condition. Anyone responsible for a site like Newells Preparatory School will know that a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Crabtree is about 5 miles south-east of Horsham, in West Sussex. Anywhere in Crabtree, we can come and survey your property. Crabtree is one of the places in West Sussex we cover. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in RH13 is covered for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Mill Lane, Peppersgate and Long Hill, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in Lower Beeding (1 mile north), Colwood (1 mile south-east), Monk's Gate (2 miles north-west), Plummers Plain (2 miles north-east) and Mannings Heath (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (7 miles north-east), Horsham (5 miles north-west), Worthing (14 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (7 miles east), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (13 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Crabtree
Around Crabtree, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Leonardslee, among other places. The nearest railway station is Horsham station, about 4.6 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Horsham Hospital (4.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Crabtree includes Knepp Wildland.