Greater London · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Custom House
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Custom House from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
How a drone roof survey works in Custom House
Drone surveys suit tall houses, blocks of flats, steep roofs and large commercial roofs. They’re useful where walking on the roof could damage it or isn’t safe, like old slate, clay tiles or cement sheets. The roof is photographed without being disturbed. Before the visit, we check the address for any airspace restrictions that apply. If a drone is not the right tool, we’ll say so. Common reasons to book are eroded pointing on a chimney stack and blistered or cracked flat roof coverings, across flat roofs on upper floors, large and complex roofs and fragile roofs.
Many London roofs are hidden from the pavement: valley gutters behind parapets, dormers and flat-roofed rear additions. That’s where a view from the air or a thermal camera helps, by showing what can’t be reached safely. Weather on the day decides whether it goes ahead, in Custom House as anywhere. Thermal images show surface temperature, not water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Custom House (E16, E13)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The size of the roof
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Booking your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Anything about access we should know
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
The drone shows the outside of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. We’ll say if a specialist is needed.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Hidden gutters and valleys sit out of sight. A drone shows linings, joints and build-ups of debris.
Drones, thermal imaging and Custom House roofs
The flight restriction zone around London City Airport covers Custom House, or comes right up to its edge. Before any flight there, we ask the airport for permission, and the flight only goes ahead if it is given. Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these.
Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Custom House. Anyone responsible for a site like St Joachim's Catholic Primary School will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. Take an older house close to St Matthew's Church: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
Custom House is about 1 mile south of Canning Town, in Greater London. Bookings from Custom House are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small.
We work across the E16 and E13 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Streets in the area include Tree Road, Ethel Road and Booth Road. Custom House sits on or near the A1020. If you are just outside Custom House, we cover West Silvertown (1 mile south-west), Silvertown (1 mile south), Canning Town (1 mile north), Royal Docks (1 mile east) and Limmo Peninsula (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (5 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles west).
Near you in Custom House
We work in homes and buildings around Thames Barrier Park, The Royal Docks Community School and Royal Docks Academy. There is a railway station in Custom House itself: Custom House station. A little further out are Gallions Reach Shopping Park (2.2 miles east) and Charlton Athletic Museum (1.5 miles south). Not far away are Gilbert's Pit and Tower Hill.
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Custom House
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
How the survey works
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. For a visit in Custom House, parking and access are the things to plan: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. On the day, the roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space and from the roof where it is safe.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photos of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Let us know about parking near the property
Arrange a survey
To get a price for drone roof surveys in Custom House, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
Places near Custom House
More services for Custom House
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Allow time for permission if you’re in a flight restriction zone
Keep the photos with your property records. They give you something to compare against later.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, particularly in autumn. On tall buildings, use a professional with the right access equipment. Blocked hidden gutters cause many leaks.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Custom House
Is parking a problem for a survey in Custom House?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway as you book. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Custom House?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Custom House is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around London City Airport. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it is given. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
What do I do with the report?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Custom House?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and some details about the roof. Surveys run on any day of the week.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs can’t always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where applicable let us see the rest.